About De Mond Nature Reserve

De Mond Nature Reserve is situated 26 km south-east of Bredasdorp on the south-western Cape coast. The reserve lies at the mouth of the Heuningnes River, between the coastal villages of Arniston (Waenhuiskrans) and Struisbaai. De Mond is 954 ha in size, and comprises former sections of the farms Zoetendals Vallei and Bushy Park. It was proclaimed a nature reserve in 1986 and is managed as a satellite of the De Hoop Nature Reserve.

Plants and animals

Prior to De Mond's status as a nature reserve, the naturally shifting sand dunes were artificially stabilised with indigenous vegetation by the Department of Forestry adding to the already varied flora of the area. The vegetation is mainly coastal, ranging from the dune milkwood forests to the teeming saltmarshes which sustain the estuarine environment. More inland, dune fynbos borders the limestone fynbos heathlands, making for a fascinating composition of vegetation.

De Mond supports several species of small mammals such as grysbok, steenbok and grey duiker, which may be observed if one is quiet anti patient. The only notable predator is the caracal, which is seldom seen. Reptiles and amphibians are well represented, and visitors should be on the alert for puff adLiers, particularly in the springtime!

De Mond has a rich and varied birdlife, making it ideal for birdwatching. The reserve is particularly important for the protection of breeding colonies of the threat- ened Damara (South Africa's most endangered coastal bird) and Caspian terns. The rare African black oystercatcher, South Africa's second most threatened coastal bird, also favours the reserve because human disturbance is minimal. Blue cranes, also rare and endangered, occasionally breed in this area.