Tuesday 27th April to Friday 4 June 
Sunday 11th July to Friday 6th August Sunday 11th July to Friday 6th August |
9th August to 23rd September 3 October to 10 December |
2010 Pensioner’s Midweek Rate Note: Pensioners special rate applies in standard accommodation, midweek & in the low season only. This rate cannot be used in conjunction with another special |
Site of Conservation SignificanceDRAKENSBERG LANDSCAPES AND HABITATS AT THE CAVERNThe Cavern, situated in the Northern Drakensberg, applied for and was successful in being recognised as a Site of Conservation Significance by KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife. The following is the submission to KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife compiled by David Johnson. The Cavern is situated in typical Drakensberg terrain of undulating hills, valleys and mountains. The Cavern consists of several interlinking river valleys forming a single tertiary catchment. On the north, west and south sides this is enclosed and bounded by the Drakensberg, Royal Natal National Park and the Amphitheatre area; to the east the valley runs downhill from the Drakensberg towards the KZN Midlands Meander. DRAKENSBERG GEOLOGYThe Drakensberg landscape is a memoir of a dramatic piece of Earth’s history. At the altitude of The Cavern the geology is of Permian age. It represents the shores of an inland sea at a time when Africa lay much further south than at present. It contains fossils of Lystrosaurus, one of the best known of the mammal-like reptiles. This stock, after many millions of years in the evolutionary wilderness, eventually gave rise to today’s mammals. The dominant feature of the Drakensberg and a very spectacular feature at The Cavern is the Cave Sandstone, which forms a semi-circular bastion on three sides. It is of Triassic age, and consists of consolidated, wind-blown, desert sand. Its inhabitants were early small dinosaurs, whose fossil footprints are occasionally revealed by rock falls in sandstone overhangs. Rock falls in the past have left huge boulders below the main cliffs of the Drakensberg. These act as foci for sensitive plant communities in the Drakensberg. Although The Cavern is not part of the high Drakensberg it has a small layer of basalt which can be seen clearly above Echo Cave. This is a remnant of the great lava flows that characterised the Jurassic Period about 140 million years ago. At this time the southern continents were still all part of Gondwana. The vulcanism responsible for the flows also caused rifting of the supercontinent, so that KZN, which had been a high plain in the heart of the continent, suddenly found itself to be an unstable coastline. The landscape slumped eastwards, forming the Natal Monocline. Subsequent erosion cut the overlying basalt back to the position we see today. DRAKENSBERG HABITATSMost of the original Drakensberg habitat is still present and functional. There has been some modification, for example in the species composition of the grassland. Grassland occupies more than half of the land area, especially on the north-facing slopes. Sparse woodland grows on warmer, drier sites. Tall evergreen forest is typical on cooler slopes, and in kloofs protected from fire. Marginally damp areas, especially near rocks and streams, support scrub and thicket – a stage in the succession towards forest in the absence of fire. High ground is dominated by rocks, including a near-complete amphitheatre of Cave Sandstone. Wetlands are represented by permanently flowing rivers and streams. 1. Evergreen forest. More than 20 forest patches are present in this part of the Drakensberg, including at least four large enough to support a regular forest bird community. The biggest patch is Fern Forest, occupying the valley bottom close to The Cavern hotel. Other large patches screen Echo Cave and Cannibal Cavern, with a smaller, but very diverse patch surrounding The Grotto. A high proportion of the forest bird community is endemic, and includes the Southern Boubou, Cape Batis, Cape White-eye, Chorister Robin, Forest Canary and Bush Blackcap. This is Afro-Montane Forest, an interesting living monument to the geological past of the Drakensberg. It has its origins in the highlands of east Africa, and colonised southwards during the wetter episodes of the Pleistocene. What we see today are remnant outliers, sufficiently established to survive a climate that is marginally dry. The key structural feature of these forest patches is that, except for occasional tree falls, the canopy is closed. Tree diversity is much higher than is usual at this altitude, 67 species have been recorded in these forests. In Fern Forest a community of Pleurostylia capensis is remarkable. Every individual is over 20 m tall: elsewhere this rare tree is only a fraction of this size. Ekebergia capensis reaches over 30 m tall, and there are many exceptional specimens of Celtis africana, Calodendrum capense, Cussonia spicata and Scolopia mundii. All three species of Podocarpus are present in Fern Forest, while Echo Cave Forest consists mainly of P. latifolius. One of the Red Data flowers, Disperis fanniniae, occurs at the forest edge. 2. Scrub and woodland. Evergreen native scrub occurs in scattered patches in this part of the Drakensberg. This scrub community is a sort of stunted forest that lacks most canopy species. In its early stages it may contain bracken – an indicator that forest could develop at that site given fire protection. Subsequently frost-hardy shrubs arrive, followed by larger trees once birds come to feed on the fruits of the shrubs. Scrub tends to exclude grass, so burns infrequently, and eventually not at all. The Berg Bamboo Thamnocalamus tessellatus grows only on damp scrub edges where there is maximum sunlight with no threat of fire. Scrub is the favoured habitat of many of the endemic birds – Greater and Lesser Doublecollared Sunbirds, Drakensberg Prinia, Grassbird, Cape Rock Thrush, Bokmakierie, Cape Canary, and Fairy and Fiscal Flycatchers. Sparse protea woodland occurs on the drier slopes. Both Protea caffra and P. roupelliae are present. Because the proteas are widely spaced they never shade out grass, so are subject to grass fires. P. roupelliae is usually associated with rocks or very shallow soils, illustrating its sensitivity to fire, and demonstrating the mechanism by which the two proteas are ecologically separated. The abundance of proteas accounts for the numbers of Gurney’s Sugarbird present year-round. Proteas are Gondwana relics, greatly adding to our story of the breakup of the super-continent. Acacia woodland is quite well developed in scattered patches, some extending higher into the Drakensberg than anywhere else. Most of these are single-species stands of Acacia sieberiana. These too support particular birds, notably the Crested Barbet, Yelloweyed Canary and Longbilled Crombec, all elsewhere typical of lower altitudes. 3. Grassland. The grassland in this part of the Drakensberg is classified as Acocks’ (1975) Veld Type 44: Highland Sourveld. It is the equivalent of Camp’s (1999) Bioresource Group 8: Moist Highland Sourveld (MHS). This is one of the two most threatened grassland types in KZN and the Drakensberg. Very little – in good condition – is found outside nature reserves. Originally the dominant grasses would have been Themeda triandra and Tristachya leucothrix. At The Cavern Themeda is patchy and uncommon, revealing a history of over-exploitation. Eragrostis plana, an unpalatable species favoured by over-grazing, now dominates in places. Other common grasses such as Hyparrhenia hirta and Cymbopogon excavatus must have arrived after disturbance. However, grazing pressure has been greatly reduced over the past 15 years in an attempt to restore the grasslands. In addition, invading wattles have almost completely been eliminated, greatly increasing the amount of habitat available for wildlife. The abundance of Mountain Reedbuck at The Cavern attests to the value of the grassland. The Grey Rhebuck would only be present if the density of small forbs was enough to support them. Indeed, the grasslands are very rich in small flowering plants. This must also play a role in supporting rodents and other small mammals which support the Serval population. The occasional presence of Eland is of interest. Although neither rare nor endemic it is very much the flagship mammal in the Drakensberg. Being semi-nomadic, it cannot always be present, but contiguity of its upland habitat is vital. In species count the flowering plants far outnumber the grass species present. This diversity is typical of most grasslands in eastern South Africa. There is also a high degree of plant endemism, although the way in which data is presented in standard texts makes it difficult to quantify it here. Two of the Red Data flowers – Eucomis autumnalis and Protea dracomontana occur in the grasslands. The pattern of flowering species, and their relationships with those further north, both illustrate the moulding influence of climatic fluctuations during the Pleistocene. The grasslands support specialised birds. The Black Stork, Secretary Bird, Jackal Buzzard and Stanley’s Bustard use only open grasslands, with the Bald Ibis and Ground Hornbill appearing after grass fires. Even within the grassland structural diversity accommodates a variety of smaller species. Very long grass is used by the Broadtailed Warbler, intermediate heights by the Orangethroated Longclaw and Swee Waxbill, with the Longbilled Pipit in short grass. 4. Wetlands. There are several small rivers on the site, and innumerable tiny streams, all flowing throughout the year in this area of the Drakensberg. They are youthful in profile, with fast-flowing waters, waterfalls and small rocky pools. Rock walls fringe the steeper sections. Seepages keep these permanently wet, and a specialised flora is associated with this micro-habitat. There are no permanent marshes, the terrain being too steep. Three birds that depend upon clean flowing water are present; the Black Duck, Longtailed Wagtail and Halfcollared Kingfisher. The Cape Clawless Otter, although not a Red Data species, is considered important nationally as a habitat quality indicator. It is common at The Cavern, and the Drakensberg is its stronghold. 5. Rocks and krantzes. Because rocky areas, including those with shallow stony soils, are unprofitable to exploit, they often remain in near-original condition, and are a great conservation asset. Several of the higher grassland slopes have rock outcrops sufficiently prominent to attract habitat specialist bird species. These include four important endemics, found only in this habitat, the Ground Woodpecker, Sentinel Rock Thrush, and Mountain and Buffstreaked Chats. The Natal Red Rock Rabbit also lives here. Rock outcrops and boulder scree act as refuges for many specialised plants, Ficus ingens being an example. Some of the flowers are also rocky substrate specialists. Scilla natalensis thrives here. RARE, ENDANGERED AND ENDEMIC SPECIES IN THE DRAKENSBERGEndemics have been included under this heading because they have at least equal importance to Red Data species in determining the conservation value of a site in the Drakensberg. Red Data species are often so only locally, and may even be abundant in other territories. By contrast endemics, even if common, can only be conserved within their limited range. They also have added uniqueness value for ecotourism, and are essential for research into the genetics, evolution and dispersal of species. BIRDS Red Data status is taken from Barnes (2000). Endemism comes from Harrison et al. (1997): E = endemic to South Africa; e = endemic to southern Africa. Bird nomenclature comes from Maclean (1993). 1. Red Data species Black Stork Near-threatened All of these species are seen at least fairly regularly at The Cavern. Most are big species with large territories, of which The Cavern is a part. The three small species – Halfcollared Kingfisher, Bush Blackcap and Broadtailed Warbler – are all resident breeders, can be seen every day, and the Bush Blackcap is common. Two species – Cape Vulture and Bald Ibis – are Globally Threatened (Collar et al. 1994), emphasising the importance of the whole Drakensberg to their survival. 2. Endemics Bald Ibis E Twenty-six endemics are present at The Cavern, more than in many a famous and larger game reserve. All occur regularly, and all but six are abundant. Nine species are endemic to the Drakensberg and its foothills. DRAKENSBERG MAMMALSRed Data source is Friedmann and Daly (2004). Endemism is taken from Mills and Hes (1997). 1. Red Data species White-tailed Rat Endangered The Cavern forms part of one territory of a pair of Brown Hyaenas. Servals are common, to judge from the distribution of droppings. The White-tailed Rat is nocturnal and unobtrusive, few local details are available. 2. Endemics Forest Shrew The Mountain Reedbuck is a Pleistocene relic of the Drakensberg, left behind after a cool dry episode. Its nearest relative is in the mountains of east Africa. At The Cavern the population numbers at least 30. A group of six Grey Rhebuck is permanently resident. DRAKENSBERG REPTILESEndemic species Endemism data comes from Branch (1988) Drakensberg Crag Lizard The crag lizard is confined to higher altitudes, whereas the chamaeleon is common at lower altitudes, occurring in all habitats at The Cavern except the forest interior. DRAKENSBERG TREESEndemism data comes from Palgrave (2002) and van Wyk & van Wyk (1997): E = endemic to South Africa; e = endemic to southern Africa. Red Data status comes from Scott-Shaw (1999). 1. Red Data species Thamnocalamus tessellatus All of these species are rare and patchily distributed throughout their restricted range. In addition, Ocotea has historically been heavily over-exploited, originally for its timber, more recently for the supposed magical quality of its bark. 2. Endemics Acacia caffra E Of the 90 tree species recorded at The Cavern altogether, 41 are endemics, 26 to South Africa. Nearly all of these are restricted to the uplands, emphasising the “island” role in the speciation of African trees. Seventeen are common at The Cavern. DRAKENSBERG FLOWERSData comes from KZN Nature Conservation Service (1999). Red Data species Disperis fanniniae Lower Risk Both Scilla and Eucomis are relatively widespread in KZN, and must once have been common. The main threat is heavy over-exploitation for the traditional medicine trade, with collecting for horticulture a lesser threat. Disperis is an orchid sought by collectors. The protea is restricted to the uplands, and needs the correct fire regime. The survival of Red Data plants is almost entirely in the hands of sympathetic landowners managing a large proportion of their land for conservation. REFERENCESClick here to view our KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife Site of Conservation Significance Letter Acocks, J.P.H. 1975. Veld types of South Africa. Mem. bot. Survey of S. Africa, No. 40. Bot. Res. Inst. Pretoria. Barnes, K.N. (ed.). 2000. The Eskom Red Data Book of Birds of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. BirdLife South Africa, Johannesburg. Camp, K. 1999. The Bioresource Groups of KwaZulu-Natal – highlands and mountains. Cedara Report No N/A/99/14. KZN Dept of Agriculture. Collar, N.J. Crosby, M.J. & Statterfield, A.J. 1994. Birds to watch 2. The world of threatened birds. Birdlife International, Cambridge. Friedmann, Y. & Daly, B. 2004. Red Data Book of Mammals of South Africa: a conservation KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Service. 1999. Nomination proposal for the Drakensberg Park, alternatively known as uKhahlamba Park to be listed as a World Heritage Site. Internal publication. Pietermaritzburg. Maclean, G.L. 1993. Roberts’ birds of southern Africa. John Voelcker Bird Book Fund, Cape Town. Mills, G. & Hes, L. 1997. The complete book of southern African mammals. Struik Winchester, Cape Town. Palgrave, M.C. 2002. Trees of southern Africa. Struik, Cape Town. Scott-Shaw, R. 1999. Rare and threatened plants of KwaZulu-Natal and neighbouring regions. KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Service. Van Wyk, B. & Van Wyk, P. 1997. Field guide to trees of southern Africa. Struik, Cape Town. |
Booking Form
|
