Conservation

Bushmans Kloof today protects one of the largest private herds of Cape Mountain Zebra in the world - an animal saved from the brink of extinction in the wild. The wildlife reintroduction programme has also seen the return of the magnificent Bontebok, Red Hartebeest, Grey Rhebok and Ostrich. And in the reserve, the endangered Clanwilliam Yellow Fish was reintroduced and now swims once more in the rivers and dams. Bushmans Kloof is a South African Natural Heritage Site within the Cederberg Wilderness Area, and forms part of the Cape Floral Region, a proclaimed World Heritage Site.

Alien Vegetation Eradication

Arguably the greatest environmental threat to Bushmans Kloof’s biodiversity is the invasion by the Port Jackson willow (Acacia saligna), an alien tree species introduced from Australia in the 1800’s to stabilise the dunes of the Cape Flats area. This species spread like wildfire, migrating north and east, overwhelming areas of indigenous Fynbos and colonising river courses.  Since its inception, Bushmans Kloof has invested an enormous amount of money and manpower in the ongoing removal of this scourge, and the results have been spectacular. This project also provides much needed work and income for local communities. 

Conservation of Local Species

The Clanwilliam Cedar Tree (Widdringtonia cedarbergensis or African cypress) occurs only in the Cederberg mountains and it represents one of 1,000 surviving conifer species in the world. Dr Penny Mustart of the Botanical Society facilitates Bushmans Kloof annual seed and tree planting ceremony which includes a visit to the charming village of Heuningvlei, where you can participate in planting young cedar trees in a newly established grove. This is your opportunity to make your own personal contribution to saving the endangered cedar tree. 

Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve & Wellness Retreat together with the Botanical Society and Western Cape Nature Conservation has given its commitment to support the Clanwilliam Cedar Tree Project.

Bushmans Kloof grows saplings in its nursery and hosts an annual tree and seed planting ceremony, thus supporting efforts to reintroduce this highly endangered tree into its natural habitat, encompassing the area specifically around Bushmans Kloof.

Renosterveld

Bushmans Kloof is also the custodian to a patch of naturally occuring renosterveld - a Critically Endangered ecosystem, with a high conservation value. Renosterveld ('rhinoceros veld') is renowned for its large numbers of bulbous plants, also called 'geophytes' (earth plants), as well as the rhinoceros bush, the prevailing plant - a type of daisy with small and papery, brown flowers that dominates the veld.

Bushmans Kloof Special Collection

The natural botanical richness of Bushmans Kloof includes more than 755 indigenous plant species, representative of three major vegetation types: Fynbos, Forest and Karoo biomes, and a dynamic programme is in place to remove alien vegetation. Bushmans Kloof has also chosen its own Special Collection of plants that occur on the Reserve. Plants chosen for this honour are Rooibos Aspalathus linearis; Taylor’s Thatching Reed Cannamois taylori; Khakibutton Crassula columnaris; the Clanwilliam Daisy Euryops speciossimus; the Paintbrush Lily Haemanthus coccineus; Fragrant Evening Flower Hesperantha cucullata; Rocket Pincushion Leucospermum reflexum; the Magenta Pelargonium Pelargonium magenteum; Breede River Yellowwood Podocarpus elongatus; and the Clanwilliam Cedar Widdringtonia cedarbergensis.

A number of research projects have been initiated at Bushmans Kloof including: A comprehensive survey of the Cederberg reptiles and amphibians for conservation and ecotourism, by the University of Stellenbosch SCARCE Unit, a photographic Cape mountain zebra identification project, a Cape leopard survey project by the Cape Leopard Trust.  

Environmental Sustainability

The entire operation of Bushmans Kloof is based on sound environmental practices. A full time reserve manager oversees a comprehensive ecological management plan, monitoring water quality, rainfall, soil erosion, vegetation cover and wildlife to prevent degradation. The estate has environmentally friendly solid waste disposal and an advanced Biolytix waste water processing system.

Community Involvement

Bushmans Kloof has been largely instrumental in the pilot project to involve the local farming community to ultimately create an extended Cederberg Biosphere Reserve, which will consist of the Biedouw River Conservancy, the Wupperthal Conservancy, and the Cederberg Wilderness Area.