Anysberg Nature Reserve Mountain Biking Trails

Anysberg Nature Reserve lies in the Klein Karoo between Ladismith, Laingsburg, Touwsrivier and Montagu, and is
approximately four hours drive from Cape Town. This 80 000 ha reserve offers the visitor some of the most striking scenery in the Karoo as well as fascinating animals and plants and various recreational activities.

Anysberg Nature Reserve was established in 1988 to conserve the local veld type and to re-introduce game species that historically occurred in this region. The landscape alternates from gently undulating terrain and Karoo plains to rugged mountains with steep gorges. The Anys, Touws and Prins Rivers and tributaries of the Gouritz river system, flow through the reserve. Anysberg offers a variety of recreational activities. Hikers are welcome to explore the reserve, although at present no formal trails exist.

Recreation:
A two-day guided horse trail (bookings in advance essential) with a rustic overnight stop as well as 4x4 trails provide visitors with an ideal way to see the game and more remote areas of the reserve. Mountain bikers may use the jeep tracks that traverse the reserve. Interpretive signage has been erected and a Self-explore Eco-drive booklet, for sale at the office, provides information on stargazing, the fauna, flora, history and geology of the reserve and the Khoisan.

Mountain bikes and camping equipment including tents, mattresses, bedding and basic utilities are available for hire
from the office.

Accommodation:
Five cottages, sleeping 21 people in total, may be hired at Vrede. All cottages have solar lighting and are fully equipped with gas stoves, warm water ablution facilities, solar fridges and an indoor Dover stove or Jet Master braai for colder days. All cottages have an outdoor braai and picnic table on the stoep. Bedding and towels
are provided. Five campsites (without power points), that each accommodate a maximum of 6 persons, are available on the lawn near the office complex. The campsite ablution block is disabled-friendly and has hot and cold water, while the communal kitchen area is equipped with a gas stove, fridge and freezer. Built braai places and picnic tables with umbrellas are available. Please bring your own braai grid. In addition, four 'wendy house' type units, sleeping 2 people
each, are available at Tapfontein. These can be used by 4x4 enthusiasts, mountain bikers and visitors doing the horse trail. Guests can cool off in the summer in the reservoir with deck. There are warm water showers, ablution facilities, a lapa with braai and a fully equipped rustic kitchen. Guests should bring bedding, towels, dish towels, toilet paper, rubbish bags, firewood and a torch as there is no lighting available.

Archaeological and historical sites:
Numerous archaeological sites are dotted over the reserve. Khoisan paintings depicting scenes from the past and ruins dating from the late 1700s are reminders of the early hunters, farmers and herders who inhabited the area.

Plants and animals:
Anysberg lies within the Cape Fold Mountains and the vegetation is transitional between mountain fynbos and typical Klein Karoo veld. The plant life ranges from eye-catching succulents to impressive stands of proteas that occur at higher altitudes. In 2015 the reserve was included as one of the protected areas making up the Cape Floral Kingdom Protected Areas World Heritage Site, declared South Africa's 6th World Heritage Site in 2004. These areas are considered to be some of the most important and representative examples of the Cape Floral Region. Mammals include Cape mountain zebra, steenbok, duiker, gemsbok, red hartebeest, riverine rabbit, brown hyaena and
numerous other small, shy species. Leopards roam the mountains. Other notable carnivores include black-backed jackal and caracal. Birdwatchers will find this an interesting locality, with approximately 180 bird species having been recorded. Reptiles are represented by five species of tortoise, boomslang, Cape cobra, puff adder and various other snakes and lizards.