{"id":875,"date":"2015-02-11T17:04:01","date_gmt":"2015-02-11T15:04:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/travelbucket.co.za\/?p=875"},"modified":"2019-06-12T11:32:20","modified_gmt":"2019-06-12T09:32:20","slug":"grysbok-trail-nmmu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/travelbucket.co.za\/grysbok-trail-nmmu\/","title":{"rendered":"GRYSBOK TRAIL @ NMMU"},"content":{"rendered":"

It was an early rise and shine on a Saturday morning for a walk on the Grysbok trail. \u00a0The whole of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) campus was declared a Private Nature Reserve in 1983. The 830 ha is dominated by the St Francis Dune Thicket vegetation. \u00a0 This fynbos<\/em> vegetation is highly threatened due to agricultural clearing and coastal development.<\/p>\n

\"On<\/a>

St Francis dune vegetation<\/p><\/div>\n

Despite some problems with invasive Australian Acacias the vegetation is in very good condition.\u00a0 The trail meanders through the reserve, providing opportunities for observing the exciting fauna and flora of the area.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>

A giant snail on the trail<\/p><\/div>\n

Do take time to visit the reserve on different times of the year to experience the whole spectrum of the flora and fauna.<\/p>\n

\"Flora\"<\/a>

Flora<\/p><\/div>\n

\u00a0There are two trail options that can be walked, a 3.2 km or a 2.5 km loop. Both trails cover relatively flat terrain and are suitable for moderately fit people and no bundu bashing is required.\u00a0 There are also a couple of geocaches (www.geocaching.com<\/a>) that can be logged on the various trails.<\/p>\n

\u00a0The tranquility of the bird hide, located near the entrance of the trail, can be utilized to observe some of the birds at a water pan.\u00a0 So bring your binoculars! \u00a0 \u00a0If you are lucky you will spot the proud Springbuck or a plains zebra grazing in the fynbos<\/em>. \u00a0 \u00a0 Also look closer for some very interesting creatures that roam in this reserve.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>

A scary looking hairy worm<\/p><\/div>\n

On the morning of our walk we did not encounter any of the various buck, but we found a lot of caracal spoor on the trail.\u00a0 Don\u2019t worry about the caracal (not the same as a lynx) as they are very shy and the possibility that you will encounter one of them is very rare.\u00a0 You will be very privileged if you spot one!<\/p>\n

\"Caracal<\/a>

Caracal spoor<\/p><\/div>\n

Do remember that this is a nature reserve so there is always the odd possibility of snakes, especially during summer time.\u00a0 Good advice is to take a walking stick when walking in the veld<\/em> as well as some sunscreen and a hat for the relentless African sun.<\/p>\n

NMMU\u00a0also offers game drives, in what is probably a South African first for a university, through its private nature reserve.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Please note that for safety purposes you need to report at the security boom when entering campus – just state that you are going to walk the Grysbok Trail and they do not have a problem.\u00a0 Also sign\u00a0the Visitors’ Book\u00a0at the\u00a0fence stile at the\u00a0start of the trail to avoid any unwanted trouble as they do spot checks from time to time.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It was an early rise and shine on a Saturday morning for a walk on the Grysbok trail. \u00a0The whole of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) campus was declared a Private Nature Reserve in 1983. The 830 ha is dominated by the St Francis Dune Thicket vegetation. \u00a0 This fynbos vegetation is highly threatened due to agricultural clearing and coastal development. Despite some problems with invasive Australian Acacias the vegetation is in very good condition.\u00a0 The trail meanders through the reserve, providing opportunities for observing the exciting fauna and flora of the area. Do take time to visit the reserve on different times of the year to experience the whole spectrum of the flora and fauna. \u00a0There are two trail options that can be walked, a 3.2 km or a 2.5 km loop. Both trails cover relatively flat terrain and are suitable for moderately fit people and no bundu… Read more ><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":877,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[86,84],"tags":[385,1521,78,38,1520,794],"geo":{"latitude":-33.96170430000000095560608315281569957733154296875,"longitude":25.62075229999999947949618217535316944122314453125,"description":"Port Elizabeth, , 6001, ZA"},"yoast_head":"\nGRYSBOK TRAIL @ NMMU - TRAVELBUCKET<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The whole of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) campus was declared a Private Nature Reserve in 1983. 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