By Nangamso Mabindla
2 November 2005

TWO of the city's most prized tourist attractions are getting a facelift, courtesy of the Buffalo City Municipality - the Nahoon Estuary Nature Reserve and the Nahoon Point Nature Reserve.

The improvements are part of the Buffalo City Coastal Management Plan, which aims to improve the city's 68km coastline.

Amenities manager Willie Maritz is very excited about the two nature reserves. "When we are finished with them they will be magnificent," he says.

Talking about the improvements already made at the estuary, which also boasts the Dassie Trail, Maritz says a boardwalk made from recycled plastic has been erected. It runs over the salt marsh and the area has been fenced.

"The Estuary Nature Reserve will have two rangers to take people around and they will also look after it. It's also a great place if you want to go bird watching."

The City will publish information pamphlets available to visitors to the reserve. "We will also have an environment information centre where people will be given environmental education."

Officers from the Wildlife and Environmental Society of Southern Africa will be in charge of educating visitors and school groups about the environment. "We haven't finished that part yet because we are still to build a small house for the officials. but it is coming soon."

At Nahoon Point, which runs from Blind River to Nahoon Beach, the City is erecting a series of wooden and plastic sign boards.

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"The wooden boards will [show] visitors to the site where the oldest footprints were found; that site is fenced in to protect it from vandalism," Maritz says, adding that there will be information at the site about the footprints.

Alien vegetation is a challenge at the point, but Maritz says it is being taken care of. "As part of our partnership with the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, 64 people have been trained in the eradication of alien vegetation and they are busy working on that."

Once completed, the Nahoon Point boardwalk will be a good spot for surfing competitions. "Nahoon is known internationally as one of the best surfing beaches and by the time we complete this pilot project, its reputation will be enhanced," he concludes.