Bounded by the Letaba River to the north, the Hans Merensky
Nature Reserve covers 5 300 ha of mainly mopane and red bush willow woodland
and scrub. The reserve was named in honour of the pioneering South African
geologist, Hans Merensky, who donated a water hole to the reserve. The son of
missionary Alexander Merensky, the younger Merensky’s prospecting skills were
instrumental in the opening of several mines.
Among these were Phalaborwa, the Rustenburg platinum mines
and the Alexander Bay diamond fields. The reserve has been stocked with a
variety of game, but on account of the dense vegetation the animals can be
difficult to spot. Hippo and crocodile inhabit the Letaba River; waterbuck are
never far from the river, while giraffe, kudu, waterbuck, impala, bushbuck and Burchell’s
zebra are among the species to be seen in the woodlands.
The visitor centre has displays on various aspects of the
reserve, and there is an interpretive trail, two nature walks and an easy but
delightful three-day overnight trail for visitors who prefer to explore the
reserve on foot. The reserve’s checklist of about 280 birds include species
such as tambourine dove, green pigeon, several kingfishers, white throated
robin and orange breasted bush shrike. For many birders on South African
holidays, however, a particular highlight is ticking Arnot’s chat, a species
which in South Africa is restricted to mopane woodland.
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