Woody Cape Nature Reserve

About Woody Cape Nature Reserve

The Woody Cape Nature Reserve forms part of the Addo Elephant Park. The Alexandria Trail that takes hikers on a two day hike through the park begins in the Woody Cape section of the park.

Did you know? Apart from the sand-dunes, there is an extensive area of short, coastal forest, known locally as the Alexandria Forest.

The conservation area at Woody Cape Nature Reserve extends over about 25 000 ha of lightly undulating to flat terrain and incorporates the Alexandria coastal dune fields (known as the Woody Cape Nature Reserve).

This is a young and expanding dune system and one of the largest areas of active coastal dunes in the world. Apart from the sand-dunes, there is an extensive area of short, coastal forest, known locally as the Alexandria Forest.

Mammals that occur within the Woody Cape Nature Reserve include bushpig, bushbuck, Cape Grysbok, steenbok, common duiker, Vervet monkey, and large and small grey mongoose.

The bird diversity is considerable and includes the westernmost population of the trumpeter hornbill, there are also crowned hornbills, crowned eagle, Stanley's bustard, narina trogon and Damara tern.

Location: South-western part of the region, east of Port Elizabeth.

Access: From Port Elizabeth follow the N2 towards Grahamstown for 56 km; turn right onto the R72 towards Kenton on Sea, and at Alexandria take the gravel road to Alexandria Forest. This follows the northern boundary of the eastern part of the reserve and should be suitable for most vehicles.