Ezemvelo Nature Reserve

Just an hour’s drive north east of Johannesburg, Ezemvelo Nature Reserve is a tranquil sanctuary for grassland wildlife. At over 10 000 hectares, the reserve is a carpet of rolling grassy hills that’s soft and green in summer changing to tawny and dry in winter. But with the Wilge River running through the highland reserve, there’s water all year round for wildlife. The clear, cool waters of the Wilge have also cut dramatic gorges through Ezemvelo, which make for enchanting walks and scenic trails - most notably the 6km long Penduka Trail, which hugs the river and then curves inland to traverse game-rich areas.

There’s also more than a little South African history on Ezemvelo, and Andries Pretorius’s hunting cottage still stands proud on a grassy hillside overlooking the surrounding hills on the reserve. A short walk and some boulder hopping will reveal ancient rock art too, but you will need a guide to accompany you to this unmarked cultural site.

Ezemvelo lies neatly in a transition zone between grassland and savannah, so the reserve boasts species that favour both these biomes. This means there is an enormous diversity for visitors to enjoy, with over 286 bird species.

Ezemvelo is rated as one of South Africa’s finest grassland birding localities with birds such as Shelley’s Francolin and Melodious Lark. Grassland bird specials include Eastern Clapper Lark, Marsh Owl, eight species of Cisticola, plus six species of Spurfowl and Francolin. Seven lark species and four different pipits are also regularly seen on the grassy plains, along with teeming herds of zebra, black wildebeest, blesbok, eland and red hartebeest. Grassland mammal specials include white rhino, aardvark and aardwolf, with the predator list including leopard, caracal and brown hyena.
Investigating the red rock gorges and ravines on Ezemvelo will reveal Verreaux’s Eagle, Bokmakierie, Mocking Cliff Chat and Rock Kestrel. African Finfoot and White-backed Night Heron are sometimes also seen along the Wilge River.

Plant diversity is spectacular and springtime sees carpets of wild flowers adorning the hillsides. Being in the highveld grassland area, Ezemvelo has 48 different grasses with five of these being love grasses. There are proteas and cycads and with the diverse plant life also a myriad of insect species, including 53 different butterflies – one (Marsh Sylph) of which is on the red data list.

Ezemvelo also protects the African rock python and giant bull frog, which are both endangered.