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] Blouberg was established as a protected area in 1990 by Peter G Dix. The reserve is currently managed and administered by the Limpopo Provincial Government Department of Economic Development, Environment & Tourism
Blouberg Nature Reserve | |
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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 |
Founder | Peter G Dix |
Administered by | Limpopo Provincial Government |
Topography and habitats
editIts 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
editCurrent 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
editAnimal species found in the reserve:
Bird species found in the reserve:
Site locations
edit- 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
editReferences
edit- ^ "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.