SappiWWF TreeRoutes Partnership | Dlinza Forest Aerial Boardwalk

The Wildside Magazine was part of a large national press contingent which visited the Dlinza Forest Aerial Boardwalk in Eshowe recently and all were exceptionally impressed with this lofty walk high amongst the tall trees. WWF and corporate executives joined the media tour. It’s not easy to impress the press, let’s face it, but when you have a project which meets a multi-faceted set of objectives so well, such as the 125 metre Dlinza Forest Aerial Boardwalk, which is also wholly owned by the local community, it comes as no surprise.

We’d arrived to discover ‘Dlinza’ as it is popularly referred to by those who know it, and within a few minutes were entirely impressed by the professional guides who pointed out the numerous tree markers and provided interesting information such as describing Zulu medicinal uses of the various trees. They took us along the boardwalk, at an elevation of 10 metres, which meant we walked right under the canopy of Dlinza’s indigenous scarp forest.

Dappled light fell across the walkways, while the
cool forest seemed to envelop us. Birds sang out,
and a few of the ‘tweeters’ in the group were
certain they had heard a Purple-Crested Turaco,
while everyone was looking out for the Narina
Trogon. Dlinza is visited by birdwatchers from all
over the world hoping to catch a glimpse of rare
bird species such as the Spotted Ground Thrush
or Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon amongst the 65
species. Dlinza Forest is part of the Zululand
Birding Route.

Some of us lagging behind were more than
content to gaze into the forest and delighted to
spot butterflies. There are as many as 85 species -
including the Gaudy Commodore, Mocker
Swallowtail and the Mother of Pearl - which have
been recorded in this 250-hectare forest.

We stopped at a platform where we enquired
about the project to discover that the Dlinza
Forest Aerial Boardwalk development was almost
entirely funded by the SappiWWF TreeRoutes
Partnership. The Partnership’s grant for the project
included funding for the development of the
boardwalk and viewing tower, a visitors’ centre
with displays, and upgrading facilities to
wheelchairfriendly status.

Our stroll culminated in a 20m high observation tower with
an expansive view over the top of the forest. We felt like
birds perched above the magnificent trees which include
Fluted Milkwood, Giant Umzimbeet and Wild Plum. We
climbed down the tower and on the way back spotted a
red duiker. Blue duiker, bush pigs, bush buck, and bush
babies also call the forest home.

Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the tour, but all agreed that
we need to return to do one of the hiking trails, namely the
Impunzi Trail, Unkonka Trail and Bishop’s Seat.

The Impunzi Trail (1,3kms) is an easy 30 minute round trip
and takes you past majestic trees which are clearly
labelled and described on the trails. The Unkonka Trail
(1,8kms) reaches deeper into the forest and is an easy 45 minute walk joining the Impunzi Trail near its end and crosses the source of the Mpushini river. Bishop's Seat is a beautiful clearing in the forest where one of the early Bishops of Eshowe, Bishop W M Carter, would come to ponder his next sermon. It is used as a venue for outdoor functions including 'The Forest Noël' presented every three years.

Article: Wildside Magazine