Vernon Crookes is set high upon a plateau overlooking the beautiful rondavel-dotted hillsides of the nearby Zulu villages. The terrain is primarily grassland with forested ravines. A network dirt roads traverse the park, which make for pleasant game drives. However some of these roads are quite treacherous and should not be attempted with a sedan. The reserve is home a few large herbivores, mainly zebra.
Springtime brings an impressive display of wild flowers that shouldn't be missed. There are two small dams on the reserve that attract a large variety of birdlife. As there are no large predators in reserve hikers may roam about freely through the grassy hills.

ATTRACTIONS & ACTIVITIES AT VERNON CROOKES NATURE RESERVE:
- game drives
- hiking
- bird watching
- wild flowers

SUMMARY OF WILDLIFE & FLORA:
Mammals: numerous large herbivores including blue wildebeest, nyala, impala, zebra and eland, as well as many smaller mammals such as jackal, porcupine and mongoose
Birdlife: over 300 bird species
Vegetation: wild flowers, grassland


DIRECTIONS TO VERNON CROOKES NATURE RESERVE:
- from the N2 at Park Rynie, take the R612 west toward Ixopo.
- 3 km past Umzimto turn left and follow for 6 km to the gates


South Coast Accommodation