GAM1-: AND i;A.M1-: l>KKSlili\- ATION in ZULULAM). 7,^^\ 



A scheme of acclimatisation in connection witli this Reserve 

 was favourahly considered by the Administration a sliort time 

 l)ack, the object of wliich was to introduce certain other o^ame 

 into the country. Ehmd. the Cape or Red Hartel)eest, Sable 

 and Roan Antelope, and Sassaby (Alcclaphus luiiatus) were the 

 species indicated, all of which would without doubt thri\e here. 



The idea has been temporarily abandoned, after it had 

 actually e^one so far as the selection of the site, the Amanzila 

 X'allev, in the western jjortion of the Reserve, having been 

 chosen for the purpose. 



Unfortunately there are several natives lixin?:; within the 

 boundaries of this fine Reserve, who — together with those living 

 actually upon them, and others in very close proximity oittside 

 — give constant trouble. 



The area of this Reserve is about 40,000 acres ; it is the 

 only one of the four into which wheeled transport can be taken, 

 without encountering almost insuperable obstacles, there being 

 a track, wliich with the expenditure of a little time and labour, 

 might be made available for wagon transport, leading to the 

 Amanzila Valley from the Inhlwati-Makowe main road. 



One of the greatest advantages possessed by the Umfolozi 

 Game Reserve is that it is of no use for any other purpose, the 

 climate therein being very deadly. 



It consists for the most part of low, fiat thorn country, the 

 only elevated portions being the Dengeza, Impila and Amantiyane 

 Hills, and a slightly raised plateau in the eastern portion. 



Except along its northern and southern boundaries, formed 

 by the Black and White Umfolozi Rivers respectively, it is 

 poorly watered, save during the summer months, when practi- 

 cally the whole of it becomes a quagmire. 



Game is not exceedingly abundant therein if we except 

 Wildebeesten and Zebra, though wart-hog are surprisingly nu- 

 merous. Small game is generally scarce, though in the bush 

 along the rivers, Bush-buck abound, and Duiker and Steenbuck 

 are plentiful in the eastern section. 



The fact that small game are thus generally scarce has been 

 put forward by those who should know better, as proof of the 

 overwhelming numbers of vermin ; this is most misleading, the 

 actual reason for their scarcity, as is the case in the Ubombo 

 thorn veld, being that the physical conditions of the country are 

 unsuitable. 



]:^uffalo and Prehensile-lipped Rhinoceros are fairly numer- 

 ous, but it is as the. home of the Square-mouthed Rhinoceros, 

 commonly known as the " White Rhino,'' that this Reserve may 

 be considered as one of the most valuable in Africa. Nowhere 

 else on the Continent, save in an area on the Blue Nile, can 

 this weird creature be seen at the present day. 



It is exceedingly difficult to compute their lunnbers even 

 approximately, but I ct)nsider that there are between thirty and 

 fortv adult animals actually resident in the Reserve, as well as 

 a useful numl)er of cahes. Some of them occasionallv cross to 



