Helderberg Nature Reserve

Helderberg Nature Reserve
Helderberg mountainside
Map
LocationSomerset West, South Africa
Coordinates34°01′59″S 18°52′28″E / 34.03306°S 18.87444°E / -34.03306; 18.87444
Area398 ha (980 acres)
Established1960
Helderberg Nature Reserve is located in Western Cape
Helderberg Nature Reserve
Helderberg Nature Reserve (Western Cape)

Helderberg Nature Reserve is a 398-hectare (980-acre) nature reserve in Somerset West, South Africa.[1]

This nature reserve is located on the southern slopes of the Helderberg mountains. Its 398 ha consist mostly of “Kogelberg Sandstone Fynbos” (a highly species-rich vegetation type) with smaller patches of “Boland Granite Fynbos” and “Southern Afrotemperate Forest”. Altogether about 600 species of plant have been recorded here, including a wide range of proteas. Particularly prominent plants include the pincushion proteas (Leucospermum sp.), cone bushes (Leucadendron sp.), sugar bushes (Protea sp.), heaths (Erica sp.) and the waboom tree (Protea nitida).[2]

Animals that can be found here include the Cape leopard, caracal, grey duiker, Cape grysbok, steenbok, mongoose, angulate and padloper tortoises and over 170 species of bird.

The reserve has a picnic area, gift shop, Environmental Education Centre and museum displays.[3]

  1. ^ "City of Cape Town Nature Reserves. Free Booklet" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-11-22.
  2. ^ "Flora of the Western Cape".
  3. ^ "Environmental resources and downloads. City of Cape Town. Environmental Resource Management Dept". Archived from the original on 2012-12-23.