Mpofu Nature Reserve - Misplaced Pages

Nature reserve in the Amatole district of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

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Mpofu Nature Reserve
Location within Eastern Cape
Location	Eastern Cape, South Africa
Nearest city	Balfour
Coordinates	32°37′16″S 26°35′28″E / 32.621°S 26.591°E / -32.621; 26.591
Area	7,500 ha (19,000 acres)
Governing body	Eastern Cape Parks
www.ecparks.co.za/parks-reserves/mpofu/index.html

Mpofu Nature Reserve is a nature reserve in the Amatole district of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa that is managed by Eastern Cape Parks.

Mpofu is situated roughly 25 km (16 miles) northwest of Fort Beaufort and 20 km (12 miles) west of Balfour. It lies on the escarpment and lower valleys of the Katberg Mountains and covers 7,500 ha (19,000 acres) with altitudes varying from 550 to 1,384 metres (1,804 to 4,541 ft). The reserve was established in 1985 from land purchased from families who were descended from the 1820 settlers.

Geography and Climate

Mpofu occupies the valleys and escarpments between the Katberg and Amatole mountain ranges. Some areas of the reserve are on steep terrain as a result. The reserve experiences its rainy season between November and March and summers are hot and humid. Autumn and winter are mainly dry and cool, and snowfalls occasionally occur on the surrounding mountain ranges. The nature reserve, like the rest of the Eastern Cape, is a malaria-free zone.

Vegetation

The vegetation of the reserve comprises Grassland, Forest, and Albany Thicket biomes. Many species of flora found in these biomes are endemic to South Africa. Bush encroachment by Acacia karoo is currently a threat to the biodiversity of Mpofu nature reserve.

Wildlife

There is a large variety of mammals found in the reserve including the endangered White Rhino. Other species include Burchell's zebra, Giraffe, Bushbuck, African Buffalo, Eland, and Black-backed jackal. The bird life is also diverse, and there are many insect and reptile species found in the reserve.

A White Rhino at the Mpofu Nature reserve
Burchell's zebra
Cape giraffe
Bushbuck
Cape Buffalo
Eland
Black backed jackal

Activities

The reserve hosts several hiking and walking trails, including the Katberg hiking trail. There is also bird watching, educational tours and game drives available. Nearby attractions include the mountain village, Hogsback, and Khoisan rock art in Waylands.

Mountain Passes

There are three passes which traverse between the Mpofu Nature reserve and the Fort Fordyce Nature Reserves:

Blinkwater Pass

The Blinkwater Pass is a 19 kilometre gravel pass which goes northward up the Amathola escarpment across the reserve. The entrance to this pass is free, however, there are gated control points. This is the longest of the three local passes that traverse the Mpofu and Fort Fordyce Nature Reserves.

Fuller's Hoek Pass

Fuller's Hoek Pass lies off the R67 northwest of Fort Beaufort within the Fort Fordyce Nature Reserve. It is 8 km in length and has many curves and bends. The road passes rare afromontane forest. Snow often falls in this area during the winter.

Bosnek Pass

The Bosnek Pass is a 9 km gravel pass. The altitude variance is 418 metres and the summit is at a height of 1121 metres. The road is engineered with a 1:8 gradient. The road is subject to washaways and corrugation.

Mythology

The Blinkwater Monster is said to visit the reserve regularly. The Blinkwater Monster refers to a fossil of Pareiasaurus serridens, a mammal-like reptile, which was named and discovered by Andrew Geddes Bain, a geologist and palaeontologist who discovered many fossils in the areas surrounding the reserve. He was awarded £200 by the British government in 1845 for his research.

Notes

"Mpofu Game Reserve Provincial Nature Reserve". protectedplanet.net. Archived from the original on 3 June 2012. Retrieved 24 September 2011.
"Mpofu Nature Reserve Eastern Cape Province, South Africa". Archived from the original on 8 July 2007. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
Tony Pinchuck, Barbara McCrea, Donald Reid. South Africa. Rough Guides, 2002. pg 409-410
"Mpofu Nature Reserve, Eastern Cape". www.sa-venues.com. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
"Blinkwater Pass (MR0644) - Mountain Passes South Africa". www.mountainpassessouthafrica.co.za. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
"Fuller's Hoek Pass in Fort Beaufort, Eastern Cape". www.sa-venues.com. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
"Bosnek (P0646) - Mountain Passes South Africa". mountainpassessouthafrica.co.za. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
"Latest News! 21st July, 2016 - Mountain Passes South Africa". www.mountainpassessouthafrica.co.za. Retrieved 15 January 2018.

References

"About Mpofu Nature Reserve". Eastern Cape Parks. 1 March 2007. Archived from the original on 8 July 2007. Retrieved 19 May 2009.

External links

v t e Eastern Cape Parks
National Parks	Camdeboo National Park Addo Elephant National Park Mountain Zebra National Park Garden Route National Park Knysna National Lake Area (Western Cape) Tsitsikamma National Park (Eastern Cape) Tsitsikamma Marine Protected Area Wilderness National Park (Western Cape)
Mega Parks	Greater Addo Elephant National Park Addo Elephant National Park Woody Cape Nature Reserve Addo Elephant National Park Marine Protected Area Bird Island St. Croix Island, Algoa Bay Baviaanskloof Mega Reserve
Parks managed by Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency	Commando Drift Nature Reserve Dwesa Nature Reserve Dwesa-Cwebe Marine Protected Area East London Coast Nature Reserve Fort Fordyce Nature Reserve Great Fish River Nature Reserve Hluleka Nature Reserve Hluleka Marine Protected Area Mkhambathi Nature Reserve Pondoland Marine Protected Area Mpofu Nature Reserve Oviston Nature Reserve Silaka Nature Reserve Thomas Baines Nature Reserve Tsolwana Nature Reserve
Private and other parks	Buffelspruit Nature Reserve Inkwenkwezi Private Game Reserve Kwandwe Private Game Reserve Samara Private Game Reserve Shamwari Game Reserve
Marine protected areas	Addo Elephant National Park Marine Protected Area Amathole Marine Protected Area Dwesa-Cwebe Marine Protected Area Hluleka Marine Protected Area Pondoland Marine Protected Area Sardinia Bay Marine Protected Area Tsitsikamma Marine Protected Area

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