De Hoop Nature Reserve
IUCN Category Ia - Strict Nature Reserve
Black Oystercatcher
The nature reserve De Hoop Nature Reserve is located about 250 km east of Cape Town and 60 km southwest of Swellendam and Bredasdorp between Witsand and is the southernmost nature reserve in Africa. It is part of the Cape Floral and since 2004 thus belongs to the UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is located on a stretch of coastline with huge white sand dunes in the western part and rocky coves framed by cliffs in the eastern part. Is managed protected area of Cape Nature.
History
1956 some farms were bought up and declared a year later, the area a nature reserve. The farm " De Hoop " gave the reserve its name. With its many extensions in the following years the size has grown to now 35,000 ha. The reserve has a coastline of 45 kilometers in length and was built in 1986 by the " de Hoop Marine Reserve ", an extension of the protection status by 5 kilometers into the sea beyond, is being expanded by 23,000 ha.
The climate is Mediterranean, with hot summers and mild winters. The annual rainfall is about 380 mm, of August is the wettest month.
Flora / Fauna
The purpose of the conservation area
- 1,500 endangered plant species in the reserve, of which 108 species are very marginal and in their stock and 34 species endemic: Protection of diverse fynbos
- Conservation of the wetlands " De Hoop Vlei "
In addition to flora are still protected:
- 89 mammal species (eg, mountain zebra, eland, hartebeest, Blesbok )
- 250 species of birds
- 14 species of amphibians
- 50 species of reptiles.
Dunes
Ludwig Trappe
Elands with young
To the west of the conservation area is one of the largest brackish water lagoon in southern Africa, "De Hoop Vlei ". Here you can find thousands of waterfowl refuge and food. Number and type of birds are dependent on the seasons and water levels. You can see flamingos, herons, ducks, Kammblässhühner, Nile geese, plovers, crescent beach runners and threatened in their existence black oystercatchers and Damara. The " De Hoop Vlei " is designated as Ramsar wetland.
In the Potberg region in the northeast of the reserve is the only breeding colony of Cape Vultures in the southwestern Cape. 1982, there were only 20 breeding pairs, thanks to the consistent protection measures will reduce but increased again to 75 breeding pairs.
In the spring you can watch from the dunes from flocks of southern right whales ( Southern Right Whale ), the coastline is mating and rearing area of this cetacean.
Along the coastal stretch over kilometers the chains of high white dunes that merge then from the viewpoint " koppie avenues " ( whale watching ) in rocky tide pools.
An eleven -kilometer-long track (path with wetterabhängigem state) leads with some branches through the reserve. Since larger predators are missing, you may very well walk - even on multi-day hikes - explore the entire area.