Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve is a

protected area Protected areas or conservation areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognized natural or cultural values. Protected areas are those areas in which human presence or the exploitation of natural resources (e.g. firewood ...

which encompasses most of the Suikerbosrand Range,

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. It is one of

Gauteng Gauteng ( , ; Sotho-Tswana languages, Sotho-Tswana for 'place of gold'; or ) is one of the nine provinces of South Africa. Situated on the Highveld, Gauteng is the smallest province by land area in South Africa. Although Gauteng accounts f ...

's most frequented ecotourism locations, located approximately 50 kilometres south-east of

Johannesburg Johannesburg ( , , ; Zulu language, Zulu and Xhosa language, Xhosa: eGoli ) (colloquially known as Jozi, Joburg, Jo'burg or "The City of Gold") is the most populous city in South Africa. With 5,538,596 people in the City of Johannesburg alon ...

, just west of the town of

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in the upper catchment of the Klip and Suikerbosrand rivers. The altitude varies between above sea level. The reserve, which is , hosts a representative sample of the fauna and flora of the rocky

highveld The Highveld (Afrikaans: ''Hoëveld,'' , ) is the portion of the South African inland plateau which has an altitude above roughly , but below , thus excluding the Lesotho mountain regions to the south-east of the Highveld. It is home to some of t ...

grassland biome. Its boundaries include hiking trails, and tarred circular route for motorists.

History

The Suikerbosrand ridge was originally named after a sweet reed (probably sweet sorghum) found growing here by the party of general Hendrik Potgieter on 5 June 1836. Later the ridge and consequently the reserve's name became associated with the characteristic Transvaal-sugar bush (''Protea afra''), a dominant vegetation type within the area's limits. Recent land acquisitions at the beginning of the twenty-first century have seen the reserve almost double in its size. A huge challenge for the reserve's management is to include the newly acquired lands in the reserve without disturbing the balance within the original area. The Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve is managed by the Gauteng province's Department of Agriculture, Conservation, Environment and Land Affairs,

Wildlife

Over 200 bird species have been identified in the reserve. The reserve is also a habitat for a large range of mammal species including the animals listed below.

Cycling and mountain biking

The reserve is popular amongst

mountain bike A mountain bike (MTB) or mountain bicycle is a bicycle designed for off-road cycling (''mountain biking''). Mountain bikes share some similarities with other bicycles, but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and performance in r ...

rs and road cyclists for its quiet roads and trails, scenery, steep climbs, and fast twisting descents.

Hiking

The reserve includes a Visitors' Centre and the Diepkloof Farm Museum. The area is available on foot and contains several day and overnight hiking trails.

Holiday resort

A holiday

resort A resort (North American English) is a self-contained commercial establishment that aims to provide most of a vacationer's needs. This includes food, drink, swimming, accommodation, sports, entertainment and shopping, on the premises. A hotel ...

for day visitors (apparently day visitors are no longer allowed in at Kareekloof) and overnight campers is situated within the nature reserve. (It was previously known as Kareekloof) Accommodation is in the form of chalets, caravan (some with 240 V power) and tent sites.

Notes

External links

Footprints hiking club information on the trail
{{Authority control Gauteng Parks Protected areas of South Africa