Swartberg Nature Reserve, Western Cape

Swartberg Nature Reserve | The Swartberg Nature Reserve Western Cape National Parks and Lodges Western Cape South Africa

Western Cape, South Africa

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Western Cape ť Nature Reserves ť Swartberg Nature Reserve

Swartberg Nature Reserve | Western Cape National Parks: The Swartberg Nature Reserve lies in the Oudtshoorn district between the Great Karoo and Little Karoo, bordered by the Gamka River in the west and the Uniondale / Willowmore road in the east. The Swartberg Reserve encompasses 121,000 heactares of mostly state-owned land. Gamkapoort Nature Reserve, immediately to the north of the reserve and 8,000 hectares in extent, is part of the Swartberg, making the total conservation area a vast 129,000 hectares.

Accommodation near the Swartberg Nature Reserve:

Buffelsdrift Game Lodge - Oudtshoorn:
Buffelsdrift is a sprawling game farm half-an hour’s drive from the Swartberg Nature Reserve, in the foothills of the Swartberg Mountains. Pristine bushveld, lush vegetation and a 5 ha dam provides a haven for 20 game species ...

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The Swartberg Nature Reserve is rich with numerous rock paintings and artefacts found in caves all over the reserve which are indicative of the area was having been inhabitied by the San for many centuries. During the 1700s European farmers arrived in the Swartberg Region and they established settlements built many roads.

Three historic routes connecting the Great and Little Karoo lead through the reserve. Toorwaterpoort is a train route, Meiringspoort is used by motorists and the untarred Swartberg Pass takes one over the Swartberg. Gamkaskloof was first inhabited by farmers in 1830 and was accessible only on foot until 1963 when a road was finally built into the valley.

The reserve’s vegetation is diverse featuring renosterveld, mountain fynbos, Karoo-veld, spekboom veld, and many geophyte species. Most plants flower in spring, but early autumn is the time that many protea species flower, attracting large numbers of sugarbirds and sunbirds. During mid-summer (December - February) many of the interesting plants on the higher Swartberg peaks are in flower, including the very rare Protea venusta.

Mammals likely to be seen in the Swartberg Nature Reserve include klipspringer, grey rhebuck, kudu, baboon and dassie, and at Gamkapoort you will see springbok. Leopard and caracal also occur in the area, but are very seldom seen.

More than 130 bird species have been recorded here including black, fish and martial eagle, Cape sugarbird and the pied kingfisher.

Holiday Accommodation ť Karoo Accommodation ranges from fine Hotels to comfortable and luxurious Guest Houses and a number of establishments also offer Self Catering accommodation. The closest town is Prince Albert (5kms).

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Select a Game or Nature Reserve ť
• Agulhas National Park • Anysberg Nature Reserve • Bontebok National Park
• Cederberg Wilderness Area • De Hoop Nature Reserve • Groot Winterhoek Wilderness
• Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve • Karoo National Park • Ko-Katsara Game Reserve
• Kogelberg Nature Reserve • Sanbona Wildlife Reserve • Silvermine Nature Reserve
• Swartberg Nature Reserve • Table Mountain National Park • West Coast National Park

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Swartberg Nature Reserve | The Swartberg Nature Reserve Western Cape National Parks and Lodges Western Cape South Africa

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