The Krans Nature Reserve
Situated just outside the village, this is
being developed with the co-operation of the local municipality.
Funds have been given by the Rowland and Leta Hill Trust under
the auspices of WWF South Africa. The McGregor Heritage Society
is presently much involved in this task.
The reserve is part of the meent, or commonage, of McGregor,
and used to be available to all villagers for grazing livestock.
Long ago, it was used as a dump. Old bottles, blue glass and
other treasures from this time are still found. But centuries
before
the founding of the village, early Iron Age people must
have used the path that runs along the edge of the reserve on
migration from the coastal plain to the Little Karoo. Their
stone artifacts have been found by archaeologists (ref. Aron
D. Mazel, Assistant Director, Dept. of Archaeology, Natal Museum).
It is interesting to speculate on their route and possible vantage
points for hunting game.
Fossil plants are also found in some of the rocks.
Living Plants
The changing habitat of the reserve is an ecotone between mountain
fynbos and succulent karoo. Notice how the distribution of plants
between these different veld types varies according to the slope
and aspect. Circular patches of lush vegetation called heuweltjies
occur here and there. These mysterious mounds are probably caused
by termites which enrich the soil around their termitarium.
The spaces between the rocks spring into colour in August with
wild freesia, barbania and lapeirousia, which look like folded
green concertinas until the pale blue flowers open. Chincherinchees
(Ornithogalum) grow in a marshy area that forms in the winter
near the path between the edge of the reserve and the dam wall.
Many different species of axalis flowers and a variety of daisies
open to the sun. Further along the path aloes, xucculents and
mesems become the dominant plants, but bulbs and other geophytes
are very common.
If you come to the Krans in summer there will be little sign
of these heat- and drought-resistant species as they are safely
underground. Bunches of restios, which are still harveste for
brooms, grow between the rocks. Yellow euphorbia (melkbos) is
common all over the reserve. The koppie harbours a rare species
of protea (P. humiflora) that hides its mouse-pollinated flowers
facing the ground.
Birds
On the path which follows the edge of the reserve overlooking
the cemetery, beautiful thorn trees (Acacia karoo) harbour many
birds.
Some of the most frequently seen are Karoo robins, stone chat,
Cape bunting, Cape francolin and lesser doublecollared sunbird.
Listen for the occasional call of a soaring fish eagle and look
out for hammerkops, which nest at times on the steep cliff.
In winter and spring, when water is lying about in the marshes
and dams, listen for the strange drumming sound of the "McGregor
Phantom" (Egyptian snipe), which dives through the air
thrumming its feathers in an eerie-sounding mating display.
Animals
You may see dassies sunning on the rocks, rabbits, hares or
small buck - probably grysbok. Jackal and otter have occasionally
been seen. Also look out for trapdoor spiders, small reptiles
and many fascinating insects.
The Dam
The leiwater dam was built by the people of McGregor in 1951
and stores the irrigation water for the village. It is often
home to a family of Egyptian geese and a flock of egrets regularly
flies over en route to a roosting site along the valley. The
view from the dam wall is spectacular. Different plants make
the path that skirts the dam a riot of colour in the spring.
If you wish to become a Friend of the Krans, please send your
donation to:
THE MCGREGOR HERITAGE SOCIETY
POSTE RESTANTE
MCGREGOR 6708
SOUTH AFRICA
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