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ORGANOGRAM
FUNCTIONS
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Eradication of invasive plans and animals
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Construction and maintenance of roads and footpaths
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Enforcement of necessary by-laws
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Monitoring of natural environmental conditions
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Planning and control of fires and fire controlling equipment
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The management of NMBM Nature Reserves and Natural Open Spaces
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Problem animal control
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Research
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Rehabilitation of degraded environmental conditions
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Protection of sensitive and unique features
VAN STADENS RESERVE
The use of these walking trails is entirely at your own risk
Van Stadens Wild Flower Reserve
Springs Walking Trails
Maitland Reserve Walking Trails
VAN STADENS WILD FLOWER RESERVE
The Van Stadens Wild Flower Reserve is situated 40 km’s west of Port Elizabeth adjacent to the N2 National Road to Cape Town. The 600 ha reserve was proclaimed in1951, making it the oldest in the country which provides a sanctuary for indigenous flora and fauna. The Reserve provides a tranquil setting for outdoor family and educational activities in terms of biodiversity and culture. Two hiking trails can be walked: the river walk of 4 km’s through fynbos vegetation and the forest walk of 6km’s. These trails are suitable for reasonably fit persons who are advised to wear sturdy shoes and take a sunhat and drinking-water. NO DOGS OR FIRES are allowed.
Vegetation varies from forest to fynbos, where the plateau and gorge meet. In these areas a number of endemic, rare and threatened plant species can be found. Cyrtanthus stadensis, a fire lily found in the reserve, is named after the Van Stadens area where it was first recorded. The largest population in the world of Cape Chestnut (Colodendrum capense) can be found in the forest. Fynbos on the reserve supports populations of protea’s, erica’s and ground orchids in abundance. Van Staden’ is also home to the endangered Smith’s Dwarf Chameleon and the Hewitt’s Ghost Frog.
There is also a cave with a petroglyph believed to be the most Southerly located engraving in Southern Africa. Excellent views can be seen of the Van Stadensberg Mountain Range, and the Van Stadens Road Bridge. The natural feature of a rock formation depicting a ladies high heeled shoe can be seen when travelling to the reserve along the old Cape Road. The highest narrow gauge railway bridge in the world can be seen if one travels along the gravel road running under the Van Stadensberg. It is a short walk after crossing the railway line at the Van Stadens village and is well worth a visit.
NOTE: Use of the area is entirely at your own risk
SPRINGS WALKING TRAILS
Springs Nature Reserve is found 20km north of Uitenhage on the road to Jansenville / Graaf Reinette. It is 400 ha in size and was founded in 1968. The reserve protects a variety of vegetation landscapes, including Fynbos and Thicket Vegetation. The reserve offers a well marked network of Hiking trails with many fine viewpoints. A large variety of birds and several animals may be seen. A picnic facility is at the entrance to the reserve.
MAITLAND RESERVE WALKING TRAILS
The Maitlands Forest Nature Reserve is located approximately 3 km inland from the Maitland River mouth to the sea. The reserve is about 40km from Port Elizabeth and is best accessed by the coastal road passing though the Seaview Village. The reserve is 150 ha in size and was declared a Nature Reserve in 1975. Three trails can be walked within the reserve. The trails are suitable for moderately fit persons, who are advised to wear sturdy shoes and take a sunhat and drinking water. NO DOGS are allowed. Coastal Dune Forest is well represented and protected within the reserve. A few of the common plants occurring in the reserve are: Wild Olive, White Milkwood, Cape Cranberry, Outeniqua Yellowwoods and Spike thorns. Birdlife is abundant and Knysna Loerie, Speckled Mousebird, Southern Boubou, Cape Robin and Sunbirds are a few that can be seen. Fish Eagles are sometimes seen in the area. Signs of Blue Duiker and Bushpig are common. Southern Right and Humpback Whales can be seen in the sea from viewpoints close to the reserve.
SETTLERS’ PARK
In Settlers’ Park, one may see Guinea Fowl, Pea Fowl, Angulated and Mountain Tortoise, Rock Dassies, Grey Mongoose and Grysbok. Along the river banks Leguaan, Terrapin, Green Water Snake, and, if you are lucky, Water Mongoose and Clawless Otters may be seen. The park is a birdwatchers paradise with many species including the beautiful Knysna Loerie. The small Spotted Genet patroles nocturnally.
The use of these walking trails is entirely at your own risk
Lower Guinea-Fowl Trail
Trail of the Roseate Tern
Sacramento Trail
Coastal Fynbos Trail
LOWER GUINEA-FOWL TRAIL
The trail is situated between the Third Avenue Dip in Newton Park, leading down river to Settlers Park and Brickmakers Kloof. The walk follows the Baakens river which must be crossed by means of stepping-stones on numerous occasions. These crossings become hazardous and in places impassable after rain, when seasonal flooding occurs. The walk is suitable for reasonably fit persons who are advised to walk in groups, wear stout shoes and take a sunhat and drinking water. NO DOGS are permitted in the Settlers Park section of the trail.
The Guinea-fowl Trail alongside the Baakens River passes through a steep-sided valley in the city suburbs for its full length. The river which is 23 km in length has its source in the Hunters Retreat area and ends where it enters the sea at the Port Elizabeth harbor. Where the path climbs above the flood-plain the vegetation consists of Eastern Cape Fynbos (reaching its eastern limits in Port Elizabeth), which also has a good scattering of conspicuous succulents on dry Northern aspect slopes. Patches of Valley Bushveld, consisting of small trees and bushes occur in kloof’s which enter the valley predominantly from the north. These kloofs act as seasonal tributaries to the river.
Sections of the valley and river are infested with alien vegetation, the removal of which is ongoing but proves to be a slow and costly process. Biological controls have been introduced onto certain invasive plants: rust fungus on Port Jackson, gall wasps on the Long Leaved Acacia and weevil on the Sesbania.
A high, sheer, knife-edge spur protruding into the valley from Linkside provides a reference point to hikers when crossed by means of a boardwalk which descends to the boundary of Dodd’s Farm. Access to the trail can be gained through Dodd’s Farm from Ninth Avenue, Walmer. Bat’s cave, is located at the Dodd’s Farm river crossing before the trail traverses open veld through the old Trollips Farm to Target Kloof.
Wellington Park offers a panoramic view of the Baakens Valley. The trail route through Settlers Park, offers one the opportunity to look up at the high LoversRock, which is the home of the rare peregrine falcon.
NOTE: Use of the area is entirely at your own risk
TRAIL OF THE ROSEATE TERN
The walk of 8 km (3 – 4 hours) starts at the entrance gate to the Cape Recife Nature Reserve where there are ablutions. The 366 ha Cape Recife Nature Reserve was proclaimed in 1973 and is situated adjacent to the Pine Lodge Resort off Marine Drive. No permit is required for hikers leaving their vehicles outside the gate, but an annual or weekly permit, available from the Pine Lodge Resort is required for vehicles entering the reserve. The trail is suitable for moderately fit persons who are advised to walk in a group, wear stout shoes and take a sunhat and drinking-
water. NO DOGS are allowed.
A bird hide on a reclamation pond is located on the trail. The pond is part of the Cape Recife water reclamation works and the water is unsuitable for drinking or washing purposes. These ponds make this area one of the best birdwatching venues around Port Elizabeth where several species of ducks and waders can be seen. Shy reed bed birds such as black crake, purple gallinule and little bittern may show themselves, and otters are not uncommon. The purple flowers of the Ipomoea creeper are very conspicuous along the trail leading from the hide. Bushpig spoor is usually seen as are several buck species in the vegetated dune areas adjacent to the beach.
The trail passes the lighthouse, built in 1851 and automated only recently. The area around the lighthouse is part of a sand by-pass sand-dune system, typical of many of the southern coast peninsulas. At low tide the rock pools provide a fascinating glimpse of life under the waves where sea-anemones and starfish can be found. Near the lighthouse is a large ternroost, where the rare roseate tern, is sometimes seen. On a rocky promontory at the end of the sandy beach
waves can be seen breaking over Thunderbolt reef, the graveyard of numerous ships, the last being the Kapodistrias which was wrecked on 29th July 1985.
The trail heads inland over sand-dunes vegetated with fynbos and dune scrub. It meanders through the remains of World War II barracks before climbing the hill to the fortress observation post, erected in 1940 as part of the harbour defences. From here there is an excellent view of the bay and the reserve which consists of many stabilized vegetated dunes, once part of an extensive shifting dune system that covered much of Summerstrand.
NOTE: Use of the area is entirely at your own risk
SACRAMENTO TRAIL
The trail of about 8 km traverses the 320 ha Sardinia Bay Nature Reserve proclaimed in 1980. The walk starts at the west end of Schoenmakerskop and follows the coast to Sardinia Bay, returning via bridle-tracks and a path along the top of the vegetated dunes. The trail is suitable for reasonably fit persons who are advised to walk in a group, wear stout shoes and take a sunhat and drinking-water. DOGS are allowed on the lower section of the trail which follows the coastline to Sardinia Bay.
At Schoenmakerskop a bronze cannon points towards the wreck site of the Portuguese galleon Sacramento,which foundered on 30 June 1647. Of the 72 survivors who reached the beach and then set out to walk the 1 300 km back to Mozambique, but only nine reached Delagoa Bay (Maputo), on 5 January 1648. Only four survived to sail back to Goa (Far East). In 1977 local divers salvaged 40 bronze cannon from the wreck, including the one on display.
From the cannon the trail follows the coastline where numerous freshwater seepages can be seen. At the Sacramento monument one of two tall white beacons which mark the beginning of the adjacent Sardinia Bay Marine Reserve can be seen. This reserve was proclaimed in 1974, and extends to Bushy Park in the west. The marine reserve covers the area from the high-water mark to1km out to sea. Removal of marine life, including angling, is prohibited.
Sardinia Bay is the source of a 7 000 ha drift-sands area stretching to Humewood. In the late 1800’s the area was stabilized by dumping the city’s refuse onto the dunes. Nevertheless natural processes are continually attempting to re-establish the drift-sands. Any disturbance of the sensitive pioneer dune vegetation, either by foot, vehicle or animals, will lead to “blow -outs”. These “blow outs” will eventually endanger roads and buildings.
On the trail at the far end of the sandy bay aptly named Cannon Bay, are the ruins of a mill used to crush seashells. The rocky strata along the coastline are of the Table Mountain sandstone group and along this stretch of coast they jut into the sea, creating sheltered gulleys that teem with juvenile fish. The terrestrial plant community among the rocks is able to cope with sea spray and thin soils; Gazania and Tetragonia are among these more common plants. Out to sea gannets and dolphins can often be seen.
Sardinia Bay is a popular bathing beach with picnic facilities, ablution block with drinking-water and a lifesaving club. Views of the adjacent Sylvic Nature Reserve and Bushy Park to the west can be seen from above the bathing beach. Wind stunted vegetation with trees such as the Milkwood grow into low bushes and form part of the dense dune scrub whilst on plateau areas fynbos is becoming established where extensive stands of alien Rooikrans and Port Jackson have been cleared. Good views of the coastline are obtained from the inland section of the trail which meanders through fynbos to Schoenmakerskop.
NOTE: Use of the area is entirely at your own risk
COASTAL FYNBOS TRAIL
This circular trail of about 7 km starts at Sappershoek which is located at the east end of the seaside village of Schoenmakerskop. An inland route is followed through the coastal fynbos to a cellphone tower, returning to Sappershoek along the top of the ridge overlooking the sea.
The area between Schoenmakerskop and Summerstrand is known as Driftsands after the shifting by-pass sand dune system that used to cover the area. The sands were stabilized at the beginning of the 1900s. The trail keeps to the sea side of the old by-pass dune systems. In order to stabilize the sand dunes Australian wattles such as Rooikrans and Port Jackson were planted as were Eucalyptus trees planted in an attempt to start a commercial forest. Low rainfall (approx 600mm per year), poor soil and strong salt laden winds were not conducive to tree growth and the trees were never harvested commercially. The alien vegetation introduced during these times invaded large areas preventing indigenous vegetation from growing. Much of the alien vegetation has now been cleared from the trail area, allowing the indigenous vegetation to become established.
The underlying rock is Table Mountain Sandstone (TMS). TMS supports fynbos, found only between Port Elizabeth and Cape Town. Fynbos is the smallest, most diverse and most endangered of the world’s six floral kingdoms, supporting approximately 9000 plant species of which 70% are endemic. Along the trail calcrete outcrops, derived from calcium rich marine deposits and deep dune sands together with variations in topography and the influence of salt laden winds and fire have led to a mosaic of vegetation communities.
The area resembled a desert after huge fires in January 1998. The vegetation has recovered and the burnt areas are dominated by low Asteraceous fynbos. In areas that the fire missed, the fynbos / coastal dune thicket mosaic is much taller and the fynbos is dominated by Metalasia and Agathosma (buchu). Orchids (e.g. Eucornis, Satirium) are a common sight in spring. Without fire the coastal dune thicket, comprising many forest species would become more dominant.
On the trail look out for the butterfly Thysbe’s Copper, that reaches its easternmost limit here. In flight it has a blue hue, but appears orange at rest. Small Grey and Yellow Mongooses may be seen as well as Cape Grysbok. Keep a good look out over the sea for whales. Southern Right Whales are present mainly August – early October, Humpbacks migrate along this stretch of coast between April and early December and can give spectacular displays.
NOTE: Use of the area is entirely at your own risk.
SWARTKOPS
The use of these walking trails is entirely at your own risk
Aloe Trail
Flamingo Trail
ALOE TRAIL
The Aloe trail comprises of two trails one of 2km marked with yellow arrows and a longer one of 7 km (3 hours) marked with red arrows. Both start at a gate at the top of Tippers Creek Road
between Amsterdamhoek and Bluewater Bay . The trail takes a circular route via the escarpment overlooking Amsterdamhoek returning through valley bushveld on the plateau. Amsterdamhoek, is named after a Dutch man-of –war, the Amsterdam, which ran aground near the mouth of the river on 16 December 1817. The walks are suitable for reasonably fit persons, who are advised to walk in a group, wear stout shoes and take a sunhat and drinking-water. NO DOGS are allowed.
The dense, stunted vegetation know n as valley bushveld seen along the trail has adapted to the arid climate combined with the shallow clay soils on top of calcareous sandstone. Aloes, especially A. pluridens, at the start of the trail make a stunning show when in flower during June/July and attract many sunbirds. Views from the top of the escarpment are excellent where the lower reaches of the Zwartkops estuary, a major recreational area can be seen. Estuaries are amongst the most productive ecosystems on earth where saltmarsh vegetation provides food for mudprawn and other invertebrates living in the intertidal mudbanks, these animals inturn provide a food source for birds and fish. There is also a good view upstream to Redhouse, the Zwartkops Nature Reserve, saltpan and beyond to Uitenhage and Cockscomb, the source of the river.
The trail in places follows old game-tracks worn down several centimeters below the level of the surrounding ground, over the centuries, by the passing animals. Note how the removal of the valley bushveld binding the clay slopes caused widespread erosion and also how the vegetation has adapted to withstand the dry conditions, different species storing water in leaves, stems or underground bulbs. Other plants have tough, leathery leaves that do not lose much moisture, and many have thorns to protect them from grazing animals. Grysbok are common, whereas bushpig
and the rare blue duiker are seldom seen. Formerly this bush supported many game animals, including elephant. The only remaining evidence of the presence of these large mammals are well worn game tracks and the old wallows. The trail passes through a series of these wallows which can be seen as bush-free depressions that hold water after good rains.
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