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0000-00-00 : KOGELBERG BIOSPHERE RESERVE
Living in the foothills of the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve feels like owning a piece of paradise and I'd love to tell you more about it, so that your family too, may enjoy its many wonders.
The biosphere stretches all the way from Gordon's Bay to Bot River in the East, the Groenlandberg Mountains in the North and Betty's Bay in the South. It was registered with UNESCO in 1998 and is a World Heritage Site. In fact, it was the very first biosphere in South Africa to be recognised internationally. Year after year we discover exciting facets of this exceptional area, rightly called 'the heart' of the Cape Floral Kingdom, the smallest, yet richest Floral Kingdom of the World. The Kogelberg Mountains and the adjoining lowland coastal areas are classified as one of the world's biodiversity 'hot spots' with over 1650 plant species, of which 77 are endemic. In comparison, Britain has only 22 endemic species! Situated at a mere 40 km east of Cape Town, the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve is about the same size as the Cape Peninsula with 100.000 ha of natural abundance to explore. Little by little we realised how exciting this protected area actually was. Most reserves are either land or marine based, and you'll somehow expect typical activities for mountainous areas, arid land or a sea environment. What makes the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve so special is that it offers an all-in-one experience. You will find rugged mountains, wetlands, rivers and streams, an indigenous afromontane forest, lakes and seeps, sandy flats and dunes. To top it all, there is the Kogelberg Biosphere Marine Park with 65 km coastline which extends 3 nautical miles out to sea. Imagine the myriad of recreational opportunities... Tubing trips on the Palmiet River are an incredibly fun and exciting way of experiencing the Kogelberg reserve. Contact Gravety Adventures on 021-6833698 to organise this for you. All along the coast there are many exciting ways to discover the magic of the reserve. Water sports fanatics will enjoy a good surf at Kogel Bay between Gordon's Bay and Rooi Els, the latter being a favourite dive site. Scuba courses and dive trips can be arranged through Eco-Adventures. Contact Emile van der Merwe on 083-5309068. If you prefer to sit back and relax, go for a boat trip. Not to be missed is a visit to the penguin colony at Stoney Point in Betty's Bay. it is home to one of the only 3 land-based breeding colonies of the endangered African Penguin. Go and wait for these little fellows in tuxedo just before sunset when they return from their 20 km fishing trip. Much of the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve remains pristine territory. There are still leopard roaming in the mountains and one of the only two herds of wild horses in southern Africa can be found in the Bot River lagoon area near Kleinmond. Klein Paradys Equestrian Centre organises rides on Kleinmond beach to track down the wild horses. Contact Sue or Manfred on 028-2849422 or 083-2406448. They also do scenic trail rides to explore the region. The rugged mountains are home to a wonderful variety of small game. Early mornings and evenings are the best times to encounter the area's wildlife. Birdlife too is rich in the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve. There are over 200 bird species and in Rooi Els you may very well spot Cape Rock jumpers and Verreaux Eagles from July till December. When we were building our house, curious Steenbok came and watched us. Mongoose too; we even had an enormous porcupine in the garden not so long ago. It had a ball of a time and gobbled up all the white arum lilies near the winter stream! Our garden is not fenced, so when first-time visitors ask us where our garden ends, I always reply with "Where do you want it to end..." showing them the foothills of the reserve, arms wide open. Sometimes we take the children up the mountain, starting at our back door, but there are fabulous trails in the mountains and into the core of the reserve, starting on different sides of the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve. Our favourite 'family walk' starts opposite the Sunbird Lodge outside Gordon's Bay on the way to Rooi Els. The locals call it the 'crystal pools' because of the little waterfalls and rock pools on the way. The water is a welcome refresher on a hot summer day. The trail will take you right up to the botanical gardens at the Steenbras dam. Remember to check with the Tourism Bureau if you are allowed to walk up to the dam from that side. Another botanical garden is Harold Porter in Betty's Bay. This is a truly amazing garden with exciting walks and plenty of wonderful picnic spots. They organise free tours of the gardens each first Saturday of the month, starting at 11:00. Phone 028-2729311 to book your place or to find out more about their other interesting events. Until recently, the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve was one of the Cape's best kept secrets. Find out for yourself what makes it so special! WHAT IS A BIOSPHERE RESERVE? In a biosphere reserve, conservation and development co-exist in a sustainable way. The objective is to preserve biodiversity whilst meeting the material needs of an increasing number of people. The success of the initiative relies heavily on the commitment of the communities. The area comprises of 3 zones: core - The undisturbed core zone is rich in biodiversity and strictly protected. Low impact recreational and educational activities are allowed. buffer - In this zone you will mainly find privately owned land where owners apply the principles of eco-friendly farming and tourism. The buffer zone protects the core from developmental impact. transition - Transition zones are areas with intense human activity, but in respect of the ecological principles. A biodiversity 'hot spot' is an area with a concentration of endangered vegetation. GOOD READS Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, Heart of the Cape Flora by Amida & Mark Johns, Published by Struik In Celebration of Fynbos by Petra Vandecasteele & Paul Godard, Published by Struik, www.incelebrationoffynbos.com USEFUL CONTACTS www.kogelbergbiospherereserve.co.za Tourism Bureau in Kleinmond, phone 028-2715657 (a/h 072-0406723) Tourism Info at Peregrine Farmstall in Elgin, phone 028-85990111 Permits For hiking in the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve core area permits can be obtained from the Cape Nature Office, Ouderbosch (up the signposted dirt road across the Palmiet River Bridge from Kleinmond), or by contacting (028) 313 2703. For angling and crayfishing permits can be obtained from any post office. Text by Petra Vandecasteele Photography by Paul Godard