Swartberg Nature Reserve

The Swartberg Nature Reserve is located just north of Oudtshoorn and south of Price Albert in the Klein Karoo. The range is bordered on the west by the Gamkarivier and stretches eastwards nearly 150 km to the Eastern Cape border.

Within the mountain caves many rock paintings and artefacts have been found, that were once occupied by the nomadic San. More recently, the remote Gamkaskloof Valley, was settled by white farmers in 1830. This region can be reached by the Swartberg Pass that connects Prince Albert with Oudtshoorn.

The 6 km Grootkloof in Gamkaskloof has 26 interpreted stops that provides insightful information on the lives of the early settlers that inhabited this region. Booklets are available at the CapeNature Ouplaas Information Centre.

The Swartberg Hiking Trail is a 5 day trail can be booked through the George reservation office at Tel: (044) 802 5310. This is a fairly strenuous trail, and hikers must be wary of the extreme temperatures, characteristic of this semi-arid region.

ATTRACTIONS & ACTIVITIES AT SWARTBERG NATURE RESERVE:
- 6 km interpretation hiking trail
- Norwegian mill
- picnic area
- hiking trails
- bushmen paintings

SUMMARY OF WILDLIFE & FLORA:
Vegetation: mountain fynbos, Karoo-veld
Birdlife: sugarbirds and sunbirds (in Autumn), eagles, kingfisher

DIRECTIONS TO SWARTBERG NATURE RESERVE:
- from Oudtshoorn head north on the R328
- from Price Albert head south on the R407
- at the top of the Swartberg Pass turn west
- follow the gravel road to Gamkakloof