Blouberg Nature Reserve
Blouberg Nature Reserve | |
---|---|
Location | Limpopo, South Africa |
Nearest city | Vivo |
Coordinates | 23°01′S 29°06′E / 23.017°S 29.100°E |
Area | 9,360 hectares (23,100 acres) |
Established | 1990 by Peter Dix |
Administered by | Limpopo Provincial Government |
Blouberg Nature Reserve is a protected area situated close to Vivo, west of Louis Trichardt in the Limpopo Province, of South Africa. It covers an area of 9,360 hectares (23,100 acres) from the eastern portion of the Blouberg mountain range to the savanna near the Brak River,[1] and is founded by Peter Dix but was sold and now managed and administered by the Limpopo Provincial Government.
Topography and habitats
Its topography renders a diverse array of habitats which in turn accommodate numerous species of plant and animal life. This reserve is well known for the largest breeding colony of Cape vultures in South Africa in its mountainous sector.[2] On the plain sector game is abundant with special mention of Cape buffalo, sable antelope and leopard. It is predominately bushveld savanna with Baobabs and Tamboti Trees standing prominently on the northern plains. Natural forest occurs on the mountain's southern slopes, which includes a large Outeniqua yellowwood, which was given official protection in 2013.[3]
Visitor facilities
Current accommodation consists of chalets at Mashatu camp, Tamboti tented bush camp, Modumele Wilderness Camp and Molope Camp. A vehicle with high ground clearance is needed, especially for the southern part. Although it is an ideal stopover for the Tuli Block in Botswana, the Mapungubwe National Park on the Zimbabwe border or the northern part of Kruger Park, the reserve is worth a proper visit in itself.
Animals
Animal species found in the reserve:
Bird species found in the reserve:
Site locations
- Main gate 22°58′36″S 29°09′03″E / 22.97667°S 29.15083°E
- Office 22°59′03″S 29°08′51″E / 22.98417°S 29.14750°E
- Mashatu camp 22°59′11″S 29°08′48″E / 22.98639°S 29.14667°E
- Tamboti camp 22°59′19″S 29°09′04″E / 22.98861°S 29.15111°E
- Molope camp 22°59′02″S 29°08′28″E / 22.98389°S 29.14111°E
- Modumele camp 22°59′53″S 29°06′48″E / 22.99806°S 29.11333°E
- Vulture Restaurant 22°58′48″S 29°06′03″E / 22.98000°S 29.10083°E
- Big Tree 22°59′47″S 29°04′20″E / 22.99639°S 29.07222°E
- Fig Forest 23°00′11″S 29°03′47″E / 23.00306°S 29.06306°E
- Look-out point 23°00′01″S 29°09′03″E / 23.00028°S 29.15083°E
- Fountain 23°02′48″S 29°04′08″E / 23.04667°S 29.06889°E
- Rapanyana's Neck 23°01′09″S 29°04′51″E / 23.01917°S 29.08083°E
See also
References
- ^ "Blouberg Nature Reserve". Archived from the original on 23 May 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
- ^ Blouberg Nature Reserve, Limpopo
- ^ Situated at 23°05′09″S 29°00′09″E / 23.08583°S 29.00250°E. Joemat-Pettersson, Tina (13 September 2013). "Declaration of particular groups of trees as "Champion Trees"" (PDF). cer.org.za. University of Pretoria. Retrieved 7 December 2015.