Blouberg Nature Reserve
Introduction '''Blouberg Nature Reserve''' is a protected area situated close to Vivo, west of Louis Trichardt in the Limpopo Province, of South Africa. It covers an area of  from the eastern portion of the Blouberg mountain range to the savanna near the Brak River, and is founded by Peter Dix but was sold and now managed and administered by the Limpopo Provincial Government.
Topography and habitats Its topography renders a diverse array of habitats which in turn accommodate numerous species of plant and animal life. This reserve is well known for the largest breeding colony of Cape vultures in South Africa in its mountainous sector. On the plain sector game is abundant with special mention of Cape buffalo, sable antelope and leopard. It is predominately bushveld savanna with Baobabs and Tamboti Trees standing prominently on the northern plains. Natural forest occurs on the mountain's southern slopes, which includes a large Outeniqua yellowwood, which was given official protection in 2013.
Visitor facilities Current accommodation consists of chalets at Mashatu camp, Tamboti tented bush camp, Modumele Wilderness Camp and Molope Camp. A vehicle with high ground clearance is needed, especially for the southern part. Although it is an ideal stopover for the Tuli Block in Botswana, the Mapungubwe National Park on the Zimbabwe border or the northern part of Kruger Park, the reserve is worth a proper visit in itself.
Animals '''Animal species found in the reserve:''' AardvarkAardwolfSouthern African wildcatBaboonBlack-backed jackalBrown hyenaBuffaloBushbabyBushbuckBushpigCaracalCheetahCivetCommon duikerCommon dwarf mongooseElandGemsbuckGiraffeHoney badgerImpalaKlipspringerKuduRusty-spotted genetLeopard Mountain reedbuckPangolinPorcupineRed hartebeestSableSpotted hyenaSteenbuckBanded mongooseVervet monkeyWarthogWaterbuckZebra'''Bird species found in the reserve:'''Acacia pied barbetAfrican black swiftAfrican cuckooAfrican dusky flycatcherAfrican firefinchAfrican fish eagleAfrican golden orioleAfrican goshawkAfrican grey hornbillAfrican harrier-hawkAfrican hawk-eagleAfrican palm swiftAfrican paradise flycatcherAfrican pipitAfrican pygmy kingfisherAfrican red-eyed bulbulAfrican scops owlAlpine swiftAmethyst sunbirdAnt-eating chatArrow-marked babblerBanded martinBarn owlBarn swallowBarred wren-warblerBar-throated apalisBateleurBearded scrub robinBearded woodpeckerBlack cuckooBlack storkBlack-backed puffbackBlack-chested snake eagleBlack-collared barbetBlack-crowned night heronBlack-crowned tchagraBlack-faced waxbillBlack-headed heronBlack-headed orioleBlacksmith lapwingBlack-winged kiteBlack-winged stiltBlue waxbillBronze-winged courserBrown snake eagleBrown-backed honeybirdBrown-crowned tchagraBrown-hooded kingfisherBrubruWhite-browed coucalBurchell's starlingBurnt-necked eremomelaBushveld pipitCape batisCape rock thrushCape starlingCape vultureCape white-eyeCardinal woodpeckerCattle egretChestnut-vented warblerChinspot batisCinnamon rollerCinnamon-breasted buntingCollared sunbirdCommon bulbulCommon buttonquailCommon quailCommon scimitarbillCommon waxbillCrested barbetCrested francolinCrested guineafowlCrimson-breasted shrikeCrowned lapwingCut-throat finchDark chanting goshawkDesert cisticolaDiederik cuckooDouble-banded courserDouble-banded sandgrouseEgyptian gooseEmerald-spotted wood doveEurasian spoonbillEuropean bee-eaterEuropean nightjarEuropean rollerFiery-necked nightjarFork-tailed drongoFreckled nightjarGabar goshawkGolden-breasted buntingGolden-tailed woodpeckerGorgeous bushshrikeGreater blue-eared starlingGreater double-collared sunbirdGreater honeyguideGreater painted-snipeGreater striped swallowGreen wood hoopoeGreen-backed camaropteraGreen-backed twinspotGreen-winged pytiliaGrey go-away-birdGrey heronGrey penduline titGrey tit-flycatcherGrey-backed camaropteraGrey-headed bushshrikeGrey-headed kingfisherGroundscraper thrushHadada ibisHamerkopHelmeted guineafowlHooded vultureHoopoeJacobin cuckooJameson's firefinchKalahari scrub robinKaroo thrushKlaas's cuckooKnob-billed duckKori bustardKurrichane thrushLanner falconLappet-faced vultureLaughing doveLesser grey shrikeLesser honeyguideLesser striped swallowLevaillant's cisticolaLevaillant's cuckooLilac-breasted rollerLittle bee-eaterLittle sparrowhawkLizard buzzardLong-billed crombecLong-tailed paradise whydahLong-tailed widowbirdMagpie shrikeMalachite kingfisherMarabou storkMarico flycatcherMarico sunbirdMartial eagleMeves's StarlingMocking cliff chatMonotonous larkMountain wheatearNamaqua doveNatal spurfowlNeddickyOlive bushshrikeOrange-breasted bushshrikeOstrichOvambo sparrowhawkPale chanting goshawkPale flycatcherPearl-breasted swallowPearl-spotted owletPeregrine falconPied crowPurple rollerPurple-crested turacoRattling cisticolaRed-backed shrikeRed-billed buffalo weaverRed-billed oxpeckerRed-billed queleaRed-billed tealRed-breasted swallowRed-capped larkRed-capped robin-chatRed-chested cuckooRed-crested korhaanRed-eyed doveRed-faced mousebirdRed-headed weaverRed-winged starlingRetz's helmetshrikeRing-necked doveRock kestrelRock martinRufous-naped larkRüppell's vultureSabota larkScaly-feathered weaverScarlet-chested sunbirdSecretarybirdShikraSombre greenbulSouthern black flycatcherSouthern black titSouthern boubouSouthern carmine bee-eaterSouthern grey-headed sparrowSouthern ground hornbillSouthern masked weaverSouthern pied babblerSouthern pochardSouthern red-billed hornbillSouthern red bishopSouthern white-crowned shrikeSouthern white-faced owlSouthern yellow-billed hornbillSpeckled mousebirdSpeckled pigeonSpectacled weaverSpotted eagle-owlSpotted flycatcherSpotted thick-kneeSpur-winged gooseSteppe eagleStriped kingfisherSwainson's spurfowlSwallow-tailed bee-eaterTambourine doveTawny eagleTawny-flanked priniaTerrestrial brownbulThree-banded courserThrush nightingaleVerreaux's eagleVerreaux's eagle-owlViolet-backed starlingViolet-eared waxbillWahlberg's eagleWattled starlingWhite storkWhite-backed vultureWhite-bellied sunbirdWhite-browed robin-chatWhite-browed scrub robinWhite-browed sparrow-weaverWhite-crested helmetshrikeWhite-faced whistling duckWhite-fronted bee-eaterWhite-rumped swiftWhite-throated robin-chatWhite-winged widowbirdWillow warblerWoodland kingfisherYellow-bellied eremomelaYellow-bellied greenbulYellow-billed kiteYellow-breasted apalisYellow-fronted canaryYellow-fronted tinkerbirdZitting cisticola
Site locations Map of the nature reserve*Main gate *Office *Mashatu camp *Tamboti camp *Molope camp *Modumele camp *Vulture Restaurant *Big Tree *Fig Forest *Look-out point *Fountain *Rapanyana's Neck
See also * Protected areas of South Africa* Blouberg (range)*Soutpansberg Conservancy
References
External links * Lepidopterists Society of Africa, Lepsoc.- Blouberg Nature Reserve* Major vegetation types of the Soutpansberg Conservancy and the Blouberg Nature Reserve, South Africa* Surrounding Area with map* Friends of Blouberg