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HOTTENTOTS HOLLAND NATURE RESERVE |
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Near Grabouw
The Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve lies in the Hottentots Holland mountains, some 90km south east of Cape Town. The 42 000ha reserve stretches from Elgin in the south to beyond Villiersdorp in the north, and from the Stellenbosch mountains in the west, eastwards to the Groenland mountains. The entrance to the reserve is at Nuweberg, high in Viljoen's Pass between Grabouw and Villiersdorp.
The terrain is rugged and very mountainous, with altitudes ranging from 500m to 1590m. The annual rainfall may be as high as 3300mm on the Dwarsberg plateau and the winds are frequent and strong. Summers are generally mild and dry. Weather conditions in the mountains can be unpredictable and dangerous.
The reserve is important for the conservation of mountain fynbos with approximately 1300 species occurring here, including several rare and endemic plants. Small populations of grey rhebuck, klipspringer, common duiker and grysbok occur. Leopard also frequent these mountains but are seldom seen. Approximately 110 bird species have been recorded on the reserve, amongst them several species of raptor.
About 21 000ha of private and state property abutting the reserve is co-managed as the Theewaterskloof Conservancy by CapeNature and various landowners. The Franschhoek Pass (R45) runs through this area.
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
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