[[File:Empisini_Nature_Reserve_17_07_2011.jpg|thumb|right|220px|Grassland and Forest in Empisini Nature Reserve]][[File:Empisini_Nature_Reserve_08_01_2012.jpg|thumb|right|220px|Wetland around the dam in Empisini Nature Reserve]]'''Empisini Nature Reserve''' was established in 1973<ref name="PooleyPlayer">Pooley, T. and Player, I. (1995). ''KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife Destinations''. ISBN 1-86812-487-8.</ref><ref name="EmpisiniBrochure">Empisini Brochure: http://www.empisini.co.za/Brochure04.pdf, retrieved 28 March 2013.</ref> and is situated in [[Umkomaas]], [[KwaZulu-Natal]], [[South Africa]]. The landreserve is approximately 60 [[Hectares|ha]] in extent<ref name="EmpisiniBrochure"/><ref name="Enviro_Plan">Environmental Planning & Climate Protection department of eThkwini</ref> and is owned by the borough of uMkhomanzi<ref name="SA_Venues"/> which has been incorporated into the [[eThekwini]] municipality.<ref name="eThekwini_map">eThekwini Ward Map: http://www.durban.gov.za/City_Services/engineering%20unit/Surveying_Land_Information/Documents/ETHEKWINI%20WARD%20MAP%20NEW%20BOUNDARIES.pdf, andretrived 09 April 2013</ref> Empisini is managed jointly by eThekwini<ref name="Enviro_Plan"/> and the Umkomaas centre of the [[Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa]].<ref name="SA_Venues">KwaZulu-Natal Game Reserves: Empisini Nature Reserve, KwaZulu Natal: http://www.sa-venues.com/game-reserves/kzn_empisini.htm, retrieved 28 March 2013.</ref> Empisini takes its name from a [[perennial]] stream which flows through it, and means “Place of the [[Spotted Hyena|Hyena]]” in [[isiZulu]].<ref name="EmpisiniNatureReserve">Empisini Nature Reserve: http://www.empisini.co.za/, retrieved 28 March 2013.</ref> The reserve consists of coastal forest, wetlands, grassy slopes<ref name="EmpisiniNatureReserve"/> and a dam.<ref name="PooleyPlayer"/> Infrastructure consists of hiking trails, demarcated picnic sites, overnight cabins, and a tree house.<ref name="EmpisiniNatureReserve"/>
==Wildlife==
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===Butterflies===
Among the butterflies recorded in Empisini<ref name=SABCA>Animal Demography Unit: South African Butterfly Conservation Assesment: http://sabca.adu.org.za/, retrieved 09 April 2013.</ref> are: D'Urban's Woolly Legs (''[[Lachnocnema durbani]]''), Dark Grass Blue (''[[Zizina otis]] antanossa''), White-tipped Blue (''[[Eicochrysops hippocrates]]''), Gaika Blue (''[[Zizula hylax]]''), Common Zebra Blue (''[[Leptotes pirithous]]''), Natal Babul Blue (''[[Azanus natalensis]]''), Brown Pansy (''[[Junonia natalica]]''), Yellow Pansy (''[[Junonia hierta]]''), CommonNatal Zebra BlueAcraea (''[[LeptotesAcraea pirithousnatalica]]''), African Veined White (''[[Belenois gidica]]''), Clouded Forester (''[[Tagiades flesus]]''), Macken’s Dart (''[[Acleros mackenii]]'') and Common Hottentot (''[[Gegenes niso]]'').
