Ndumo Reserve is perhaps best known for its magnificent bird life with the highest bird count in South Africa, some 430 species. The reserve is situated near the Tembe Elephant Park on the Mozambique border, the Usuthu River forming its northern boundary and the Pongola River flows through to its convergence with Usutu. Ndumo Reserve boasts many beautiful pans set about with yellow fever trees and extensive wetlands and reedbeds as well as acacia savannah and sand forest. This varied habitat hosts an astonishing range of aquatic birdlife such as black egret, pygmy geese and flocks of pelicans. The prolific birdlife includes many tropical East African species at the southern limit of their range. Here you can see the Pells fishing owl, the broadbill, and southern banded snake eagle.

Ndumo Reserve is of particular interest to entomologists with a very interesting array of insects including 66 different recorded species of mosquito. Visitors may drive through certain areas of the reserve in their own cars, or participate in landrover tours to interesting areas in the company of a tour guide. With game species such as nyala, bushbuck, impala, red duiker, suni, black and white rhino, hippopotamus and a very large population of crocodiles, Ndumo is a most rewarding area to view wildlife with its wetlands and pans, thick bush and savannah and extensive forests. Depending on the demand, morning and afternoon tours are conducted and arrangements to participate in these tours are made at the reception office.