SWARTBERG

Swartberg Nature Reserve lies in the Oudtshoorn district between the Great and Little Karoo, bordered by the Gamka River in the west and the Uniondale- Willowmore road in the east. The reserve encompasses 121 000 ha of mostly state- owned land. Gamkapoort Nature Reserve, immediately to the north of the reserve and 8 000 ha in extent, is managed as part of the Swartberg, making the total conservation area a vast 129 000 ha. The nearest towns are Oudtshoorn (±40km), De Rust (± 5 km) and Prince Albert (± 5 km).

Besides conservation, the reserve is concerned with the conservation of mountain catchments and the water yield thereof, as well as educational and recreational opportunities.

History

This area was clearly used by the San for many centuries, as evidenced by the numerous rock paintings and artefacts found in caves all aver the reserve. During the 1700’s European farmers arrived in the area, establishing small settlements and making 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, built by Thomas C.J. Bain, takes one over the Swartberg and reaches a height of 1 585m above sea-level. Gamkaskloof (Die Hel), Which was first inhabited by farmers in 1830, was only accessible by foot until 1963 when a road was finally built into the valley.

Climate and Geology

This is an area of climatic extremes, with very cold winters, often with snow on the mountains and temperatures well below zero, while summers can be uncomfortably hot with temperatures reaching 40°C and more! Rain occurs throughout the year, peaking in early winter and spring, and with thundershowers in the summer months.

The Swartberg mountains are part of the Cape fold mountain range, and the geological formations are chiefly of the Table Mountain group and to a lesser extent of the Bokkeveld and Cango groups. Impressive rock formations may be seen in the Swartberg and Meiringspoort passes.

Vegetation

The reserve’s vegetation is remarkably diverse, featuring renosterveld, mountain fynbos, Karoo-veld, spekboom veld, and numerous geophyte species. Some species will be in bloom virtually throughout the year. 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 rare Protea venusta.

Animals

Mammals likely to be seen include klipspringer, grey rhebuck, kudu, baboon and dassie, and on the flatter areas at Gamkapoort, springbok, leopard and caracal also occur in the area, but are seldom seen. More than 130 bird species have been recorded here, notably black, fish and martial eagle, Cape sugar-bird and pied kingfisher.