Zwartkloof | the environment & species
Development Home
Why Zwartkloof
The Environment & Species
Stands
Site Plan
Architectural Styles
FAQ
Newsletter
Contracts
Contact & Enquiries
Location & Map
Accommodation Home
Contact & Enquiries
Location & Map

The environment

The extremely varied topography results in the vegetation being even more varied. The areas facing the Springbok flats are are essentially thorn veld interspersed with huge marula trees and thickets of gwarrie and buffalo thorn in the kloofs. At higher altitudes the vegetation changes to mixed bushveld, with various species of bushwillow and red syringa, followed by sour bushveld dominated by mountain syringa and Transvaal beech.

The variation in habitat makes it possible to accommodate a wide range of game species. At the moment buffalo, white rhinoceros, leopard, caracal, impala, kudu, zebra, eland, waterbuck, blue wildebeest, klipspringer, grey duiker, mountain reedbuck, giraffe and nyala occur on the property. Additional game species will be introduced after the completion of a wildlife management plan. The management plan will indicate the sustainable carrying capacity of the area, the ideal mixture of game species and veld management guidelines to be followed. The game population will be scientifically managed with regular game censuses and vegetation monitoring.

Interaction with the natural environment and interpretation of the ecology of the area will be facilitated with hiking trails, hides and guided drives. An area at the clubhouse will also be dedicated to a small library and displays relating to the terrestrial ecology of the area. Research by tertiary institutions will also be encouraged.

Bird species
LATIN NAME ENGLISH NAME AFRIKAANSE NAAM
A
APALIS Bar-throated (645) Bandkeelkleinjantjie
B
BABBLER Arrow-marked (560) Pylvlekkatlagter
Pied (Southern) (563) Witkatlagter
BARBET Black-collared (464) Rooikophoutkapper
Crested (473) Kuifkophoutkapper
Pied (Acacia) (465) Bonthoutkapper
Yellowfronted-Tinker(470) Geelblestinker
BATIS Chinspot (701) Witliesbosbontrokkie
BEE-EATER European (438) Europese Byvreter
White-fronted (440) Rooikeelbyvreter
Little (444) Kleinbyvreter
BOUBOU See Shrikes...  
BRUBRU See Shrikes...  
BULBUL Blackeyed Dark-capped) (568) Swartoogtiptol
BUNTING Golden-breasted (884) Rooirugstreepkoppie
Rock (886) Klipstreepkoppie
BUSH-SHRIKE See Shrikes...  
BUTTONQUAIL See Quails...  
BUZZARD Lizzard (154) Akkadisvalk
Steppe (149) Bruinjakkalsvoël
C
CANARY Black-throated (870) Bergkanarie
Streaky-headed (Seed-eater) (881) Streepkopkanarie>
Yelloweyed (Yellow-fronted) (869) Geeloogkanarie
Yellow (878) Geelkanarie
CHAT Familiar (589) Gewone Spekvreter
Mocking Cliff-chat (593) Dassievoël
CISTICOLA Desert (665) Woestynklopkloppie
Fantailed (Zitting) (664) Landeryklopkloppie
Rattling (672) Bosveldtinktinkie
COUCAL Burchell’s (391) Gewone Vleiloerie
COURSER Bronze-winged (303) Bronsvlerkdrawwertjie
CROMBEC Long-billed (651) Bosveldstompstert
CROW Pied (548) Witborskraai
CUCKOOSHRIKE Black (538) Swartkatakoeroe
CUCKOO African (375) Afrikaanse Koekoek
Black (378) Swartkoekoek
Diederik (386) Diederikkie
Jacobin (382) Bontnuwejaarsvoël
Klaas’s (358) Meitjie
Red-chested (377) Piet-my-vrou
Striped (Levaillant’s) (381) Gestreepte Nuwejaarsvoël
D
DIKKOP Spotted (Thick-knee) (297) Gewone Dikkop
DOVE Cape Turtle (354) Gewone Tortelduif
Emerald-spotted wood (Greenspotted) (358) Groenvlekduifie
Laughing (355) Rooiborsduifie
Namaqua (356) Namakwaduifie
Red-eyed (352) Rooioogtortelduif
DRONGO Forktailed (541) Mikstertbyvanger
E
EAGLE Black-breasted Snake (Black-chested) (143) Swartborsslangarend
Brown Snake (142) Bruinslangarend
Hawk (African) (137) Afrikaanse Jagarend
Martial (140) Breëkoparend
Wahlberg’s (135) Bruinarend
EGRET Cattle (71) Bosluisvoël
EREMOMELA Burned-necked (656) Bruinkeelbossanger
Green-capped (655) Donkerwangbossanger
Yellow-bellied (653) Geelpensbossanger
F
FINCH Cut-throat (855) Bandkeelvink
Melba (Green-winged Pytilia) (834) Gewone Melba
Quail (African) (852) Gewone Kwartelvinkie
Red-headed (856) Rooikopvink
Scaly-feathered (806) Baardmannetjie
FIREFINCH Jameson’s (841) Jamesonse Vuurvinkie
  Red-billed (842) Rooibekvuurvinkie
FLYCATCHER Black (Southern) (694) Swartvlieëvanger
Fairy (706) Feevlieëvanger
Fiscal (698) Fiskaalvlieëvanger
Marico (695) Maricovlieëvanger
Mousecoloured (Pale) (696) Muiskleurvlieëvanger
Paradise (African) (710) Paradysvlieëvanger
Spotted (689) Europese Vlieëvanger
FRANCOLIN Coqui (188) Swempie
Crested (189) Bospatrys
Natal (196) Natalse Fisant
Shelley’s (191) Laeveldpatrys
Swainson’s (S. Spurfowl) (199) Bosveldfisant
G
GOOSE Egyptian (102) Kolgans
GOSHAWK Banded (Shikra) (159) Gebande Sperwer
Gabar (161) Kleinsingvalk
GREBE Little (Dabchick) (8) Kleindobbertjie
GUINEFOWL Helmeted (203) Gewone Tarentaal
GYMNOGENE Gymnogene (African Harrier-Hawk) (169) Kaalwangvalk
H
HAMERKOP Hamerkop (81) Hamerkop
HELMET-SHRIKE See Shrike...  
HERON Black-headed (63) Swartkopreier
HONEYGUIDE Greater (474) Grootheuningwyser
Lesser (476) Kleinheuningwyser
HOOPOE Hoopoe (African) (451) Hoephoep
HORNBILL Grey (African) (457) Grysbekneushoringvoël
Red-billed (458) Rooibekneushoringvoël
Yellow-billed (Southern) (459) Geelbekneushoringvoël
I
IBIS Hadeda (94) Hadeda
INDIGOBIRD See Widdowfinch...  
K
KESTREL Greater (182) Grootrooivalk
Lesser (183) Kleinrooivalk
Western Red-footed (179) Westelike Rooipootvalk
KINGFISHER Brown-hooded (435) Bruinkopvisvanger
Pied (428) Bontvisvanger
Pygmy (African) (432) Dwergvisvanger
Stripped (432) Gestreepte Visvanger
Woodlands (433) Bosveldvisvanger
KITE Black-shouldered (127) Blouvalk
Yellow-billed (126) Geelbekwou
KORHAAN  
Red-chrested (237) Boskorhaan
L
LARK Fawn-coloured (497) Vaalbruinlewerik
Flapped (496) Laeveldklappertjie
Red-capped (507) Rooikoplewerik
Rufous-naped (494) Rooineklewerik
Sabota (498) Sabotalewerik
LOURIE Grey (Go-away-bird) (373) Kwevoël
M
MANNIKIN Bronze (857) Gewone Fret
MARTIN Banded (534) Gebande Oewerswael
House (Common) (530) Huisswael
MOUSEBIRD Red-faced (426) Rooiwangmuisvoë
Speckled (424) Gevlekte Muisvoël
MOUSEBIRD Red-faced (426) Rooiwangmuisvoël
Speckled (424) Gevlekte Muisvoël
N
NEDDICKY Neddicky (681) Neddikkie
NIGHTJAR Fiery-necked (405) Afrikaanse Naguil
Freckled (408) Donkerwangnaguil
Rufous-cheeked (406) Rooiwangnaguil
O
ORIOLE Black-headed (545) Swartkopwielewaal
OWL Barn (392) Nonnetjie-uil
Pearl-spotted Owlet (398) Witkoluil
Scops (African) (396) Skopsuil
Spotted eagle (401) Gevlekte Ooruil
White-faced (Southern white-faced scops-owl) Witwanguil
OXPECKER Red-billed (772) Rooibekrenostervoël
P
PARROT Meyer’s (364) Bosveldpapegaai
PENDULINE-TIT See Tits...  
PIGEON Rock (Speckled) (349) Kransduif
PIPIT Buffy (719) Vaalkoester
Bushveld (723) Bosveldkoester
Grassveld (African) (716) Gewone Koester
Plain-backed (718) Donkerkoester
PLOVER Blacksmith (Lapwing) (258) Bontkiewiet
Crowned (255) Kroonkiewiet
Three-banded (249) Driebandstrandkiewiet
Wattled (Lapwing) (260) Lelkiewiet
PRINIA Black-chested (685) Swartbandlangstertjie
Tawny-flanked (683) Bruinsylangstertjie
Q
QUAIL Common (200) Afrikaanse Kwartel
Kurrichane Button (205) Bosveldkwarteltjie
QUELEA Red-billedn(821) Rooibekkwelea
R
ROBIN Cape (C. Robin-chat) (601) Gewone Janfrederik
White-browed (Scrub-robin) (613) Gestreepte Wipstert
White-throated (Robin-chat) (602) Witkeeljanfredrik
ROLLER European (446) Europese Troupant
Lilac-breasted (447) Gewone Troupant
Purple (449) Groottroupant
S
SANDGROUSE Double-banded (347) Dubbelbandsandpatrys
SANDPIPER Common (264) Gewone Ruiter
Wood (266) Bosruiter
SCIMITARBILLS See Wood-hoopoes...  
SEED-EATERS See Canaries...  
SHRIKE Brubru (741) Bontroklaksman
Crimson-breasted (739) Rooiborslaksman
Fiscal (732) Fiskaallaksman
Grey-headed Bush (751) Spookvoël
Long-tailed (Magpie) (735) Langstertlaksman
Orange-breasted Bush (748) Oranjeborslaksman
Red-backed (733) Rooiruglaksman
White-chrested / Helmet-Shrike (753) Withelmlaksman
SNAKE-EAGLE See Eagle...  
SPARROWHAWK Little (157) Gebande Sperwer
SPARROW Cape (803) Gewone Mossie
Grey-headed (Southern) (804) Gryskopmossie
House (801) Huismossie
Yellow-throated (Yellow-throated Petronia) Geelvlekmossie
SPARROW-WEAVER White-browed (799) Koringvoël
SPURFOWL See Francolins...  
STARLING Burchell’s (762) Grootglansspreeu
Glossy (Cape) (764) Kleinglansspreeu
Plum-coloured (Violet-backed) (761) Witborsspreeu
Red-winged (769) Rooivlerkspreeu
Wattled (760) Lelspreeu
SUNBIRD Black (Amethyst) (792) Swartsuikerbekkie
Marico (779) Maricosuikerbekkie
White-bellied (787) Witpenssuikerbekkie
SWALLOW European (Barn) (518) Europese Swael
Lesser stripped (527) Kleinstreepswael
Red-breasted (524) Rooiborsswael
SWIFT European (Common) (411) Europese Windswael
Horus (416) Horuswindswael
Little (417) Kleinwindswael
Palm (African) (421) Palmwindswael
White-rumped (415) Witkruiswindswael
T
TCHAGRA Black-crowned (744) Swartkroomtjagra
Three-streaked (Brown-crowned) (743) Rooivlerktjagra
THRUSH Groundscraper (580) Gevlekte Lyster
Kurrichane(576) Rooibeklyster
Karoo (?) Bruinlyster
TIT-BABBLER Chestnut-vented (621) Bosveldtjeriktik
TIT Cape Penduline (557) Kaapse Kapokvoël
Southern black (554) Gewone Swartmees
V
VULTURE Cape (122) Kransaasvoël
W
WAGTAIL Cape (713) Gewone Kwikkie
WARBLER Barred (African Wren-warbler) (658) Gebande Sanger
Bleating (657b) (Grey-backed Camaroptera)  
GrysrugkwekwevoëlGarden (619) Tuinsanger
Icterine (625) Spotsanger
Willow (643) Hofsanger
WAXBILL Black-cheeked (Black-faced) (847) Swartwangsysie
Blue (844) Gewone Blousysie Common (846) Rooibeksysie
Violet-eared (845) Koningblousysie
WEAVER Masked (814) Swartkeelgeelvink
Red-headed (819) Rooikopwewer
Spotted-backed (811) Bontrugwewer
WHITE-EYE Cape (796) Kaapse Glasogie
WHYDAH Pin-tailed (860) Koningrooibekkie
Shaft-tailed (861) Pylstertrooibekkie
WIDDOW White-winged (Widowbird) (829) Witvlerkflap
WIDDOWFINCH Black (Dusky Indigobird) (864) Gewone Blouvinkie
Purple (Indigobird) (865) Witpootblouvinkie
Steel-blue (Village Indigobird) (867) Staalblouvinkie
WOOD-HOOPOE Redbilled (452) Rooibekkakelaar
Scimitarbill (454) Swartbekkakelaar
WOODPECKER Bearded (487) Baardspeg
Cardinal (486) Kardinaalspeg
Golden-tailed (483) Goudstertspeg


Grass species
LATIN NAME ENGLISH NAME AFRIKAANSE NAAM
A
Andropogon chinensis Hairy Blue Grass Blougras
Aristida congesta subsp. barbicollis Spreading Three-awn Lossteekgras
A. congesta subsp. congesta Tassel Three-awn Katstertsteekgras
A. stipitata Long-awned grass Langnaaldsteekgras
B
Brachiaria serrata Velvet signal grass Sinjaalgras
Brachiaria nigropedata Black-footed grass Swartvoetjiegras
C
Chrysopogon serrulatus Golden Beard-grass Gouebaardgras
Cymbopogon excavatus Broad-leaved turpentine grass Breëblaarterpentyngras
Cymbopogon plurinodes Narrow-leaved turpentine grass Smalblaarterpentyngras
Cynodon dactylon Couch grass Kweek
D
Digitaria eriantha Finger grass Vingergras
Diheteropogon amplectens Blue-stem Breëblaarblougras
E
Elionurus muticus Wire grass Koperdraadgras
Enneapogon cenchroides Nine-awned grass Kalkgras
Enneapogon scoparius Bottlebrush grass Negenaaldgras
Eragrostis chloromelas Narrow curly-leaf Krulblaar
E. rigidior Curly-leaf Breëkrulblaar
E. lehmanniana Lehmann’s love grass Knietjiesgras
Eustachys paspaloides Brown Rhodes grass Hoenderspoor
H
Heteropogon contortus Spear grass Assegaaigras
Hyparrhenia hirta Thatching grass Dekgras
Hyperthelia dissoluta Yellow thatching grass Geeltamboekiegras
L
Loudetia simplex Common Russet grass Stingelgras
M
Melinis nerviglumis. Bristle-leaved Red top Steekblaar- rooipluim
Melinis repens Natal Red-top Natal rooipluim
Microchloa caffra Pincushion grass Elsgras
P
Panicum maximum Buffalo/Guinea grass Gewone buffelsgras
Panicum deustum Broad-leaved Panicum Breëblaarbuffelsgras
Perotis patens Cat’s tail Katstert
Pogonarthria squarrosa Herringbone grass Sekelgras
S
Schizachyrium sanguineum Red Autumn grass Rooiherfsgras
Schmidtia pappophoroides Silky Autumn grass Sandkweek
Setaria sphacelata Bristle grass Mannagras
Stipagrostis uniplumis Silky Bushman grass Blinkblaarboesmangras
T
Themeda triandra Red grass Rooigras
Trachypogon spicatus Giant Spear grass Bokbaardgras
Trichoneura grandiglumis Small Rolling grass Klein-rolgras
U
Urelytrium agropyroides Quinine grass Varkstertgras
Urochloa mossambicensis Bushveld signal grass Bosveldbeesgras


Trees and Shrubs
LATIN NAME ENGLISH NAME AFRIKAANSE NAAM
A
Acacia caffra Hook-thorn Gewone haakdoring
A. karroo Sweet thorn Soetdoring
A. robusta Belly thorn Brakdoring
A.tortillissubsp. heteracantha Umbrella thorn Haak-en-steek
B
Berchemia zeyheri Red ivory Rooi-ivoor
Brachylaena rotundata Mountain silver oak Bergvaalboom
Burkea africana Wild seringa Wildesering
C
Clerodendrum glabrum Cat’s whiskers Harpuisblaar
Combretum apiculatum Red bushwillow Rooibos
C. hereroense Russet bushwillow Kierieklapper
C. molle Velvet bushwillow Fluweelboswilg
C. zeyheri Large-fruited bushwillow Raasblaar
Croton gratissimus Lavender croton Laventelkoorsbessie
Cussonia spicata Common cabbage tree Kiepersol
D
Dichrostachys cinerea Sicklebush Sekelbos
Diplorhynchus condylocarpon Horn-pod tree Bokhoringpeultjie
Dodonea viscosa Sand olive Sandolien
Dombeya rotundifolia Common wild pear Drolpeer
E
Ehretia rigida Puzzle bush Deurmekaarbos
Elephantorrhiza burkei Sumach bean Basboontjie
Erythrina lysistemon Coral tree Koraalboom
Euclea crispa Blue guarri Blougwarrie
Euclea divinorum Magic guarri Towergwarrie
Euphorbia ingens Tree euphorbia Naboom
F
Faurea saligna Beechwood Boekènhout
G
Gardenia volkensii Savanna gardenia Bosveldkatjiepiering
Grewia flavescens Sandpaper raisin Skurweblaarrosyntjie
G. monticola Silver raisin Vaalrosyntjie
Gymnosporia heterophylla Common spike-thorn Gewone pendoring
Gymnosporia tenuispina Spike thorn Pendoring
H
Heteropyxis natalensis Lavender tree Laventelboom
Hexalobus monopetalus Shakama plum Shakamapruim
K
Kirkia wilmsii Mountain seringa Bergsering
L
Lannea discolor Live-long Dikbas
M
Mundulea sericea Cork bush Kurkbos
O
Obetia tenax Mountain nettle Bergbrandnetel
Ochna pulchra Peeling plane Lekkerbreek
Olea europaea subsp. africana Wild olive Olienhout
Ozoroa paniculosa Resin tree Gewone harpuis
P
Pappea capensis Jacket-plum Doppruim
Peltophorum africanum Weeping wattle Huilboom
Pouzolzia mixta Soap-nettle Seepbos
Protea caffra Sugar bush Suikerbos
Pseudolachnostylis maprouneifolia Kudu-berry Koedoebessie
R
Rhus lancea Common karee Gewone karee
Rhus pyroides Common wild currant Taaibos
Rhus leptodictya Mountain karee Bergkaree
S
Sclerocarya birrea Marula Maroela
Spirostachys africana Jumping bean tree Tambotie
Strychnos pungens Spine-leavedmonkey orange Stekelblaarklapper
T
Terminalia brachystemma Green cluster-leaf Groenvaalboom
Terminalia sericea Silver cluster-leaf Vaalboom
V
Vangueria infausta Common medlar Gewone mispel
Vangueria parvifolium Mountain medlar Bergmispel
Vitex mombassae Poora-berry Poerabessie
Vitex rehmanii Pipe-stem tree Pypsteel
X
Ximenia caffra Large sour-plum Grootsuurpruim
Z
Zanthoxylum capense Small knobwood Kleinperdepram
Ziziphus mucronata Buffalo thorn Blinkblaar-wag-‘n-bietjie