Bartholomeus Klip Nature & Wildlife

Nature & Wildlife

Afternoon game drives at Bartholomeus Klip end with sundowners in the veld: only an hour away from Cape Town, and you feel you are in Africa! The animals are easy to spot in the low-growing fynbos, especially since there are more than 500 head of game.
 
The nature reserve, with its characteristic fynbos and rare renosterveld vegetation, forms part of the Cape Floral Kingdom. It has been declared a National Heritage Site in recognition of its importance as the last major habitat of the geometric tortoise, one of the world's rarest reptiles.
 
The reserve in the springtime: 'flower heaven', as one guest called it, with sheets of colour and a myriad of different bulbs, orchids and daisies to be discovered on closer inspection.

Among the animal species at Bartholomeus Klip - some more easily seen than others - are:
- eland
- springbuck
- bontebok
- wildebeest, both blue and black
- gemsbok
- red hartebeest
- baboon
- bat-eared fox
- jackal
- lynx
- Cape fox
- leopard 
 
More than 160 species of birds have been identified at Bartholomeus Klip, among them the endangered blue crane and the African fish eagle as well as the ostrich, frequently seen in the reserve.