The trail is 3 km long with a moderate/difficult status. It is suitable for children, from 6 years old. The Bat’s Cave Trail is the most popular walk in the Nahoon Point Nature Reserve and follows in the spirit of the early beachcombers. It passes an excavation site, where human fossil footprints (dated at 124000 years old) were found in 1964. The trail starts at the Coastal Education and Visitor Centre boardwalk and leads down to a sandy beach. After a short distance along the beach, you encounter the first of a number of quiet sandstone coves - the home of rock hyraxes and the nesting sites of giant kingfishers. Walkways and stairways made from recycled plastic snake over and around the fascinating sandstone formations, which makes entering and exiting the coves easier. The trail has one steep climb as you leave the third cove, gaining height over a large wave-cut platform. From here, the route contours above steep sandstone cliffs before descending to Bats Cave itself (about 1,1 kilometres from the start). There are a number of look-out points which are great spots to watch dolphins playing in the waves and to observe the gannets, sharks and whales that frequent this coast during the annual sardine run in June and July.
Bats Cave is accessible only when the tide is low so plan the walk accordingly if you want to explore the cave and look out for the large Egyptian fruit bats living in the weathered ceiling above.
From Bats Cave, the route cuts up through a dune forest (or you can backtrack along the coast for a different perspective of the trail), where a great variety of bird species may be seen and blue duiker are often spotted feeding during the early mornings and late afternoons. Follow the pointers back to the Coastal Education and Visitor Centre. Entrance to Nahoon Point Nature Reserve is via James Pearce Park and the trail is accessible at no cost all year round during daylight hours.

Superb Trout fishing, but extreme weather! Stunning views of the Winterberg Mountains, One of the best Stillwaters to throw fly, in the country. Are just some examples of the comments given on Facebook. It has the Swartkierivier running through, the dam is found in a loop formation.

This 7 000 hectare nature reserve, supports 600 different indigenous plant species, 45 mammal species and 94 bird species. This reserve is located 15 km from Springbok and is a great destination for 4 x 4 enthusiasts as it offers a variety of routes. This area supports over 600 different plant species and is home to 45 mammal species and 94 bird species. Wildlife that can be spotted here includes springbok, gemsbok and Hantam Zebra. Bird lovers may see the Cape Eagle, Black Eagle, Booted Eagle, Karoo Eremomela, Dusky Sunbird and many more. This area is particularly beautiful during the flower season. The characteristic granite domes and peaks of the region contrast with the sandy plains, where springbuck, gemsbok and Hantam’s Zebra forage.
The Hester Malan Wildflower Garden within the reserve showcases many Namaqua succulents and features a rock garden. This succulent garden is also the starting point to a 17-km tourist loop, which one can drive to explore a cross section of the reserve’s habitats. There are also 4×4 routes for exploring further afield.
Between August and September the region bursts into a display of floral grandeur.
Facilities within the reserve include braai areas, ablution facilities and camping and caravan facilities. There is no electricity within the reserve.
The reserve is open from 08:00 to 16:30 all year round. An entrance fee is payable at the gate.

Reneen is a populated place and is located in Northern Cape, South Africa. The estimate terrain elevation above seal level is 271 metres. It has 60 odd campsites in the Namakwa region. Clanwilliam, Western Cape is a mere 57 km away so obviously this lies relatively on the Provincial Border!

Kamieskroon, in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa, situated just South of Springbok.

Kamieskroon is set among the granite rock formations of the Kamiesberg Range in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa. Its origins lie in the 1860's. It is 7 kilometers North of its present position. It took the name Bowesville (later Bowesdorp), after the district surgeon, Dr Henry Bowe. (As there was little room to expand in the narrow kloof, the Town occupied.) The Church Council decided, in 1924, to rebuild it at Kamieskroon. Kamies might derive from the Nama word ‘kam’, meaning two - referring to the twin Peaks of the Mountain. The ‘kroon’, a 330m peak crowned with a huge, cleft rock, is a kilometre from the Village.

The park was proclaimed on 29 June 2002 for the purpose of conserving the rich diversity of succulent plants. Namaqua National Park is in the process of development, having grown to its current size of 141,000ha (including the coastal contract area between the Groen and Spoeg rivers) in nine years, thus expanding the park to include more succulent habitats and an important coastal section. The history of establishment: In 1988 Skilpad Farm was purchased and started managing it as a wildflower reserve.
SANParks take over the management of the Skilpad Wildflower Reserve and surrounding farms that had been purchased. In 1999 was the Official opening of the Namaqua National Park. In 2000 they began; Working for Water project. August 2000 was the official start of Global Environment Facility project. 2001 Construction and refurbishments of infrastructure at the Skilpad Section of the Park begins. In 2002 was the official proclamation of the land that now formed the Namaqua National Park. In 2002 the Global Environment Facility Social Ecology projects get under way and the first Environmental Education Campaign in Africa begins in the Namaqua National Park. 2003 Land consolidation reaches 72 000 ha! 2004 work begins on proposed corridor to coast. In 2005 Land acquisitions to consolidate corridor negotiations with De Beers Namaqualand Mines ongoing. 2008 Contractual inclusion of the Groen-Spoeg River section, as part of Namaqua National Park.
The park has one access-controlled route; the main entrance gate at the Skilpad section. The use of this gate is normally restricted to between 06h00 and 18h00. The Groen-Spoeg River section can be entered at the Groenrivier where a marine SANParks official is based.
The cultural history of Namaqualand stretches back hundreds of thousands of years. Hand axes, presumably made by humans Homo erectus, have been found in the Namaqua NP. The San (a hunter-gatherer people) inhabited the region for thousands of years, moving seasonally after game, edible plants and water. Evidence of hunter-gatherers and herders is dotted all over Namaqualand along the Gariep River, along the coast, in caves and on the rocky outcrops. The descendants of the herder people are still living in Namaqualand today, although having lost a great deal of their original culture and traditions. During colonial times, in the 1700’s, the Europeans moved in and settled as stock farmers. Technology became part of the Namaqualand cultural landscape in the form of copper and diamond mining.
The weather in the Namaqua National Park falls within the winter rainfall region, of South Africa. Rainfall is associated with cold fronts in winter and is not only predictable but more reliable than other arid regions. The biological uniqueness of the Succulent Karoo Biome can be attributed to the low but reliable rainfall patterns. The average annual rainfall measured over 15 years in the Skilpad section at 700 metres above sea level is 340mm. The average at Soebatsfontein just beyond the parks south-western boundary is 140mm per annum. The Namaqualand Coastal Duneveld has a mean precipitation of below 100 mm annually. Snow on the Kamiesberg is common with the last snow recorded in 2009. Mist is frequent during autumn and winter and the associated moistening of the soil is thought to influence annual plant germination rates. The wind in winter is usually from the east, which can turn to a cold northwesterly with the approach of a frontal system. In summer the wind is predominantly from the south or east.
The Geography is made up of a bedrock, within the Namaqua NP. Which largely comprises Quartzo-feldspathic Gneiss of the Kookfontein subgroup within the Namaqualand Metamorphic Complex. Bedrock outcrops occur on koppies or mountains as smooth rock faces or large rounded boulders, typical of the Namaqualand Hardeveld. Of further geological significance is the Soebatsfontein Quartzite that occurs as low laying ridges or koppies in the south and south-western sections of the park. Wolfhoek se Berg is the highest point above sea level in the park, at 948m above sea level.

Winterberg lies virtually in the shadow of the Winterberg Mountains that include some of the highest peaks in the province, roughly 20 kilometres from Tarkastad. Winterberg is beautiful. The valley scenery bounded as it is by majestic mountains, crisp, clear air, and incredible scenery allows one to experience real rustic, countryside living. One of the highlights of staying here in the interior of the Eastern Cape is the trophy trout fishing for which the area is renowned.
The area is steeped in a history that belongs to the Bushmen, Boer and British soldiers, and Scottish settlers. The Winterberg was originally inhabited by San and Khoi people - hence the availability of rock art evidenced in caves and overhangs amongst the rocks. The Winterberg was also home to Piet Retief, responsible for leading a large group of Dutch farmers out of the area on their Great Trek, leaving their farms for occupation by the 1820 settlers.
All of these farms now form part of the Winterberg and Baviaans River Valley nature conservancies, through which many a horse trail, bike trail and hours of walking, hiking and climbing are a remedy for the fast pace of city life. During winter, Adelaide, the highest of the Winterberg peaks that rises some 2371 metres, is occasionally covered with snow; and winter woollies and fireside evenings make for an exciting holiday atmosphere.

The Tsolwana Game Park, Mpofu and Cradock Mountain Zebra Park make for wonderful outings and, if you can brave it, the Winterberg Mountain and Gorge are all nearby for the adventurous!

Falls in the jurisdiction of the Amathole District Municipality, in the Eastern Cape Province. It was established as a military post in 1879 and so named because of its situation on a stream with willow trees on its banks.