Kwelera Nature Reserve

The Kwelera Nature Reserve, a park in 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 Kwelera Nature 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.

Kwelera Nature Reserve
TypeNature reserve
LocationWild Coast Region, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Nearest cityGonubie
Coordinates32°54′43″S 28°04′05″E
Area200 hectares (490 acres)
Created23 December 1983 (1983-12-23)
Administered byEastern Cape Parks and South African National Biodiversity Institute

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, at the mouth and last bend of the Kwelera River 6.96 hectares (17.2 acres) of land opposite the reserve was established as a protected area and called the Kwelera Island Local Nature 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

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.[7]

Reptiles

Puff adder.[3]

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.

Trails

The Strandloper Trail traverses across the reserve to Gonubie.[3]

See also

References
  1. "FOREST NATURE RESERVE: Gazetted name: Kwelera Nature Reserve" (PDF).
  2. "Information". SANBI. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  3. Whitehead, Marion (1 September 2014). "Kwelera National Botanical Garden". Veld & Flora. 100: 112–115 – via Sabinet.
  4. "Protected Areas Register". dffeportal.environment.gov.za. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  5. "Kwelera Island Local Nature Reserve" (PDF).
  6. "Virtual Tour Kwelera". SANBI. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  7. "Kwelera Coastal Nature Reserve, Eastern Cape". www.sa-venues.com. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
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