d'Nyala Nature Reserve

About d'Nyala Nature Reserve

D'Nyala Nature Reserve lies just 15 kilometres south east of Lephalale in the remotest parts of the Waterberg Biosphere.

Did you know? Humans benefit from the fruit of the Nyala tree (Xanthocercis zambesiaca), using it dried, to make a type of porridge.

D'Nyala is named after the huge and lovely Nyala tree (Xanthocercis zambesiaca) that grows in the area up to 30 metres high with massive gnarled and crooked trunks from which its leaves grow directly. Its fruit is favoured by various birds, monkeys and baboons, and elephant and buck eat the fallen fruit. Even humans benefit from the fruit, using it dried to make a type of porridge.

D'Nyala Nature Reserve also has some historical clout - it is the original 'bosberaad' centre, where negotiations between the former government and the ANC first began. In many ways it is regarded as the 'birthplace' of the New South Africa, and in 1990 the initial eleven meetings and workshops were held here. Today these rooms continue to serve as a conference centre, tucked in amongst huge examples of the nyala-berry trees.

D'Nyala is 8 000 hectares of rehabilitated reserve washed on its western and eastern borders by the Mogol and Tamboti rivers. Views from its position on the northern margin of the Waterberg plateau are exceptional – spread before one are some of the largest plains in the world, reaching all the way from the Waterberg to the Congo.

If that is not already appealing enough, the reserve is particularly well endowed with trees – all the bushveld 'in crowd' are here: baobab, leadwood, marula, knobthorn, wild figs and, of course, the nyala-berry tree.

D'Nyala Nature Reserve gives shelter to white rhino, giraffe, waterbuck, zebra, tsessebe, eland and others, and there are a variety of predators like the brown hyena jackal and smaller cats.

But the highlight of the reserve is without doubt the two game viewing hides that look out over savannah plains and riverbeds, making the spotting of game fairly easy.