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SOUTH AFRICA
137
Aug-Sep15
Flora, fauna and more
Despite all its refinement and luxury,
Bushmans Kloof isn’t just a pretty face;
it has received numerous international
awards in recognition of its exceptional
environmental and conservation efforts.
Daily nature drives through the reserve
are an opportunity to view some of its
35 species of mammal; on our morning
drive, we enjoyed watching an elegant
oryx (a type of antelope), with metre-long
horns, chasing another from his territory.
Then we passed male ostriches waving
their impressive plumage in display for
the females, while a herd of springbok
grazed nearby.
Our evening sojourn was coupled with
a drinks stop beside a dam, where we
chatted to our ranger about the reserve’s
projects to protect two endangered
animals, the Clanwilliam yellowfish and
the very shy Cape leopard. The latter is
monitored by infrared cameras in the
mountains; and while the chances of
seeing one up close are slim, it’s good
to know that it can roam this terrain in
a natural habitat that includes hares,
aardvarks, mongooses, porcupines,
caracals and otters.
Bird-watching is also popular; there
are 150 species on the reserve. A few
of our brave feathered friends visited the
lodge regularly during our stay, enjoying
the well-irrigated, verdant gardens or
stealing breakfast crumbs from our
verandah.
The reserve boasts – and protects – a
special collection of plants. Late winter
and early spring, otherwise considered
an “out of season” time to visit, is when
the world-famous Cape flowers appear,
and the reserve becomes bright with
colour. Yet simple wonders of nature
can be seen throughout the year, like
the seedpod that looks like a hard nut,
but when touched by a single drop of
moisture, opens up to expose white
petals of a flower the size of a fingernail.
On one walk, our guide pointed out
the buchu plant, used today for its oils,
and in the art of perfumery. He also
showed us the snowbush, otherwise