48 hours in Rocherpan Nature Reserve
Article from Wild Magazine Autumn Edition 2019, words and images Karin Schermbrucker.
There’s nowhere better to enjoy the rugged charm of the West Coast than in a hidden gem on Route 27. Summer or winter, the pristine combination of beach, vlei, and land is a hive of animal and birdlife. By Karin Schermbrucker
We are a family of surfers, all ocean-loving, wave-chasing water babies. On a trip up the West Coast to the never-ending left-hand point break of Elands Bay, we stumbled upon a little gem about 30km south of Elands and 160km north of Cape Town. The region is renowned for the quaint fishing villages that have dotted the coastline for generations, establishing their own unique culture, along with countless unspoiled beaches amidst a carpet of wildflowers in the spring. Among this are a coastal nature reserve, a birder’s paradise, and a window onto the wild ecosystem of the West Coast. One of CapeNature’s best-kept secrets, Rocherpan Nature Reserve
It is a perfect ecosystem for birds, home to the rare and endangered black oystercatcher, kelp gull, and Cape shoveller. The combination of land, vlei, and sea provides ample breeding and feeding habitats for a variety of birds. A total of 183 species have been recorded, of which about 70 are water birds.
Our young ones were transfixed by the elegant necks and long pink legs of the lesser flamingoes which dominate stretches of the seasonal vlei right in front of eight eco-friendly cabins. A thousand shades of pink make for the most magnificent sunsets from your balcony. Three bird hides are ideally situated for those who want to spend hours at a time behind their binoculars, immersed in bird books and ticking off lists while absorbing nature’s orchestra in a full symphony. An added and unsuspected bonus was the new saline swimming pool, a great way to spend a warm afternoon after hours of activity.
Summer or winter, the stretch of beach which runs parallel to the reserve is a hive of animal and birdlife. On the three-kilometer beach hike offered by the reserve, we were fortunate to watch a seal pup make its way along the beach towards the dunes, observed by a duo of oystercatchers and the chatter of sand plovers.
The children couldn’t get enough of the untouched dunes which line the beach. These are ideal for a game of hiding and seek. When their energy was all but exhausted, tea and a fresh banana loaf at the lookout point offered welcome respite after the day’s activities. From the highest point of the reserve, we were treated to the magnificent performance and gigantic splash of a southern right whale. Watching this giant of the deep on its migratory path, we were reminded again of nature’s magnificence and just how very small we are.
We will return again to this hidden gem of Route 27, where the icy turquoise waters of the Atlantic Ocean envelope kilometre after untouched kilometre of shells and sand. We were reminded by the untouched magic that we are to leave only footprints when we go.
Trip Planner
Accommodation
Four eco-cabins each have a double bed and a futon for children. Off-peak rate R850 a night for one or two people, peak rate R1,190, R170 an extra child. A further four cabins sleep up to five people in two bedrooms. Off-peak rate R990 a night for the first two people, R195 an extra person; R1,770 for an entire cabin in peak season.
Activities
Hiking, mountain biking, birding, swimming, whale watching, angling, picnicking.
Conservation fees
Day access R50 an adult, R30 a child. Overnight R40 an adult, R20 a child. Wild Card members free.
Bookings
CapeNature Central Reservations 021-483-0190 or visit their www.capenature.co.za
Get your Wild CardIf you enjoy Southern African wildlife and visiting our many parks reserves, this is the best investment you can make. To read more about the Wild Card’s benefits, or to get yours, visit www.wildcard.co.za |