Rooipoort Nature Reserve Hot

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porcupine at rooipoort by wildlife and conservation photographer Peter Chadwick.jpg

The 40 000-hectare Rooipoort Nature Reserve has belonged to De Beers since 1893 and is one of the oldest conservation areas in southern Africa. The arid Kimberly Thornveld that is bordered in the north by 32 kms of Orange River is home to a wide variety of bird species and 14 species of antelope.

Rooipoort Nature Reserve lies in the transitional zone between the Karoo, Kalahari and grassland zones. Over 4600 bushmen petroglyphs have been found on Rooipoort Nature Reserve and the historic building the “shooting box” was built in 1899 with both of these giving an indication of the importance of this reserve to preserving cultural and historical heritage. Rooipoort has also played a pivotal role in breeding rare species with the Black Wildebeest being the most notable of these.

red-Backed Shrike by wildlife and conservation photographer Peter Chadwick

1 of 6: Male Red-Backed Shrike.

Rooipoort dawn by wildlife and conservation photographer Peter Chadwick

2 of 6: Sunrise over one of Rooipoorts waterholes.

Pririt Batis by wildlife and conservation photographer Peter Chadwick

3 of 6: Pririt Batis.

The shooting box by wildlife and conservation photographer Peter Chadwick

4 of 6: The historical "Shooting Box".

The Orange River by wildlife and conservation photographer Peter Chadwick

5 of 6: There are 32 kms of Orange River frontage in the Rooipoort Nature Reserve.

Sabota Lark by wildlife and conservation photographer Peter Chadwick

6 of 6: Sabota Lark.

Photography

Best Time to Photograph

Dawn, early morning, late afternoon and dusk are when the birds and wildlife are most active. Summer brings thunderstorms and stunning sunsets over the arid landscapes.

Type of Photography

Birding
Wildlife General

Best Time of Year

Spring

Photographic Tips

Photography is best undertaken by driving slowly through the reserve with camera at the ready. Large game is fairly skittish, but Rooipoort offers excellent opportunities for photographing the small animals and birds.

Recommended Gear

Large telephoto lenses are needed in most cases for bird and wildlife photography at Rooipoort Nature Reserve. It is best to have a window mount in place for your camera.

Highlights

Site Highlights

4600 bushmen petroglyphs
The Historical Shooting Box building

Top Species

Footnotes

Season and Weather

Summers can be extremely hot with afternoon thunderstorms. Winters are generally more pleasant but nights can be very cold

Habitats

Other Activities

Birding
Game Viewing
Rock Art

Location

Closest Town

Kimberly

Getting There

Rooipoort Nature Reserve is situated 63kms west of Kimberly on the N8.

Contributor

Peter Chadwick

http://www.peterchadwick.co.za

Map

Swap Start/End Start Address

End

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Author: Peter ChadwickWebsite: http://www.peterchadwick.co.zaEmail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

About

As a dedicated conservationist, Peter Chadwick has 30 years strategic and operational conservation experience in terrestrial and marine protected area management. He has worked within all of the major biomes in southern Africa as well as having provided expert conservation advice at a global level. His conservation and wildlife photography is a natural extension to his conservation work where he has numerous opportunities to capture photographs that showcase the beauty and complexity of the outdoors. Peter’s photography is internationally recognized, with this work appearing globally in a wide range of print and electronic media.