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Ohrigstad Dam Nature Reserve
Situated on the edge of the highveld plateau, the Ohrigstad Dam Nature Reserve covers an area of 2 400 hectares around the dam which impounds a stretch of the Ohrigstad River.
The reserve lies between the town of Ohrigstad and the village of Pilgrim's Rest, on one of the main tourist routes over the escarpment to the wildlife-rich lowveld.
The topography is mountainous with upland grasslands dotted with such as Common Sugarbush, Common Hookthorn and Highveld Cabbage Tree, and sheltered valleys containing short forest dominated by Bladdernut, forest Bushwillow and White Pear.
Large mammals occurring in the reserve include Grey Rhebok,Mountain Reedbuck, Bushbuck and Brown Hyena, with the south African Hedgehog being among the more interesting smaller mammals. Birds typical of the grasslands include Bokmakierie, Familiar Chaat and Rufousnaaped Lark, with Cape Vulture Blackshouldered kite and Jackal Buzzard in the dskies above. Forest patches are often occupied by Olive Woodpecker, Cape Batis and Rednecked Francolin. The dam itself attracts aquatic birds, with the shallower backwaters being most favoured by herons, cormorants and ducks.
Indigenous fish species popular with anglers are the largescale Yellowfish, Sharptooth Catfish (barbell) and Mozambique Tilapia (Blue Kurper) but the introduced Carp are the most prized catch.
Activities
A good gravel road leads from the entrance gate to a shady picnic site at the far end of the Dam. Camping and fishing is permitted at this point but there is no running water is and only bush toilets.
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