Rietvlei Nature Reserve
Encyclopedia
The Rietvlei Nature Reserve is located in Pretoria
and is about 3800 hectares (38 km²) in size. Located within the reserve is the Rietvlei Dam
.
Indigenous
Exotic
, Red Hartebeest
, Eland
, Common zebra, Waterbuck
, Reedbuck
, Springbuck, Mountain Reedbuck
, Steenbok
, Grey Duiker, Oribi
, Leopard
, Buffalo
, White Rhino, and Hippopotamus
can all be found in the reserve. Currently there are also 4 lionesses and a lion kept in a separate enclosure on the reserve.
, one of the highest population density areas in South Africa
. As such it is constantly under threat by human expansion and development.
Pretoria
Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
and is about 3800 hectares (38 km²) in size. Located within the reserve is the Rietvlei Dam
Rietvlei Dam
The Rietvlei dam is one of a number of dams supplying water to the Pretoria region of South Africa. It supplies around 41 million liters of drinking water daily, about 5.9% of the water requirement of Pretoria....
.
Trees
Both indigenous and exotics species of trees can be found in the reserve.Indigenous
- Common hook thornAcaciaAcacia is a genus of shrubs and trees belonging to the subfamily Mimosoideae of the family Fabaceae, first described in Africa by the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in 1773. Many non-Australian species tend to be thorny, whereas the majority of Australian acacias are not...
Acacia caffra - Sweet thornAcacia karrooAcacia karroo also known as the Sweet Thorn, is a species of Acacia, native to southern Africa from southern Angola east to Mozambique, and south to South Africa....
Acacia karroo - SagewoodBuddleja salviifoliaBuddleja salviifolia, common name sage bush, is a large shrub endemic to much of southern Africa, where it grows on rocky hillsides, along forest margins and watercourses. The species was described and named by Lamarck in 1792...
Buddleja salviifolia - White stinkwoodCeltis africanaCeltis africana is a tree in the Cannabaceae family. This is a common and widespread forest tree from South Africa to Ethiopia. It is a fast growing and popular garden tree in South Africa and is easily propagated....
Celtis africana - River bushwillowCombretum erythrophyllumA large tree found in the bush along the river banks in southern Africa.- Common names : ; ; ;River combretum, River Bushwillow.C. glomeruliflorum-Description:...
Combretum erythrophyllum - Highveld cabbage treeCussonia paniculataCussonia paniculata is a large evergreen shrub or small tree up to in height native to South Africa. The plant has large and bold textured grey foliage.-Cultivation:...
Cussonia paniculata - SicklebushDichrostachys cinereaDichrostachys cinerea, known as the Sicklebush, Bell mimosa, Chinese lantern tree or Kalahari Christmas tree , is a legume of the genus Dichrostachys in the Fabaceae family....
Dichrostachys cinerea - Bushveld bluebushDiospyrosDiospyros is a genus of about 450–500 species of deciduous and evergreen trees. The majority are native to the tropics, with only a few species extending into temperate regions. They are commonly known as ebony or persimmon trees...
Diospyros lycioides - Puzzle bushEhretia rigidaEhretia rigida, commonly known as Deurmekaarbos , is a small, multi-stemmed tree with a tangled growth habit belonging to the Boraginaceae or borage family...
Ehretia rigida - Blue guarri Euclea crispa
- Gymnosporia buxifolia Gymnosporia buxifolia
- Honeyscented proteaProtea welwitschiiProtea welwitschii is a multistemmed shrub or small gnarled tree occurring in grassland and bushveld. Leaves are bluish green and hairy at the base when mature. Flowers usually in clusters of 3 or 4. Fruit is a densely hairy nut.-References:*van Wyk, B. and van Wyk, P. 1997. Field Guide to trees...
Protea welwitschii - DogwoodRhamnus prinoidesRhamnus prinioides, the Shiny-leaf Buckthorn, is an African shrub or small tree in the family Rhamnaceae. It was first described by French botanist Charles Louis L'Héritier de Brutelle in 1789.-Description:...
Rhamnus prinoides - Nana-berryRhus dentataRhus dentata, Nana Berry , Nanabessie is a medium sized, deciduous tree, reaching a height of about 5 metres and a spread of 4 metres. It occurs naturally in almost the whole of South Africa except the Western and Northern Cape Provinces. Its habitat varies from sea level to the highlands of the...
Rhus dentata - Rhus discolor Rhus discolor
- KareeRhus lanceaRhus lancea L.f. , commonly known as Karee in Hlokoshiyne Umhlakotshane Mokalaabata , is an evergreen, frost hardy, drought resistant tree, which can reach up to 8 metres in height with a 5 metre spread...
Rhus lancea - Rock currant Rhus magalismontana
- Common wild currantRhus pyroidesRhus pyroides is a species of Rhus, native to southern Africa...
Rhus pyroides - Blue currant Rhus zeyheri
- BuffalothornZiziphus mucronataZiziphus mucronata, known as the Buffalo Thorn, "blinkblaar-wag-'n-bietjie" in Afrikaans and "mphasamhala" in Tsonga, is a species in the Rhamnaceae family.-Appearance and distribution:...
Ziziphus mucronata
Exotic
- Green wattleAcacia decurrensAcacia decurrens is a perennial tree or shrub native to eastern New South Wales...
Acacia decurrens - Black wattle Acacia mearnsii
- Red river gum Eucalyptus camaldulensis
- BluegumEucalyptusEucalyptus is a diverse genus of flowering trees in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Members of the genus dominate the tree flora of Australia...
Eucalyptus - PrivetPrivetPrivet was originally the name for the European semi-evergreen shrub Ligustrum vulgare, and later also for the more reliably evergreen Ligustrum ovalifolium , used extensively for privacy hedging. It is often suggested that the name privet is related to private, but the OED states that there is no...
Ligustrum - Mulberry Morus
- Ink berry Phytolacca octandra
- PlatanusPlatanusPlatanus is a small genus of trees native to the Northern Hemisphere. They are the sole living members of the family Platanaceae....
Platanus - White poplar Populus alba
- OakOakAn oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
Quercus - Black locustBlack locustRobinia pseudoacacia, commonly known as the Black Locust, is a tree in the subfamily Faboideae of the pea family Fabaceae. It is native to the southeastern United States, but has been widely planted and naturalized elsewhere in temperate North America, Europe, Southern Africa and Asia and is...
Robinia pseudoacacia - Weeping willow Salix babylonica
Birds
There are an estimated 319 species of birds that make use of the reserve, of which 272 species have been confirmed.Mammals
The reserve carries around 1600 individual mammals. Blesbuck, Black wildebeestBlack Wildebeest
The Black Wildebeest or White-tailed Gnu is one of two wildebeest species. The natural populations of this species, endemic to the southern part of Africa, have been almost completely exterminated, but the species has been reintroduced widely, both in private areas and nature reserves throughout...
, Red Hartebeest
Red Hartebeest
The Red Hartebeest is a species of even-toed ungulate in the Bovidae family. It is found in Southern Africa. There are more than 130,000 individuals left. The Red Hartebeest is closely related to the Tsessebe and the Topi....
, Eland
Common Eland
The common eland , also known as the southern eland or eland antelope, is a savannah and plains antelope found in East and Southern Africa. It is the largest antelope in the African continent...
, Common zebra, Waterbuck
Waterbuck
The Waterbuck is a large antelope found widely in Sub-Saharan Africa.Waterbuck stand at the shoulder. Males weigh and females . Their coats are reddish brown in colour and become progressively darker with age; they have a white 'bib' under their throats and white on their rumps...
, Reedbuck
Reedbuck
Reedbuck is a common name for African antelopes from the genus Redunca. These species are:* Southern Reedbuck, Redunca arundinum* Mountain Reedbuck, Redunca fulvorufula* Bohor Reedbuck, Redunca redunca...
, Springbuck, Mountain Reedbuck
Mountain Reedbuck
The Mountain Reedbuck is an antelope found in mountainous areas of much of Sub-Saharan Africa.The Mountain Reedbuck averages 75 cm at the shoulder, and weighs around 30 kg. It has a grey coat with a white underbelly and reddish-brown head and shoulders...
, Steenbok
Steenbok
The Steenbok, Raphicerus campestris, is a common small antelope of southern and eastern Africa. It is sometimes known as the Steinbuck or Steinbok.- Description :...
, Grey Duiker, Oribi
Oribi
Oribi are graceful slender-legged, long-necked small antelope found in grassland almost throughout Sub-Saharan Africa.-Description:...
, Leopard
Leopard
The leopard , Panthera pardus, is a member of the Felidae family and the smallest of the four "big cats" in the genus Panthera, the other three being the tiger, lion, and jaguar. The leopard was once distributed across eastern and southern Asia and Africa, from Siberia to South Africa, but its...
, Buffalo
African Buffalo
The African buffalo, affalo, nyati, Mbogo or Cape buffalo is a large African bovine. It is not closely related to the slightly larger wild Asian water buffalo, but its ancestry remains unclear...
, White Rhino, and Hippopotamus
Hippopotamus
The hippopotamus , or hippo, from the ancient Greek for "river horse" , is a large, mostly herbivorous mammal in sub-Saharan Africa, and one of only two extant species in the family Hippopotamidae After the elephant and rhinoceros, the hippopotamus is the third largest land mammal and the heaviest...
can all be found in the reserve. Currently there are also 4 lionesses and a lion kept in a separate enclosure on the reserve.
- AardvarkAardvarkThe aardvark is a medium-sized, burrowing, nocturnal mammal native to Africa...
Orycteropus afer - AardwolfAardwolfThe aardwolf is a small, insectivorous mammal, native to Eastern and Southern Africa. The name means "earth wolf" in Afrikaans/Dutch. It is also called "maanhaar jackal". It is related to hyenas, but unlike its relatives, it does not hunt large prey. This unusual animal preys on insects...
Proteles cristatus - African BuffaloAfrican BuffaloThe African buffalo, affalo, nyati, Mbogo or Cape buffalo is a large African bovine. It is not closely related to the slightly larger wild Asian water buffalo, but its ancestry remains unclear...
Syncerus caffer - African CivetAfrican CivetThe African Civet is the largest representative of the African Viverridae. It is the sole member of its genus. African Civets can be found from coast to coast across sub-Saharan Africa. They are primarily nocturnal and spend the day sleeping in dense vegetation...
Civettictis civetta - African Clawless OtterAfrican Clawless OtterThe African clawless otter , also known as the cape clawless otter or groot otter, is the second largest freshwater species of otter. African clawless otters are found near permanent bodies of water in savannah and lowland forest areas...
Aonyx capensis - African Pygmy MouseAfrican Pygmy MouseThe African Pygmy Mouse, is possibly the smallest of all rodents and one of the smallest mammals. It is widespread within sub-Saharan Africa, and is kept as a pet in other parts of the world...
Mus minutoides - African Striped WeaselAfrican striped weaselThe African striped weasel , the lone member of genus Poecilogale, is a small black and white weasel native to sub-Saharan Africa. It looks very much like a striped polecat, but it is much thinner and has shorter hair. It is a sleek, black color with a white tail and four white stripes running...
Poecilogale albinucha - African Yellow BatAfrican Yellow BatThe African Yellow Bat is a species of vesper bat in the Vespertilionidae family.It can be found in the following countries: Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Djibouti, Eritrea,...
Scotophilus dinganii - Angoni Vlei RatAngoni Vlei RatThe Angoni Vlei Rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.It is found in Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe....
Otomys angoniensis - Bat-eared FoxBat-eared FoxThe bat-eared fox is a canid of the African savanna, named for its large ears. Fossil records show this canid to first appear during the middle Pleistocene, about 800,000 years ago....
Otocyon megalotis - Black-backed JackalBlack-backed JackalThe black-backed jackal , also known as the silver-backed or red jackal, is a species of jackal which inhabits two areas of the African continent separated by roughly 900 km. One region includes the southern-most tip of the continent, including South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe...
Canis mesomelas - Black RatBlack RatThe black rat is a common long-tailed rodent of the genus Rattus in the subfamily Murinae . The species originated in tropical Asia and spread through the Near East in Roman times before reaching Europe by the 1st century and spreading with Europeans across the world.-Taxonomy:The black rat was...
Rattus rattus - Black WildebeestBlack WildebeestThe Black Wildebeest or White-tailed Gnu is one of two wildebeest species. The natural populations of this species, endemic to the southern part of Africa, have been almost completely exterminated, but the species has been reintroduced widely, both in private areas and nature reserves throughout...
Connochaetes gnou - Blasius's Horseshoe BatBlasius's Horseshoe BatBlasius's Horseshoe Bat is a species of bat in the Rhinolophidae family found throughout large parts of the Mediterranean, Middle East and Northern Africa.-Physical appearance:...
Rhinolophus blasii - Blesbuck Damaliscus dorcas phillpsi
- Brown HyenaBrown HyenaThe brown hyena is a species of hyena which occurs in Namibia, Botswana, western and southern Zimbabwe, southern Mozambique and South Africa. It is currently the rarest hyena.-Description:...
Hyaena brunnea - BushpigBushpigThe bushpig, Potamochoerus larvatus, is a member of the pig family and lives in forests, woodland, riverine vegetation and reedbeds in East and Southern Africa. Probably introduced populations are also present in Madagascar and the Comoros archipelago. Bushpigs are mainly nocturnal. There are...
Potamochoerus larvatus - Bushveld Horseshoe BatBushveld Horseshoe BatThe Bushveld Horseshoe Bat is a species of bat in the Rhinolophidae family. It is found in Botswana, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Its natural habitats are moist savanna, caves,...
Rhinolophus simulator - Cape GenetCape GenetThe Cape Genet , also known as the Blotched Genet, Large-spotted Genet or muskeljaatkat in Afrikaans, is a carnivore mammal, related to the African Linsang and to the civets. It can be found in Africa from Senegal to Somalia, and south to Namibia and South Africa, though it is absent from the...
Genetta tigrina - Cape HareCape HareThe Cape, Common or Brown Hare is a hare natively found throughout Africa, and has spread to many parts of the Europe, Middle East and Asia. The Cape Hare is a nocturnal herbivore.They are fast...
Lepus capensis - Cape PorcupineCape PorcupineThe Cape Porcupine or South African Porcupine, Hystrix africaeaustralis, is a species of Old World porcupine. Contrary to its name, this porcupine species inhabits much of Sub-Saharan Africa, excluding the southwestern deserts of the continent. This rodent is nocturnal and inhabits rocky outcrops...
Hystrix africaeaustralis - Cape SerotineCape SerotineThe Cape Serotine is a species of vesper bat in the Vespertilionidae family.It is found in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea,...
Neoromicia capensis - CaracalCaracalThe caracal is a fiercely territorial medium-sized cat ranging over Western Asia, South Asia and Africa.The word caracal comes from the Turkish word "karakulak", meaning "black ear". In North India and Pakistan, the caracal is locally known as syahgosh or shyahgosh, which is a Persian term...
Caracal caracal - CheetahCheetahThe cheetah is a large-sized feline inhabiting most of Africa and parts of the Middle East. The cheetah is the only extant member of the genus Acinonyx, most notable for modifications in the species' paws...
Acinonyx Jubatus - Chestnut Climbing MouseChestnut Climbing MouseThe Chestnut Climbing Mouse is a species of rodent in the Nesomyidae family.It is found in Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.Its natural habitats are dry savanna and moist...
Dendromus mystacalis - Common DuikerCommon DuikerThe Common Duiker, Sylvicapra grimmia, also known as the Grey or Bush Duiker, is a small antelope with small horns found in west, central, east, and southern Africa- essentially everywhere in Africa south of the Sahara, excluding the horn of Africa and the rainforests of the central and western...
Sylvicapra grimmia - Common ElandCommon ElandThe common eland , also known as the southern eland or eland antelope, is a savannah and plains antelope found in East and Southern Africa. It is the largest antelope in the African continent...
Tragelaphus oryx - Common GenetCommon GenetThe Common Genet , also known as the Small-spotted Genet or European Genet, is a mammal from the order Carnivora, related to civets and linsangs. The most far-ranging of all the fourteen species of genet, it can be found throughout Africa, parts of the Middle East, and in Europe in Spain, Portugal,...
Genetta genetta - Common Mole RatCommon mole ratThe Common mole rat, Cryptomys hottentotus, is a burrowing rodent found in the continent of Africa, specifically in the southwest Cape province, South Africa. It is also found in Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The common mole rat belongs to the...
Cryptomys hottentotus - Darling's Horseshoe BatDarling's Horseshoe BatDarling's Horseshoe Bat is a species of bat in the Rhinolophidae family found in Africa. Its natural habitats are dry savanna, caves, and subterranean habitats .-References:...
Rhinolophus darlingi - Desert Pygmy MouseDesert Pygmy MouseThe Desert Pygmy Mouse is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.Its natural habitats are dry savanna and subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland....
Mus indutus - Egyptian Free-tailed BatEgyptian Free-tailed BatThe Egyptian Free-tailed Bat is a species of bat in the family Molossidae. It is distributed through most of Africa, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman to Pakistan and India and Sri Lanka...
Tadarida aegyptiaca - Egyptian Slit-Faced BatEgyptian Slit-Faced BatThe Egyptian Slit-Faced Bat is a species of slit-faced bat broadly distributed throughout Africa and the Middle East. It can live in widely diverse habitats, including forests, caves, deserts, savannas, shrublands, and grasslands. Its subspecies include:*N. thebaica adana*N. thebaica albiventer*N....
Nycteris thebaica - Forest ShrewForest ShrewThe Forest Shrew is a species of mammal in the Soricidae family. It is found in Lesotho, South Africa, and Swaziland. Its natural habitats are temperate forests, dry savanna, Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, and temperate grassland.-References:* Baxter, R. 2004. . Downloaded on 30 July...
Myosorex varius - Four-Striped Grass MouseFour-Striped Grass MouseThe Four-striped Grass Mouse or Four-striped Grass Rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.Its natural habitats...
Rhabdomys pumilio - Geoffroy's Horseshoe BatGeoffroy's Horseshoe BatGeoffroy's Horseshoe Bat is a species of bat in the Rhinolophidae family found in Africa. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, caves, subterranean habitats , and hot deserts.-References:* Jacobs, D., Cotterill, F.W., Taylor,...
Rhinolophus clivosus - Gray Climbing MouseGray Climbing MouseThe Gray Climbing Mouse is a species of rodent in the Nesomyidae family.It is found in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Guinea, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.Its natural...
Dendromus melanotis - Greater Cane RatGreater Cane RatThe Greater Cane Rat is one of two species of cane rats, a small family of African hystricognath rodents. It inhabits Africa, south of the Saharan Desert. The cane rat lives by reedbeds and riverbanks. As humans move into such territories, the cane rats accepted plantations and cultivated areas...
Thryonomys swinderianus - Greenish Yellow BatGreenish Yellow BatThe Greenish Yellow Bat is a species of vesper bat in the Vespertilionidae family.It is found in Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, South...
Scotophilus viridis - Ground Pangolin Manis temminckii
- HartebeestHartebeestThe hartebeest is a grassland antelope found in West Africa, East Africa and Southern Africa. It is one of the three species classified in the genus Alcelaphus....
Alcelaphus buselaphus - Highveld GerbilHighveld GerbilThe Highveld Gerbil is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe....
Gerbilliscus brantsii - HippopotamusHippopotamusThe hippopotamus , or hippo, from the ancient Greek for "river horse" , is a large, mostly herbivorous mammal in sub-Saharan Africa, and one of only two extant species in the family Hippopotamidae After the elephant and rhinoceros, the hippopotamus is the third largest land mammal and the heaviest...
Hippopotamus amphibius - House MouseHouse mouseThe house mouse is a small rodent, a mouse, one of the most numerous species of the genus Mus.As a wild animal the house mouse mainly lives associated with humans, causing damage to crops and stored food....
Mus musculus - Least Dwarf ShrewLeast Dwarf ShrewThe Least Dwarf Shrew is a species of mammal in the Soricidae family. It is found in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, and Uganda...
Suncus infinitesimus - LeopardLeopardThe leopard , Panthera pardus, is a member of the Felidae family and the smallest of the four "big cats" in the genus Panthera, the other three being the tiger, lion, and jaguar. The leopard was once distributed across eastern and southern Asia and Africa, from Siberia to South Africa, but its...
Panthera pardus - Lesser Dwarf ShrewLesser Dwarf ShrewThe Lesser Dwarf Shrew is a species of mammal in the Soricidae family. It is found in Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.-References:...
Suncus varilla - Lesser Gray-brown Musk ShrewLesser Gray-brown Musk ShrewThe Lesser Gray-brown Musk Shrew is a species of mammal in the Soricidae family. It is found in Angola, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe...
Crocidura silacea - Lesser Red Musk ShrewLesser Red Musk ShrewThe Lesser Red Musk Shrew is a species of mammal in the Soricidae family. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe...
Crocidura hirta - Marsh MongooseMarsh MongooseThe Marsh Mongoose, or Water Mongoose, is a medium-sized mammal but a large mongoose. Weight can range from , with an average range of . From the head to the base of the tail, these animals range from , with the tail adding . It is a member of the mongoose family and the only member of its genus...
Atilax paludinosus - Mauritian Tomb BatMauritian Tomb BatThe Mauritian Tomb Bat is a species of sac-winged bat in the family Emballonuridae that is found in central and southern Africa and Madagascar. It was discovered in 1818 by Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, and is characterized by an all-white ventral surface, grizzled dorsal coloration, and conical...
Taphozous mauritianus - MeerkatMeerkatThe meerkat or suricate, Suricata suricatta, is a small mammal belonging to the mongoose family. Meerkats live in all parts of the Kalahari Desert in Botswana, in much of the Namib Desert in Namibia and southwestern Angola, and in South Africa. A group of meerkats is called a "mob", "gang" or "clan"...
Suricata suricatta - Mohol BushbabyMohol BushbabyThe mohol bushbaby is a species of primate in the Galagidae family. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.Surprisingly, breeding populations of this species are to be...
Galago moholi - Mountain ReedbuckMountain ReedbuckThe Mountain Reedbuck is an antelope found in mountainous areas of much of Sub-Saharan Africa.The Mountain Reedbuck averages 75 cm at the shoulder, and weighs around 30 kg. It has a grey coat with a white underbelly and reddish-brown head and shoulders...
Redunca fulvorufula - OribiOribiOribi are graceful slender-legged, long-necked small antelope found in grassland almost throughout Sub-Saharan Africa.-Description:...
Ourebia ourebi - Plains ZebraPlains ZebraThe plains zebra , also known as the common zebra or Burchell's zebra, is the most common and geographically widespread species of zebra. It ranges from the south of Ethiopia through East Africa to as far south as Angola and eastern South Africa...
Equus quagga - Reddish-gray Musk ShrewReddish-gray Musk ShrewThe Reddish-gray Musk Shrew is a species of mammal in the Soricidae family. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe...
Crocidura cyanea - Red Rock RatRed Rock RatThe Red Rock Rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe....
Aethomys chrysophilus - Rock Hyrax Procavia capensis
- Rough-haired Golden MoleRough-haired Golden MoleThe Rough-haired Golden Mole is a species of mammal in the Chrysochloridae family. It is endemic to South Africa. Its natural habitats are temperate shrubland, temperate grassland, arable land, pastureland, plantations, rural gardens, and urban areas. It is threatened by habitat loss....
Chrysospalax villosus - Scrub HareScrub HareThe Scrub Hare, Lepus saxatilis, is a species of hare found in South Africa, parts of central Africa, and Namibia. It is found at about 1 - 2 km above sea level. Its dorsal fur is gray and black, while its ventral fur is white. It has a black and white tail, while it has lighter fur around its...
Lepus sexatilis - ServalServalThe serval , Leptailurus serval or Caracal serval, known in Afrikaans as Tierboskat, "tiger-forest-cat", is a medium-sized African wild cat. DNA studies have shown that the serval is closely related to the African golden cat and the caracal...
Leptailurus serval - Slender MongooseSlender MongooseThe Slender Mongoose , also known as the Black-tipped Mongoose or the Black-tailed Mongoose, is a very common species of mongoose.-Range and habitat:...
Galerella sanguinea - Southern African HedgehogSouthern African HedgehogThe Southern African Hedgehog is a species of mammal in the Erinaceidae family. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.-Physical description:...
Atelerix frontalis - Southern Multimammate MouseSouthern Multimammate MouseThe Southern Multimammate Mouse is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe....
Mastomys coucha - Southern ReedbuckSouthern ReedbuckThe Southern Reedbuck, Rietbok or Common Reedbuck is a diurnal antelope typically found in southern Africa.It was first described by Pieter Boddaert, a Dutch physician and naturalist, in 1785...
Redunca arundinum - Springbok Antidorcas marsupialis
- SpringhareSpringhareThe springhare , or springhaas, is not actually a hare, but a member of the order Rodentia. It is one of a number of species in the genus Pedetes, and is native to southern Africa. Synonyms are P. caffer or P...
Pedetes capensis - SteenbokSteenbokThe Steenbok, Raphicerus campestris, is a common small antelope of southern and eastern Africa. It is sometimes known as the Steinbuck or Steinbok.- Description :...
Raphicerus campestris - Striped PolecatStriped PolecatThe Striped Polecat is a member of the Mustelidae family which somewhat resembles a skunk. It is found in savannahs and open country in sub-saharan Africa excluding the Congo basin and west Africa.Like other polecats, this carnivore is nocturnal...
Ictonyx striatus - Swamp Musk ShrewSwamp Musk ShrewThe Swamp Musk Shrew is a species of mammal in the Soricidae family. It occurs in Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, and Zambia. Its natural habitat is swamps....
Crocidura mariquensis - Vervet MonkeyVervet MonkeyThe vervet monkey , or simply vervet, is an Old World monkey of the family Cercopithecidae native to Africa. The term "vervet" is also used to refer to all the members of the genus Chlorocebus....
Chlorocebus pygerythrus - Vlei RatVlei RatThe Southern African Vlei Rat is a species of rodent in the Otomys genus of the family Muridae.It is found in Lesotho, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe....
Otomys irroratus - WaterbuckWaterbuckThe Waterbuck is a large antelope found widely in Sub-Saharan Africa.Waterbuck stand at the shoulder. Males weigh and females . Their coats are reddish brown in colour and become progressively darker with age; they have a white 'bib' under their throats and white on their rumps...
Kobus ellipsiprymnus - White RhinocerosWhite RhinocerosThe White Rhinoceros or Square-lipped rhinoceros is one of the five species of rhinoceros that still exist. It has a wide mouth used for grazing and is the most social of all rhino species...
Ceratotherium simum - White-tailed MongooseWhite-tailed MongooseThe White-tailed Mongoose is the largest species of mongoose. It is the only member of the genus Ichneumia.-Range and Habitat:...
Ichneumia albicauda - White-tailed RatWhite-tailed RatThe white-tailed rat, Mystromys albicaudatus, also known as the white-tailed mouse, is the only member of the subfamily Mystromyinae in the family Nesomyidae...
Mystromys albicaudatus
Threats to the reserve
The reserve is situated in GautengGauteng
Gauteng is one of the nine provinces of South Africa. It was formed from part of the old Transvaal Province after South Africa's first all-race elections on 27 April 1994...
, one of the highest population density areas in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. As such it is constantly under threat by human expansion and development.
- The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality's proposed BenoniBenoni, GautengBenoni is a city with 654,509 inhabitants on the East Rand in the South African province of Gauteng. Since 2000, it has been part of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality.- History :...
landfill site. - Upstream pollution of the Rietvlei DamRietvlei DamThe Rietvlei dam is one of a number of dams supplying water to the Pretoria region of South Africa. It supplies around 41 million liters of drinking water daily, about 5.9% of the water requirement of Pretoria....
and wetland areas.