Gustav Klingbiel Nature Reserve, Lydenburg, Mpumalanga
The Gustav Klingbiel Nature Reserve is situated north-east of Lydenburg and lies next to the scenically spectacular Long Tom Pass. The reserve comprises 2200ha of beautiful Drakensberg escarpment fauna and flora.
Visiting the reserve is a fantastic opportunity to get a real sense of the rich history of the area. The Lydenburg Museum, situated at the entrance to the reserve, focuses on the cultural, archaeological and ethnographic history of the area. Featured in the museum are some excellent exhibits of the early human occupation of the area, as well as some fascinating artefacts from the Voortrekker era. Within the reserve, there are some very interesting stone-wall features from the Late Iron Age. Archeologists refer to these sites as originating from the Kligbiel phase of the Iron Age.
The reserve is home to some 270 fascinating bird species. Most exciting are the breeding colonies of Gurney’s Sugarbird, Goliath Heron and African Finfoot in the reserve.
The reserve is also very popular with outdoor sporting enthusiasts. Each year, there are a number of mountain biking and trail running races that take place within the reserve. There are also some exciting downhill mountain biking trails and hikes that have recently been established in the kloof descending towards the Klipgatspruit.
The reserve is a must-do on any trip along the Mpumalanga Highlands Meander and along the Long Tom Pass.
Getting there: from Gauteng, take the N4 going East into Mpumalanga. Continue to Belfast. Here, take the R540 going towards Dullstroom. Continue through Dullstroom. The road becomes the R36. Take this road into Lydenburg. Here, take the R37 (Long Tom Pass) going towards Nelspruit. The reserve is on your left-hand side just after exiting Lydenburg.
| More info on the town of Lydenburg | More info on the Highlands Meander area |
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