Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve, South Africa
Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve lies in the Hottentots Holland mountains, some 90 km south east of Cape Town. The 42,000 ha 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, situated high in Viljoen’s Pass, between Grabouw and Villiersdorp. The terrain is rugged and very mountainous, with altitudes ranging from 500 m to 1 590 m.
The annual rainfall may be as high as 3 300 mm 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!
Wildlife includes small populations of grey rhebuck, klipspringer, common duiker and grysbok occur, and leopard frequent these mountains but are seldom seen.
Epic South Africa Culture & Adventure Route © Monika Newbound
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