The Homecoming

The rebirth programme of Bushmans Kloof has returned many species of wildlife to the land their forebears once roamed in great numbers. Some of the game re-introduced include: the rare Cape Mountain Zebra, Bontebok, Eland, Gemsbok, Black Wildebeest, Red Hartebeest, Springbok, Grey Rhebok and Ostrich. 

Added to these are existing species such as: Cape Mountain Leopard, Bat-eared Fox, African Wild Cat, Cape Fox, Caracal, Cape Clawless Otter, Baboon, Klipspringer, Aardwolf and Aardvark. There are also more than 150 species of birds resident in the reserve, including numerous species of eagle and water birds.

Game drives and hikes through the reserve provide the opportunity to see some of this game, a sight to rekindle the soul and inspire one to re-discover the wildlife that was once unique to this Cape region.

Bushmans Kloof lies between two vegetation biomes - dry mountain fynbos and succulent Karoo - where wildlife and an immense diversity of plant life intermingle.

In Spring the reserve explodes into a kaleidoscope of colour.  Wild flowers stretch as far as the eye can see, creating a spectacle that must be seen to be believed. Bushmans Kloof is a premier spring flower destination.

Re-establishing The Clanwilliam Cedar Tree (Widdringtonia cedarbergensis)  

Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve together with the Botanical Society and Western Cape Nature Conservation have given its commitment to support the Clanwilliam Cedar Tree Project.  The endemic Clanwilliam cedar tree (Widdringtonia cedarbergensis) occurs only in the Cederberg mountains and it represents one of 1 000 surviving conifer species in the world.

The extremely slow-growing species is categorised as endangered on the Red Data List as it faces a very high risk of extinction in the wild unless conservation action is taken.

Western Cape Nature Conservation (WCNC) has reared cedar seedlings in a nursery since 1987, for planting out into their natural habitat in the mountains. Survival of these seedlings has been extremely high, but about two years ago the aging nursery was dismantled due to lack of finances, in effect bringing the restoration project to a halt. 

Through the efforts of the Botanical Society’s Ceder-berg Conservation Group, funding for a new nursery was obtained from an international conservation body, Fauna Flora Inter-national (Cambridge,UK). 

A new nursery is currently being built at a new location on the Pakhuis Pass outside Clanwilliam, where several WCNC staff are permanently based for future supervision. The project will identify eco-tourism opportunities and local communities such as Bushmans Kloof are closely involved in promoting the conservation of the species and the planting of young trees in the reserve.