Jonkershoek Nature Reserve
Encyclopedia
Jonkershoek Nature Reserve is a CapeNature
nature reserve
located approximately 10 km (6 mi) east of the town of Stellenbosch in the Western Cape
. It covers an area of approximately 14527 hectares (35,897 acre).
Mountains and it containes the smaller Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve
. It includes the Jonkershoek mountains and portions of the upper Jonkershoek valley. The Eerste River
flows through the Jonkershoek valley.
In 1960 the Cape Provincial Administration purchased Assegaaibosch, and the house was renovated to its present condition. It is now a national monument and is used as a guest house.
CapeNature
CapeNature is a governmental organisation responsible for maintaining wilderness areas and public nature reserves in Western Cape Province, South Africa.-West Coast:*Cederberg Wilderness Area...
nature reserve
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
located approximately 10 km (6 mi) east of the town of Stellenbosch in the Western Cape
Western Cape
The Western Cape is a province in the south west of South Africa. The capital is Cape Town. Prior to 1994, the region that now forms the Western Cape was part of the much larger Cape Province...
. It covers an area of approximately 14527 hectares (35,897 acre).
Description
The reserve lies below the Hottentots-HollandHottentots-Holland
The Hottentots Holland mountain range is part of the Cape Fold Belt in the Western Cape, South Africa. The range forms a barrier between the Cape Town metropolitan area and the southern Overberg coast. The range is primarily composed of Table Mountain Sandstone and forms an impressive range to the...
Mountains and it containes the smaller Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve
Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve
Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve, is situated closely to Stellenbosch, in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Set on the Eerste Rivier , with the Stellenbosch Mountain in the background....
. It includes the Jonkershoek mountains and portions of the upper Jonkershoek valley. The Eerste River
Eerste River
Eerste River, located in the Western Cape, South Africa, rises on Dwarsberg 60 km east of Cape Town at the head of Jonkershoek. The Eerste River catchment covers the eastern part of the Cape Flats lying to the west of the Hottentots Holland Mountains and south of the Tygerberg where the Kuils River...
flows through the Jonkershoek valley.
History
Started as the Assegaaibosch farmstead in 1790, it was subsequently altered substantially by its various occupants. In 1817 Lord Charles Somerset granted the land to Wouter Eduard Wium, with the special proviso that he plant oak trees, and the area now includes many huge oaks.In 1960 the Cape Provincial Administration purchased Assegaaibosch, and the house was renovated to its present condition. It is now a national monument and is used as a guest house.