| DescriptionNylsvley Brochure pg 3.jpg |
Afrikaans: Die brosjure wat op 19 Januarie 2013 by ontvangs met toelating verskaf word.
- "NYLSVLEY IS VIR DIE VOËLS"
- DIE NYLRIVER VLOEDVLAKTE is een van Suid-Afrika se grootste en mins geaffekteerde vloedvlaktestelsels. Dit is geleë in die bolope van die Mogalakwenarivier, 'n sytak van die Limpopo, en strek oor 'n afstand van ongeveer 70 km, wat 7 km op sy breedste punt bereik. In jare van buitengewone reënval kan die oorstroomde gebied tot 16 000 ha beslaan. Die drie primêre waterbronne is klein seisoenale riviere wat die ooshange van die Waterbergreeks dreineer: die Olifantspruit-, Groot- en Klein Nylrivier.
- Die vloedvlakte is nie permanent onder water nie; dit is inderdaad amper net so dikwels droog as wat dit nat is. Die tydsberekening en omvang van oorstroming is reënval-afhanklik, en jare van ondergemiddelde reën lei dikwels daartoe dat geen vloedwater die vlakte bereik nie. Dit is gemiddeld een jaar uit drie die geval, terwyl oorstromings in mindere tot meerdere mate in twee jare uit drie voorkom. Slegs een maal in omtrent 'n dekade veroorsaak 'n ruimskootse vloed dat die hele vloedvlakte oorstroom word. Oorstroming vind gewoonlik aan die einde van Januarie en Februarie plaas; die water trek dan geleidelik terug en droog soms heeltemal op voor die volgende somer.
- Nylsvley is in 1974 deur die Provinsiale Regering gekoop met die primêre doel om 'n gedeelte van die vloedvlakte te bewaar; dit is in dieselfde jaar tot natuurreservaat geproklameer. Die reservaat lê tussen 2436S/2840E en 2442S/2844E en strek oor die vloedvlakte naby die dorpe Modimolle (Nylstroom) en Mookgopong (Naboomspruit). Die reservaat is 3 975 ha groot, lê op 'n hoogte van 1 080-1155 m bo seespieël; dit ontvang gemiddeld 620 mm reën per jaar. Somers is warm tot warm (maksimum temp 38-39°C), winters is gematigd tot warm met temperature wat selde onder vriespunt daal.
- Nylsvley-natuurreservaat is in Julie 1998 as 'n Ramsar-terrein aangewys. Ramsar is 'n internasionale konvensie wat poog om beskerming vir wêreldwyd belangrike vleilande te erken en aan te dring. Die reservaat is een van ongeveer 20 terreine wat tans in Suid-Afrika geregistreer is en een van 1600+ in die wêreld. Nylsvley word ook deur BirdLife International gelys as 'n "Important Bird Area". Baie van hierdie erkenning spruit uit die verskeidenheid en oorvloed van watervoëls wat gedurende tye van oorstromings na die vloedvlakte gelok word. Meer as 100 watervoëlspesies is aangeteken – meer as dié wat in enige ander Suid-Afrikaanse vleiland aangeteken is. Baie van hierdie spesies is skaars of hoogs gelokaliseer elders in die land – byvoorbeeld die af:Groot-boepreier, Rufous-bellied Heron, Dwergbitter, Allen's Gallinule en Streaky-breasted Flufftail – en Nylsvley is 'n belangrike broeiplek vir hulle in nat jare. Nylsvley gaan nie net oor watervoëls nie; die 380 spesies wat aangeteken is, maak dit een van die mees voëlryke reservate vir sy grootte, in Suid-Afrika.
- Plantgemeenskappe op Nylsvley is ook divers en interessant; die plantkontrolelys staan tans op sowat 600 spesies. Onder hulle is rysgras Oryza longistaminata, die dominante gras op die vloedvlakte, 'n spesie wat feitlik elders in die land afwesig is.
Acacia tortilis, A. robusta en A. karoo synde die hoofspesie, langs met pragtige ou voorbeelde van die matoppie Boscia albitrunca, digte ruigtes van die bosnoem-noem Carissa bispinosa en goeie voorbeelde van doppruim Pappea capensis en bosveldsaffraan Elaeodendron transvaalense. Die suidelike deel van die reservaat word deur sandsteen onderlê en die gevolglike sanderige grond ondersteun breëblaarbosveld wat oorheers word deur die rooisering Burkea africana, vaalboom Terminalia sericea, die lekkerbreek Ochna pulchra, en ander. Die noordekant van die vloedvlakte word deur erosiebestande felsiete onderlê wat tot vlak klipperige grond lei, met boswilg-spesies wat die boomgemeenskap oorheers – C. apiculatum, C. erythrophyllum, C. molle en C. zeyheri. Volgroeide eksemplare van bosveldboekenhout Faurea saligna en die naboom Euphorbia ingens kom ook voor.
- Die reservaat se soogdierlys tel tans 77 spesies waarvan die mees algemeen gesien word kameelperd, blouwildebees, bontkwagga, rooibok, koedoe, waterbok, rietbok, bosbok, tsessebe, rooibok, vlakvark, rooijakkals, blouaap en boomeekhoring. Die nagspesies sluit in bosvark, bruinhiëna, luiperd, ystervark, nagapie, maanhaarjakkals, erdvark, kolhaas en vlakhaas, en Jameson se rooi rots haas, springhaas, tierboskat en rooikat, Afrikaanse molerat en gestreepte stokperd. Jy kan ook egel, kloulose otter, slank, gebande muishond, geel, witstertmuishond en Kommetjiesmuishond, Juliana se goue mol en groot gevlekte genet. Minder algemeen gesien; wildekat, benewens 9 spesies vlermuise, 9 van muise, 5 rot spesies, 5 skeerbek spesies plus 'n dormuis en 'n gerbil.
- Amfibieë is goed verteenwoordig met 19 paddaspesies, waarvan die grootste die reusebrulpadda ' 'Pyxicephalus adspersus. Hulle kom uit winterslaap sodra die vleiland oorstroom word om te broei in die kortstondige plasse langs die vloedvlakte se rande waar daar minder waarskynlikheid is dat visse hul paddavissies vreet. Nog 'n lawaaierige padda is die raucous toad, en die kleurvolste is beslis die geband rubber padda. Behalwe vir 'n krokodil wat 'n paar jaar gelede by Vogelfontein gewoon het, is die grootste reptiel teenwoordig die watermonitor; dit dra by tot 'n indrukwekkende 58 spesies reptiele en amfibieë wat in Nylsvley voorkom. Die lys sluit 'n uiteenlopende aanvulling van slange in, insluitend python, swart mamba, snuut (of Egipties) kobra, pofadder, boomslang en [[:af:Savanna-wingerdstok] slang|wingerdslang]]; hul teenwoordigheid bepaal dat verstandige skoene gedra word wanneer jy in die reservaat stap.
- Gegewe die kortstondige aard van die oorstromings, is Nylsvley se visfauna beperk tot 'n dosyn of wat spesies, maar waar dit in verskeidenheid tekort skiet, vergoed dit tydens oorstromings in hoeveelheid. Die eerste vloedwater bring duisende, indien nie miljoene babers en minnows saam wat op die water wat uit die opvanggebied afkom, op pad na die vloedvlakte om te broei. Wanneer dit oorstroom, is hul getalle, en die aantal watervoëls wat hulle vreet, een van Nylsvley se onvergeetlike besienswaardighede. Ten slotte is Nylsvley die tuiste, wanneer dit nat is, van minstens 55 spesies naaldekokers. Afgesien van hierdie pragtige vleiland-ambassadeurs, is 194 vlinder spesies opgeteken. Ander insekgroepe is minder goed gekatalogiseer, maar hulle kan tot 10 000 spesies tel.
- Nylsvley is trots op sy biodiversiteit en Friends werk hard om dit te handhaaf teen die bedreigings van onbeperkte ontwikkeling in die opvanggebied.
- Vriende van Nylsvley is geaffilieer by die Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa Tel: 011-462-5663 en BirdLife South Africa Tel: 011-789-1122. Onder die toesig van die reservaatbestuur hou die Vriende werkspartytjies en natuurgebaseerde kursusse by Nylsvley. Oor die jare was hulle verantwoordelik vir die befondsing en installering van strukture soos die Dabchick en Kingfisher Huide, en die vervanging van Jacana Hide Walkway. Die Vriende is as IAP's geregistreer om beswaar te maak teen die plan om steenkool op die Nyl-vloedvlakte en sy opvanggebied te prospekteer. Die jaarlikse Woodland Bird Census word bestuur deur die Friends en mildelik geborg deur Wits Bird Club. Vriende van Nylsvley maak staat op vrygewigheid van hul lede en die algemene publiek vir finansiële ondersteuning, alle bydraes gaan direk vir die behoud van hierdie unieke vloedvlakte. Gedurende 2011 vier die Vriende 20 jaar van 'goed doen' vir Nylsvley.
- Gasvryheid:
Blyplek: 6 kampeerplekke, 4 x 2 slpk kothuise, 1 x 6 slpk gastehuis, 36 bed groepskamp, dagbesoekers area en Spoonbill-restaurant.
Besprekings: Limpopo Wildlife Resorts: Tel: 015-290-7339 info@golimpopo.com Nylsvley Gate-kantoor: 082-806 2204 of LWR 076-680-4277
Vriende van Nylsvley: Tel: 012-667-2183: E-pos@: friendsnylsvley mweb.co.za www.friendsnylsvley.co.za PO Box 80 Irene 0062
Nylsvley Natuurreservaat: Tel: 014-743-1074 word bestuur deur die Limpopo Departement van Ekonomiese Ontwikkeling, Omgewing en Toerisme.
English: The brochure given out at reception upon admission (as of 19 January 2013, evidently dating from 2011/2012).
- "NYLSVLEY IS FOR THE BIRDS"
- THE NYL RIVER FLOODPLAIN is one of South Africa's largest and least impacted floodplain systems. It is located in the upper-reaches of the Mogalakwena River, a tributary of the great Limpopo, and stretches over a distance of about 70 km, reaching 7 km at its widest point. In years of exceptional rainfall the area under water may extend up to 16 000 ha. The three primary sources of water are small seasonal rivers that drain from the eastern slopes of the Waterberg range: the Olifantspruit, Groot and Klein Nyl rivers.
- The floodplain is not permanently under water; indeed it is dry almost as often as it is wet. The timing and extent of inundation is rainfall-dependent, and years of below-average rain often result in no floodwater reaching the plain. On average, this is the case one year in three, while flooding occurs to a greater or lesser extent in two years in three. Only once in about ten years is there a bumper flood that results in the entire floodplain being under water. Inundation typically occurs in late January and February; the water then gradually recedes, sometimes drying up completely before the next summer.
- Nylsvley was purchased in 1974 by the Provincial Government with the primary purpose of conserving a section of the floodplain; it was proclaimed a nature reserve in the same year. The reserve lies betwee 2436S/2840E and 2442S/2844E and straddles the floodplain near the towns Modimolle (Nylstroom) and Mookgopong (Naboomspruit). The reserve is 3975 ha in extent, lies at an altitude of 1080-1155m above sea-level; it receives, on average, 620 mm of rain per annum. Summers are warm to hot (max temp 38-39°C), winters are mild to warm with temperatures rarely dropping below zero.
- Nylsvley Nature Reserve was designated as a Ramsar site in July 1998. Ramsar is an international convention that seeks to recognise and urge protection for globally important wetlands. The reserve is one of about 20 sites currently registered in South Africa and one of 1600+ in the world. Nylsvley is also listed by BirdLife International as an "Important Bird Area". Much of this recognition stems from the variety and abundance of waterbirds that are attracted to the floodplain during times of flooding. More than 100 waterbird species have been recorded – more than that recorded in any other South African wetland. Many of these species are rare or highly localised elsewhere in the country – for example, the Great Bittern, Rufous-bellied Heron, Dwarf Bittern, Allen's Gallinule and Streaky-breasted Flufftail – and Nylsvley is an important breeding ground for them in wet years. Nylsvley is not just about waterbirds; the 380 species recorded makes it one of the most bird-rich reserves for its size, in South Africa.
- Plant communities on Nylsvley are also diverse and interesting; the plant checklist currently stands at about 600 species. Among them is rice grass Oryza longistaminata, the dominant grass on the floodplain, a species that is virtually absent elsewhere in the country.
- Acacias are the dominant tree species in the alluvial soils fringing the floodplain, with Acacia tortilis, A. robusta and A. karoo being the main species, alond with lovely old examples of the sherpherd's tree Boscia albitrunca, dense thickets of the numnum Carissa bispinosa and fine examples of jacket plum Pappea capensis and bushveld saffron Elaeodendron transvaalense. The southern part of the reserve is underlain by sandstone and resulting sandy soils support broad-leaved woodland dominated by the red syringa Burkea africana, silver clusterleaf Terminalia sericea, the lekkerbreek Ochna pulchra, and others. The northern side of the floodplain is underlain by erosion-resistant felsites resulting in rocky shallow soils, with Combretum species dominating the tree community – C. apiculatum, C. erythrophyllum, C. molle and C. zeyheri. Also occuring are mature specimens of beechwood Faurea saligna and the giant naboom Euphorbia ingens.
- The reserve's mammal list currently numbers 77 species of which the most commonly seen are giraffe, blue wildebeest, zebra, roan antelope, kudu, waterbuck, reedbuck, bushbuck, tsessebe, impala, warthog, black-backed jackal, vervet monkey and tree squirrel. The nocturnal species include bushpig, brown hyena, leopard, porcupine, lesser galago (or bushbaby), aardwolf, aardvark, scrub and Cape hares, and Jameson's red rock rabbit, springhare, serval and caracal, African molerat and striped polecat. You could also encounter hedgehog, clawless otter, slender, banded, yellow, white-tailed and marsh mongoose, Juliana's golden mole and large spotted genet. Less commony seen; wild cat, plus 9 species of bats, 9 of mice, 5 rat species, 5 shrew species plus a dormouse and a gerbil.
- Amphibians are well-represented with 19 frog species, of which the largest is the giant bullfrog Pyxicephalus adspersus. They come out of hibernation as soon as the wetland is inundated to breed in the ephemeral puddles along the floodplain margins where there is less likelihood of fish eating their tadpoles. Another noisy frog is the raucous toad, and the most colourful is certainly the banded rubber frog. Apart from a crocodile that resided at Vogelfontein for a while, a few years ago, the largest reptile present is the water monitor; it contributes to an impressive 58 species of reptiles and amphibians present in Nylsvley. The list includes a diverse complement of snakes, including python, black mamba, snouted (or Egyptian) cobra, puff adder, boomslang and vine snake; their presence dictates that sensible shoes be worn when walking in the reserve.
- Given the ephemeral nature of the floodplain, Nylsvley's fish fauna is restricted to a dosen or so species, but what it lacks in variety, it makes up for, when in flood, in quantity. The first floodwater brings with it thousands, if not millions, of barbel and minnows riding the water coming down from the catchment, heading for the floodplain to breed. When it floods, their numbers, and the numbers of waterbirds eating them, are one of Nylsvley's memorable sights. Finally, Nylsvley is home, when wet, to at least 55 species of dragonflies. Apart from these beautiful wetland ambassadors, 194 butterfly species have been chalked up. Other insect groups have been less well catalogued, but they could number up to 10 000 species.
- Nylsvley is proud of its biodiversity and Friends are working hard to maintain it against the threats of unrestricted development in the catchment.
- Friends of Nylsvley are affiliated to the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa Tel: 011-462-5663 and BirdLife South Africa Tel: 011-789-1122. Under the supervision of the reserve management the Friends run work parties and nature based courses at Nylsvley. Over the years they have been responsible for funding and installation of structures such as the Dabchick and Kingfisher Hides, and replacement Jacana Hide Walkway. The Friends are registered as IAP's to object to the plan to prospect for coal on the Nyl floodplain and its catchment. The annual Woodland Bird Census is run by the Friends amd generously sponsored by Wits Bird Club. Friends of Nylsvley rely on generosity of their members and the general public for financial support, all contributions going directly towards the preservation of this unique floodplain. During 2011 the Friends celebrate 20 years of 'doing good things' for Nylsvley.
- Hospitality:
Accommodation: 6 Camp sites, 4 x 2 bed cottages, 1 x 6 bed guest house, 36 bed Group Camp, day visitors area and Spoonbill restaurant.
Reservations: Limpopo Wildlife Resorts: Tel: 015-290-7339 info@golimpopo.com Nylsvley Gate office: 082-806 2204 or LWR 076-680-4277
Friends of Nylsvley: Tel: 012-667-2183: Email: friendsnylsvley@mweb.co.za www.friendsnylsvley.co.za PO Box 80 Irene 0062
Nylsvley Nature Reserve: Tel: 014-743-1074 is managed by the Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism.
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