New on our website:

Look under Archives then Interesting Articles to read the newly uploaded eThekwini Conservancies Forum (of which we are a part) 2025 Report.

Thanks

A huge thank you to Wade from Build It Pinetown for the generous donation of 15 knapsacks. These will be distributed across the Upper Highway conservancies to support our ongoing Invasive Alien Plant eradication efforts. This contribution strengthens our teams on the ground and helps to protect the natural spaces we all cherish. 

Image above: Chairperson Anthony Kee and Secretary Betsy Kee

Upper Highway Trail Marathon

The Upper Highway Trail Marathon events (10km, 21km and 42km) were held on 5 and 6 December. Since these events run through our gorge, members of the Everton Conservancy committee as well as members of the local community, marshal and staff a refreshment station on the 2 days. The Friday 10km race started in extremely warm conditions and ended in a thunder storm. Saturday was cooler but slippery and wet underfoot. This did not deter our intrepid volunteers from ensuring the runners were safe and well-provisioned.

While we were busy at the refreshment station at Acutts Bridge, 2 amazing women from Le Domaine showed us exactly what community spirit is all about - they were collecting bags of rubbish on their morning walk. Thank you for helping to preserve our beautiful area!

Thank you Supa Mama!

We extend our grateful thanks to Super Mama Packaging for the generous donation of 400 refuse bags to be used in our clearance of alien invasive plants such as Ginger, Sword Fern and Tradescantia.

News and Past Events

...... during ......

Bonfire Night:  A very enjoyable and successful evening took place. Thank you to all who participated.

New document alert!

Check out the Biodiversity tab to find a new free download on Gardening for Biodiversity.

Mend the Molweni

The Molweni River, which rises at Springside in Hillcrest and flows through the Everton Gorge and Kloof Gorge, runs over KZN Sandstone and is generally clear and clean. Unfortunately, commercial businesses  in Hillcrest have put a strain on the cleanliness of this river. Injudicious use of the burgeoning sewage system by restaurants, food facilities and industry cause parts of the sewage system to clog up, resulting in sewage overflows into the stormwater drains and thence into the river. The Conservancies of Hillcrest, Everton and Kloof  have banded together to  form the Mend the Molweni project. This body inspects the manholes in Hillcrest twice a day and alerts the Municipality to any spillage. It has also embarked on an education campaign to advise all businesses on the necessity of managing their sewage disposal, especially with regard to disposing of fats  which are the major cause of the clogging of the system.

The Conservancies take samples of the Molweni water regularly and analyse them for E Coli and these analyses have shown widely fluctuating E Coli values . Drinking water should have an E Coli count of zero and the US EPA recommends a count of no more than 126 for safe swimming water. The latest E Coli count of a sample taken at Acutts Bridge at the end of September was 245.

Fresh water eels in the Molweni River

By Chairperson Anthony Kee

The Molweni River rises at the Springside Nature reserve and flows through Hillcrest and Gillitts, falling into the Everton Gorge and thence on to Ezemvelo Nature Reserve and the area of Molweni. The river flows over Kloof Sandstone and is host to a number of special animals and fishes. We have eels in the river. There are four species of eels in South African rivers, all of which breed on the Mascarene basin, northeast of Madagascar. The eels lay their eggs there and the larvae, in the shape of a leaf, drift with the currents and tides, slowly turning into elvers about 2 to 3 cm long. These elvers enter our rivers and make their way upstream climbing cascades and waterfalls, they even climb water falls such as Kloof Falls and Howick Falls, working their way upstream until they find a suitable pool and there they stay for about twelve years until they are sexually mature. Freshwater eels have been found in the pool below Everton falls. Once sexually mature they make their way back downstream, out to sea and swim to the Mascarene basin where they breed and die.

Céline Hanzen is a PhD candidate who is researching the distribution, genetic diversity and behavioural ecology of freshwater eels and the implications for river management in KwaZulu-Natal.  As part of her research Everton Conservancy checked the Molweni river for two seasons but sadly found no sign of elvers.

When a school group helped build a bridge across the Molweni River, they disturbed a huge eel in the pool.

Highbury Hack

We recently hosted a group of boys and staff from Highbury Preparatory School. The enthusiastic group managed to fill and remove 20 refuse bags with the highly invasive Tradescanti ground cover from the gorge. Thank you, Highbury, for your service to our Everton Community! 

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FAQs

1.Can I bring my dog to walk in the Conservancy?

Dogs are very welcome in the Everton Park and the Eskotene Grassland. However, they are NOT permitted on the Gorge trails because of the impact that their presence will have on our precious wildlife.

    2.  How much does it cost to walk one of the trails?

We currently do not charge an entry fee to make use of our beautiful open spaces. However, we are a non-profit organisation and our work is reliant on donations so please be generous. See the details under Donations in this website or make use of the Zapper signs at our trails and parks.

3. What time do the areas open?

Our parks and trails are currently unfenced, so access is any time but your safety is at your own risk. 

4. Where do I park to walk in the Molweni Gorge? 

There is a limited amount of free parking at the Acutts Bridge. Parking is at your own risk and please do not park in a manner that impedes traffic flow.