Event information
Doornkloof Nature Reserve is positioned at the top end of the southern shore of the Vanderkloof Dam: South Africa’s second largest water reservoir. It’s in the mountainous upper Karoo of the Northern Cape, just outside Colesberg.
This scenic reserve stretches across a 9 388 hectare area that incorporates a section of the Seekoei River, an important tributary of the Orange River. It is unsurprising then that some 173 species of birds, including 19 raptors, are often spotted here.
Despite there not being many open plains, it harbours a fair amount of game on plateaus covered in sour karee and lovegrass that include 46 different mammal species, such as the mountain reedbuck, buffalo, eland, kudu, the lurking brown hyena, bat-eared fox, and occasional hedgehog.
Doornkloof is good for hiking, and there is a two to three day hiking trail. Hikers can also apply to walk anywhere in the reserve and either sleep in a hiking hut provided, or anywhere in the veld.
There are basic camping facilities, and also picnic and braai areas on the Seekoei River bank at Roodewal.