Near George

The Outeniqua Nature Reserve lies on the Garden Route in the southern Cape, near the town of George. It is easily accessible from Mossel Bay, Knysna and Oudtshoorn. The reserve of 38 000 hectares, is fragmented over a series of rugged mountain ranges which lie parallel to the coast. The reserve supplies the region with fresh water from its catchments.

The name Outeniqua is thought to be derived from that of a Khoisan tribe once resident in the mountains and means "they who bear honey". Paintings formed an important part of the culture of these people, and their images of animals, hunters and honeycombs may be found on secluded rockfaces throughout the reserve.

The rugged Outeniqua mountains proved a huge hurdle for the early settlers who wished to move from the coastal regions into the hinterland. In the western part of the reserve, the Attakwaskloof, which was originally a thoroughfare for herds of elephants, was first used by settlers in 1689 to travel inland. In 1813 the Cradock Pass was built through the Outeniqua mountains, but was so steep that some travellers considered it only fit for baboons to climb! During 1844 work began on the Montagu Pass, eventually providing travellers with a safer and quicker route through the mountains.

The reserve lies between the high-rainfall coastal region and the dry Little Karoo. The vegetation in this mountainous area is diverse, and the moist southern slopes are predominantly covered with mountain fynbos. It is particularly attractive in September and October, when many of the proteas and ericas are in flower. The northern slopes are much drier, and accordingly the vegetation is sparser, blending with hardy, drought resistant Karoo veld.

The Outeniqua mountains are host to a variety of animal species. Mammals include the klipspringer, grey rhebuck, numerous small rodents and the elusive leopard. Birds include large raptors such as the black eagle, as well as smaller typical fynbos birds like the Cape sugarbird.

The weather conditions in the Outeniqua mountains could change at any time. In winter snowfalls may occur on the higher peaks. Heavy fog is very common and thunderstorms occur between five to ten days per year. The winter temperature can drop to 5° C and even lower on the northern side of the mountain. The climate is generally hot to moderate with an average summer temperature of 20,5° C.

CONTACT US:

Cape Nature

Tourism reservations and bookings: 
National callers: 0861 CAPENATURE (227 362 8873)
International callers: 0027 861 227 362 8873 / 0027 21 659 3500

For additional information please visit http://www.capenature.org.za