Kwelera Nature Reserve
Kwelera 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°E |
Area | 200 hectares (490 acres) |
Created | 23 December 1983 |
Administrator | Eastern Cape Parks and South African National Biodiversity Institute |
The Kwelera Nature Reserve is a coastal dune 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, where the reserve now serves as the natural portion of the 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. It is a park in the greater East London Coast Nature 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, the 6.96 ha (17.2 acres) Kwelera Island Local Nature Reserve was established as a protected area at the mouth of the Kwelera River. It is found opposite the reserve.[5]
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.[6]
Biodiversity
This reserve, flanked on either side by estuaries, consists of coastal dune vegetation that hosts a profusion of wildlife, which include:
Birds
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.[7]
Reptiles
Vegetation
The
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).
- ^ "Virtual Tour Kwelera". SANBI. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
- ^ "Kwelera Coastal Nature Reserve, Eastern Cape". www.sa-venues.com. Retrieved 17 May 2022.