Jonkershoek Nature Reserve
Jonkershoek Nature Reserve | |
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Location | Western Cape, South Africa |
Nearest city | Stellenbosch |
Coordinates | 33°58′10″S 18°56′10″E / 33.96944°S 18.93611°E |
Area | 11,000 ha (27,000 acres) |
Administered by | CapeNature |
Website | Jonkershoek Nature Reserve - CapeNature |
Jonkershoek Nature Reserve is a CapeNature nature reserve located approximately 10 km (6 mi) south-east of the town of Stellenbosch in the Western Cape province of South Africa. It covers an area of approximately 11,000 hectares (27,000 acres).[1]
Description
The reserve lies north of the
History
The name Jonkershoek is said to hail from the 17th century owner of one of the freeholds that Simon van der Stel issued in the valley: Jan Andriessen, who had been a bachelor midshipman, was also known as Jan de Jonkheer[2] and named his grant of land Vallei Jonkershoek.[1]
Started as the Assegaaibosch farmstead in 1790, it was subsequently altered substantially by its various occupants. In 1817 Lord Charles Somerset granted the land to Wouter Eduard Wium, with the special proviso that he plant oak trees, and the area now includes many huge oaks.[1]
In 1960 the
Wildlife
The Jonkershoek mountains are home to leopard, caracal, klipspringer, baboon, honey badger and mongoose, however, all but the baboons are very secretive. Birdlife include kingfisher, black eagle, fish eagle, spotted eagle-owl, sugarbirds, orange-breasted sunbirds and protea seedeaters.
Access
The reserve can be accessed from Stellenbosch via Jonkershoek Road.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d "Jonkershoek Nature Reserve" (PDF). CapeNature. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 September 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
- ^ "Jonkershoek Valley Heritage Survey: Who's Who in the Jonkershoek Valley" (PDF). Stellenbosch Heritage Foundation. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)