Rietvlei Nature Reserve

This article is about the nature reserve in Pretoria, Gauteng. For the wetland reserve in Milnerton, Cape Town, see Rietvlei Wetland Reserve.
Rietvlei Nature Reserve

View from lookout point on route 4
Map showing the location of Rietvlei Nature Reserve

Location of Rietvlei Nature Reserve in Gauteng

Location South Africa
Nearest city Pretoria, Gauteng
Coordinates 25°53′49″S 28°17′38″E / 25.89694°S 28.29389°E / -25.89694; 28.29389Coordinates: 25°53′49″S 28°17′38″E / 25.89694°S 28.29389°E / -25.89694; 28.29389
Area 3,800 hectares (38 km2)[1]
Established 1929, proclaimed 1948[2]
Governing body City of Tshwane

The Rietvlei Nature Reserve is located in Pretoria and is about 3,800 hectares (38 km2)[1] in size. Located within the reserve is the Rietvlei Dam.

The Rietvlei Nature Reserve surrounds and include the Rietvlei dam and is situated south east of Pretoria, in the Gauteng Province of South Africa, between the R21 highway (OR Tambo Airport highway) on the western side and the R50 (Delmas / Babsfontein) road on the north-east (Figure 2.2). The site lies in the quarter degree grid square 2528CD (Rietvlei Dam), between 25º50’S and 25º56’S latitude and 28º15'E and 28º19'E longitude. The mean elevation above sea level is approximately 1 525 meters, with the highest point at 1 542 m and the lowest point at 1 473 m (at the dam’s outflow). The reserve covers a surface area of approximately 3 870 ha or 38 km2 and a network of roads cross the entire area, which makes the reserve accessible to visitors and management.

Flora and fauna

Trees

Both indigenous and exotic species of trees can be found in the reserve.

Birds

There are an estimated 319 species of birds that make use of the reserve, of which 272 species have been confirmed.[3]

Mammals

The reserve carries around 1600 individual mammals. Blesbuck, black wildebeest, red hartebeest, eland, common zebra, waterbuck, reedbuck, springbuck, mountain reedbuck, steenbok, grey duiker, oribi, leopard, buffalo, and hippopotamus can all be found in the reserve.[2][4] Currently there are also 4 lionesses and 2 male lions kept in a separate enclosure on the reserve.

Threats to the reserve

The reserve is situated in Gauteng, one of the highest population density areas in South Africa. As such it is constantly under threat by human expansion and development.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Rietvlei Nature Reserve: Historic Background". City of Tshwane. Retrieved 2008-10-19.
  2. 1 2 Marais, Riaan (November 2004). "A Plant Ecological Study of the Rietvlei Nature Reserve, Gauteng Province" (PDF). City of Tshwane. Retrieved 2008-11-25.
  3. 1 2 3 Rietvlei Nature Reserve (Booklet issued to visitors at the reserve). City of Tshwane.
  4. ↑ "Rietvlei Nature Reserve: General Information". City of Tshwane. Retrieved 2008-11-25.
  5. ↑ "Rietvlei Dam under threat from planned site". Independent Online (South Africa). 2006-09-26. Retrieved 2008-11-28.
  6. ↑ van Eeden, Pieter H. (2004). "Comments on beak deformities at Rietvlei Dam Nature Reserve" (PDF). Afring News. Retrieved 2008-11-28.
  7. ↑ "Rietvlei rehabilitation project aids in water purification". South African National Biodiversity Institute. September 2008. Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. Retrieved 2008-11-28.

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