Dlinza Forest

Inside Dhlinza Forest.

The Dlinza Forest is a subtropical forest or Coastal Scarp Forest in Eshowe, Zululand, South Africa, one of five natural forests running in a 100 km line running northwest from the coast.[1] Others are the Ongoye, Entumeni, Nkandla and Qudeni Forests. They are the most important forests in southern Africa from the aspect of unique biodiversity. It contains rare birds,[2] chameleons,[3] snails,[3] butterflies,[4] moths,[3] frogs[3] and beetles.[4] Dlinza is the home of more than 65 species of birds,[2] including the endangered spotted ground thrush which breeds here,[5] rare Delegorgue's pigeon,[6] magnificent purple-crested turaco[7] and Narina trogon.[8]

The name Dlinza is derived from Zulu meaning a gravelike place of meditation after the peaceful setting. Occasional church services are held here and every 3 years a nativity play, written by Selwyn Moberley in 1953, is staged in the forest.[9]

  1. ^ "KZN Wildlife - Dlinza Forest". Archived from the original on 8 February 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  2. ^ a b "BIRP Site summary | Dhlinza Forest Nature Reserve (SA067)". birp.birdmap.africa. Archived from the original on 19 October 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d "Dlinza Forest Aerial Boardwalk". Birdlife Zululand. 13 February 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Dlinza - Visit Zululand". www.visitzululand.co.za. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  5. ^ "BIRP Species summary | Spotted Ground-Thrush". birp.birdmap.africa. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  6. ^ "BIRP Species summary | Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon". birp.birdmap.africa. Archived from the original on 23 November 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  7. ^ "BIRP Species summary | Purple-crested Turaco". birp.birdmap.africa. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  8. ^ "BIRP Species summary | Narina Trogon". birp.birdmap.africa. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  9. ^ Forrester, Wayne Steven. Fruit-feeding butterfly assemblages at Dlinza and Entumeni Nature Reserves, KwaZulu-Natal : a quantitative biodiversity study. OCLC 859380541.