{{Short description|Subtropical forest in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa}} {{Use South African English|date=July 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{More citations needed|date=December 2009}} thumb|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&nbsp;km line running northwest from the coast.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.kznwildlife.com/dlinza-forest.html |title=KZN Wildlife - Dlinza Forest |access-date=2015-10-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160208103342/http://www.kznwildlife.com/dlinza-forest.html |archive-date=2016-02-08 |url-status=dead }}</ref> 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,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=BIRP Site summary {{!}} Dhlinza Forest Nature Reserve (SA067)|url=http://birp.birdmap.africa/site_summary.php?site=28543127|access-date=2020-06-22|website=birp.birdmap.africa|archive-date=19 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019160924/http://birp.birdmap.africa/site_summary.php?site=28543127|url-status=dead}}</ref> chameleons,<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=2012-02-13|title=Dlinza Forest Aerial Boardwalk|url=http://www.birdlifezululand.co.za/birding-sites/southern-zululand/eshowe/dlinza-forest-aerial-boardwalk/|access-date=2020-06-22|website=Birdlife Zululand|language=en-US}}</ref> snails,<ref name=":1" /> butterflies,<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Dlinza - Visit Zululand|url=https://www.visitzululand.co.za/index.php/activities/birding-activities/dlinza-loco|access-date=2020-06-22|website=www.visitzululand.co.za}}</ref> moths,<ref name=":1" /> frogs<ref name=":1" /> and beetles.<ref name=":2" /> Dlinza is the home of more than 65 species of birds,<ref name=":0" /> including the endangered spotted ground thrush which breeds here,<ref>{{Cite web|title=BIRP Species summary {{!}} Spotted Ground-Thrush|url=http://birp.birdmap.africa/species_summary.php?spp=558|access-date=2020-06-21|website=birp.birdmap.africa}}</ref> rare Delegorgue's pigeon,<ref>{{Cite web|title=BIRP Species summary {{!}} Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon|url=http://birp.birdmap.africa/species_summary.php?spp=313|access-date=2020-06-21|website=birp.birdmap.africa|archive-date=23 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123192429/http://birp.birdmap.africa/species_summary.php?spp=313|url-status=dead}}</ref> magnificent purple-crested turaco<ref>{{Cite web|title=BIRP Species summary {{!}} Purple-crested Turaco|url=http://birp.birdmap.africa/species_summary.php?spp=337|access-date=2020-06-21|website=birp.birdmap.africa}}</ref> and Narina trogon.<ref>{{Cite web|title=BIRP Species summary {{!}} Narina Trogon|url=http://birp.birdmap.africa/species_summary.php?spp=393|access-date=2020-06-21|website=birp.birdmap.africa}}</ref>

The name Dlinza is derived from Zulu meaning ''a gravelike place of meditation''. Occasional church services are held there and every three years a nativity play, written by Selwyn Moberley in 1953, is staged in the forest.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Forrester|first=Wayne Steven|url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/859380541|title=Fruit-feeding butterfly assemblages at Dlinza and Entumeni Nature Reserves, KwaZulu-Natal : a quantitative biodiversity study|oclc=859380541}}</ref>

==Canopy Boardwalk==

First of its kind in Southern Africa, the boardwalk winds through the forest canopy and ends up on a tower overlooking the Dlinza Forest. The Boardwalk takes you 125 metres through the forest understory to a 20 metre high viewing platform which emerges above the canopy of trees.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dlinza Forest Aerial Boardwalk|url=https://eshowe.com/dlinza-forest-aerial-boardwalk/|access-date=2020-06-22|website=Eshowe|language=en-US}}</ref>

==See also== * Dlinza Forest Nature Reserve * Forests of KwaZulu-Natal

{{Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Parks}}

==References==

{{Reflist}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Dlinza Forest, Kwazulu-Natal}} Category:Geography of KwaZulu-Natal Category:Forests of South Africa Category:Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Parks Category:Tourist attractions in KwaZulu-Natal

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