Kwelera Nature Reserve
| Kwelera Nature Reserve | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Nature reserve |
| Location | Wild Coast Region, Eastern Cape, South Africa |
| Nearest city | Gonubie |
| Coordinates | 32°54′43″S 28°04′05″E / 32.912°S 28.068°ECoordinates: 32°54′43″S 28°04′05″E / 32.912°S 28.068°E |
| Area | 200 hectares (490 acres) |
| Created | 23 December 1983 |
| Administered by | Eastern Cape Parks and South African National Biodiversity Institute |
The Kwelera Nature Reserve, part of the greater East London Coast Nature Reserve, is a coastal forest reserve in the Wild Coast region of the Eastern Cape, South Africa.[1] Access to the reserve is through the adjacent Kwelera National Botanical Garden, which the reserve now serves as part of the botanical garden.[2][3] The reserve stretches from the Kwelera River on the eastern side, to the Gqunube River (Gonubie) at the western end of the reserve.
Etymology
Kwelera is the anglicised Khoi word for 'place of aloes'.[3]
History
The 200-hectare (490-acre) reserve was created in 1983 along with the Gulu Nature Reserve and Cape Henderson Nature Reserve for the conservation of the region's fauna and flora.[1] In 2014, 10.48 hectares (25.9 acres) were purchased by SANBI for the creation of the Kwelera National Botanical Garden;[4] this land would be added to the reserve and become the first national botanical in the Eastern Cape.[2] It would be jointly managed by SANBI and Eastern Cape Parks.
Kwelera Island Local Nature Reserve
In 1994, 6.96 hectares (17.2 acres) opposite the reserve on the last bend of the Kwelera River was established as a protected area, and called the Kwelera Island Local Nature Reserve.[5]
Biodiversity
This reserve, flanked on either side by estuaries, consists of coastal dune vegetation that hosts a profusion of wildlife, which include:
Birds
Emerald-spotted wood dove, fish eagle, heron and Knysna turaco.[3]
Fish
Bluefish, mullet, rays, Sand sharks and strepies.
Insects
The rare deceptive diadem butterfly.[3]
Mammals
Small buck like blue duiker and bushbuck, caracals, porcupine, vervet monkeys, whales and dolphins.[6]
Reptiles
Vegetation
The subtropical and temperate zone vegetation receives on average 800mm of rainfall a year. White milkwood, red milkwood and silver oak are found throughout the reserve. The flame lily, paintbrush lily and orchids are also found under cover of the milkwoods and oaks. Other flowering plants found on the reserve are the sour fig, winter poker, Haemanthus albiflos, num-num and Clematis brachiata. Sea pumpkin are instrumental in stabilising the dunes.[3] Also found along the coast is the wild banana and aloe.
Geography
The highest peak, named Magozo, is a 77-metre high dune in the coastal dune forest.[3] The village of Kwelera is surrounded by the reserve.[7]
Trails
The Strandloper Trail traverses across the reserve to Gonubie.[3]
See also
References
- ^ a b "FOREST NATURE RESERVE: Gazetted name: Kwelera Nature Reserve" (PDF).
- ^ a b "Information". SANBI. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Whitehead, Marion (1 September 2014). "Kwelera National Botanical Garden". Veld & Flora. 100: 112–115 – via Sabinet.
- ^ "Protected Areas Register". dffeportal.environment.gov.za. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
- ^ "Kwelera Island Local Nature Reserve" (PDF).
- ^ "Kwelera Coastal Nature Reserve, Eastern Cape". www.sa-venues.com. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
- ^ "Virtual Tour Kwelera". SANBI. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
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