Gustav Klingbiel Nature Reserve
and Long Tom Pass, Lydenburg

The Gustav Klingbiel Nature Reserve is situated on the eastern side of Lydenburg along the scenic Long Tom Pass to Sabie. About 320 species have been recorded in the reserve and its vicinity and several game species such as Bushbuck, Kudu, Impala, Zebra, Eland, Grey Rhebuck and Steenbok also occur in reserve.

Habitats
The reserve is 2200 hectares in extent and the Klipgatspruit cuts the mountainous area into a deep valley. The main habitats include thornveld and bushveld on the low-lying areas, and montane grassland on hillsides and plateaus with protea woodland (dominated by Silver Proteas P. roupelliae) on the higher altitudes. small isolated pockets of montane forest are present in the ravines that are tributaries of the Klipgatspruit. Along The Long Tom Pass scenic views of montane grassland with mountainous gorges and cliffs can be seen while small pockets of Silver protea can be seen along road and large concentrations of common Sugarbush on mountain plateaus.

Birding
Specials of the reserve and areas along Long Tom Pass include Jackal Buzzard, Gurney's Sugarbird, Malachite Sunbird, Grey-winged Francolin, Red-winged Francolin, Bar-throated Apalis, Olive Bush-Shrike and Denham's Bustard. A vulture restaurant in the reserve attracts mainly Cape Vulture, Cape Crow and White-necked Raven.

After entering the reserve, while driving through grassland area to the main dam and lapa area, look out for  Ant-eating Chat and White-winged Widowbird. When entering the bush areas, a stop at the lapa and at the dam is a must. At the dam are breeding Lesser Masked-Weaver and Spectacled Weaver, while Thick-billed Weaver has also been sighted here. In the surrounding bush clumps and along the stream look out for Crested Francolin (first recorded during January 1997), Natal Spurfowl, Yellow-breasted Apalis, Bar-throated Apalis, Black Cuckooshrike, Orange-breasted Bush-Shrike and Sombre Greenbul. Little Sparrowhawk and Lizard Buzzard have been sighted on previous occasions, as well as Scaly-throated Honeyguide.

In the thornveld on the hilly areas and along tourist routes the main attractions are Jacobin Cuckoo, Rufous-cheeked Nightjar (flushed from underneath thorn trees), White-browed Scrub-Robin, Long-billed Crombec, Chinspot Batis, Brubru and Chestnut-vented Tit-Babbler. In the stony terrace areas, Southern Boubou, Lazy Cisticola and Golden-tailed Woodpecker prefer these dense areas. In the adjacent grassland areas, Coqui Francolin, White-bellied Korhaan, Rufous-naped Lark, Long-billed Pipit and Plain-backed Pipit are common, while fantailed widowbird and Red-collared Widowbird can be sighted in the open thornveld.

There are several trails in the reserve and the more remote areas of the reserve can be explored on foot where several species only occur at higher altitudes. The Protea and Ribbok routes are mainly in protea woodland and rocky mountain hillsides. In the rocky areas look out for Denham's Bustard (resident pair), Buff-streaked Chat, Wailing Cisticola, Grey-winged Francolin and Red-winged Francolin, and raptors such as Lanner Falcon and Jackal Buzzard. Black-winged Lapwing have been sighted during summer on the plateau (can be expected) and a single Bronze-winged Courser was observed in open protea woodland during January 1997. In the Silver Protea clumps Gurney's Sugarbird is abundant and breeding during summer while Malachite Sunbird, Amethyst Sunbird and Greater Double-collared Sunbird are also common. Other birds, which visit the protea clumps, include Streaky-headed Seedeater, Golden-breasted Bunting, Dark-capped Bulbul and occasionally Cape Rock-Thrush. Drakensberg Prinia is common along bracken in kloofs and emergent vegetation as well as Cape Grassbird. In the isolated forest clumps in the reserve and along Long Tom Pass African Green-Pigeon, Purple-crested Turaco, Klaas's Cuckoo, Olive Woodpecker (also observed in protea woodland), Chorister Robin-Chat, Yellow-throated Woodland-Warbler, Cape Batis, Gorgeous Bush-Shrike, Olive Bush-Shrike and Swee Waxbill can be expected.

Roadside birds along Long Tom Pass includes mainly perched Amur Falcon, Jackal Buzzard, White-necked Raven and Cape Rock-Thrush and Sentinel Rock-Thrush. A stop at the picnic site in top of pass or at the farm Paardeplaats ("Jesus" stone writing on hill) is recommended to observe special birds. The one picnic stop gives a nice view over the nature reserve. Specials in the protea veld includes Gurney's Sugarbird, Malachite Sunbird, Amethyst Sunbird and Greater Double-collared Sunbird, Buff-streaked Chat and Cape Rock-Thrush. In the moist grassland, Yellow Bishop are common while Denham's Bustard are frequently observed in montane grassland.

General
At the entrance to the reserve, on the Long Tom Pass, there is a museum with an auditorium for conference facilities, an open exhibition and a curio shop. The museum has a very interesting exhibit about the town's history and history of the archaeological Stone Age sites. The reserve is open daily (08h00 - 16h00 weekdays and until 17h30 over weekends) and entrance fee per vehicle is payable at gate. The reserve can be contacted by +27 13-235 2121 or write to the Museum Curator, PO BOX 61, Lydenburg, 1120.

There are four hiking trails on the reserve. These lead to more remote areas where some of the specials can be seen; the Pedi-route (5 km), the crane route (9 km), the protea route (12 km) and the Ribbok route (which is a two day route over 20 km with overnight hut). The vulture restaurant is on the grassy plateau along the crane route. The shorter routes visit wooded areas along the streams and lower hillside areas, and are ideal for day visitors, The longer routes will take you to the higher montane areas, where the view over Lydenburg and the Long Tom Pass are spectacular.

If travelling to the Lowveld via the Long Tom Pass, a stop at the farm Paardeplaats is recommended (easily located by the "Jesus" stone writing on hill) to observe some specials at the protea clump. The owner, Gerda Whitehorn must be contact beforehand to obtain permission by (013) 2540234 or 0824161379 or visit her at her "Tonteldoos" shop in Dullstroom.

Dawie De Swardt 2001