Langjan Nature Reserve

Gemsbok as seen in Langjan Nature Reserve

Lying just north east of Blouberg Nature Reserve, on the R521 to Alldays, west of Makhado, the Langjan Nature Reserve is typified by gorgeous red sand dunes and scrub-acacia bushveld vegetation - lush during the summer rainfalls and equally dry during the months that languish without rain. Langjan conserves the last remaining naturally occurring herd of gemsbok (Oryx gazelle) in the Limpopo Province. These beautiful animals tend to occur in herds of 10 to 30.

Birders know this part of the world intimately, and birding along the roads between the Blouberg Nature Reserve and Langjan are particularly good. Langjan Nature Reserve became pertinent in the birding world in 1989 when an Egyptian vulture was sighted in the reserve. Still not a regular visitor to the reserve, the vulture is joined by 260 other species including the Marico flycatcher, Kalahari scrub-robin, pied barbet, magpie shrike, emerald-spotted wood dove and the blue waxbill.

One of few reserves where hiking trails are not available, you can walk in the reserve. However, when driving be warned that some of the roads that wind through Langjan are particularly sandy and require a 4x4 to navigate. You will have access to a fair number of antelope and other wild life. Many of these smaller nature reserves, situated so close to the Kruger National Park, tend not to draw visitors, intent on making it to bigger game, potentially making it a wonderful space in which to explore the bushveld in relative peace and quiet.