Lawrence de Lange Nature Reserve

About Lawrence de Lange Nature Reserve

The Lawrence de Lange Nature Reserve enjoys prime positioning as it is idyllically perched on the inclines of the Madeira Mountain Range. From here, it overlooks the small town of Queenstown, +/- 4 hours drive from Port Elizabeth (363 km) on the R67 and 2 hours from East London (195 km) on the N6 National Road.

Did you know? There are two fairly challenging hiking trails through the countryside of the reserve, namely the Bushbuck Trail and the Wilderness Trail.

The Lawrence de Lange Nature Reserve is characterised by semi-arid vegetation. This is made up of plant-life that includes scrubby bush, cycads, acacias, aloes and stretches of untouched grasslands. This makes for the ideal habitat for a number of different animal species, making game drives and game viewing most rewarding in the reserve.

Some of the animals that can be spotted here include the kudu, zebra, eland, Indian water buffalo, rhino, giraffe, gemsbok, bushbuck, duiker, black wildebeest, steenbok, springbuck, impala, and ostrich.

There are also 166 bird species that have been recorded within the boundaries of Lawrence de Lange. These are varied, but include the black eagle and Cape vulture. Keen avian students are reminded to bring their binoculars and identification books along to get the most out of their bird-watching experience in this part of the Eastern Cape.

There are two fairly challenging hiking trails (known as the Madeira Guided Trails) through the countryside of the reserve. These are 1) the Bushbuck Trail and 2) the Wilderness Trail. The Bushbuck Trail takes eight hours to complete and traverses the stunning foothills. The Wilderness Trail is a six-hour route that stays at ground level, but still showcases much of the breathtaking scenery. An experienced guide can be arranged in advance.

The Lawrence de Lange Nature Reserve is equipped with picnic spots as well as camp sites, and the lapa is available for functions by prior arrangement.