# TBL Podcast - Season 13 Episode 5 - Ntsikeni Nature Reserve: Where Conservation Meets Community

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-birding-life-podcast-network-1255801/tbl-podcast-season-13-episode-5-ntsikeni-nature-reserve-where-conservation-meets-community
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-birding-life-podcast-network-1255801/tbl-podcast-season-13-episode-5-ntsikeni-nature-reserve-where-conservation-meets-community.md
Podcast: [The Birding Life Podcast Network](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-birding-life-podcast-network-1255801)
Published: 2026-02-16T17:00:00+00:00
Episode link: http://www.thebirdinglife.com
Audio file: https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/afefb30a-014a-48e6-af79-dd751ec8dcc7.mp3
Processing state: not_requested
JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-birding-life-podcast-network-1255801/episodes/tbl-podcast-season-13-episode-5-ntsikeni-nature-reserve-where-conservation-meets-community
Duration seconds: 3791

## Resource

In this episode, I’m joined by three special guests whose stories are all connected to one remarkable place. Ntsikeni Nature Reserve lies in southern KwaZulu Natal, between Underberg and Kokstad. Today we explore the people, the conservation work, and the birds that make this reserve so special. At the heart of this episode is a conversation with Dalu Ngcobo, recorded late one night at the lodge in the reserve. Dalu is a BirdLife South Africa accredited bird guide from the local community, and his story alone will make you want to experience Ntsikeni for yourself. We begin the episode with Nandi Thobela, the Empowering People Programme Manager at BirdLife South Africa. She shares how Ntsikeni fits into the wider conservation and community work happening across the country. We end the episode with John Kinghorn, who speaks passionately about why this reserve is so close to his heart and why it matters for the future of bird conservation. Visit our online store to get your birding related merchandise at great prices https://www.thebirdinglife.com/online-store Intro and outro music by Tony ZA https://soundcloud.com/tonyofficialza Links from show: Ntsikeni Nature Reserve https://gobirding.birdlife.org.za/lower-drakensburg-foothills-ntsikeni-nature-reserve/

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