Nylsvley Nature Reserve

Nylsvley Nature Reserve is a 40 km2 (15 sq mi) protected area, lying on the seasonally-inundated floodplain of the Nyl River, the uppermost section of the Mogalakwena River which has a very shallow gradient. It is located near Mookgophong in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. This area has been declared a Ramsar wetland site because of its international conservation importance. The floodplain is made up of extensive reedbeds and grassveld surrounded by open woodland.

Nylsvley Nature Reserve
Location within Limpopo
LocationLimpopo Province, South Africa
Nearest cityMookgophong
Coordinates24°39′17″S 28°41′28″E[1]
Area40 km2 (15 sq mi)
Designated7 July 1998
Reference no.952[2]

Situated in the upper catchment area of the Nyl River, and covering about 20% of the floodplain, the area boasts some 370 bird species - of which more than 100 are waterfowl - and during peak floods, over 80,000 birds are to be seen. The reserve is also home to roan antelope and tsessebe. The only stands of wild rice in South Africa, Oryza longistaminata, are to be found here.

The name 'Nylsvley' originated in vlei, a pan or seasonally flooded area, and in the word for "Nile". In the 1860s, a Voortrekker group of farmers saw a large flooded plain and a river flowing northwards and thought it might be the Nylrivier (Nile river).[3]

Pictures
  • Nylsvley Brochure pg 1
  • Nylsvley Brochure pg 2
  • Nylsvley Brochure pg 3
  • Nylsvley Brochure pg 4

References
  1. "Nylsvley Nature Reserve". protectedplanet.net.
  2. "Nylsvley Nature Reserve". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  3. "Nylsvlei Nature Reserve". Archived from the original on 13 September 2013. Retrieved 18 March 2012.
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