Island Nature Reserve

Bushbuck Trail, Island Nature Reserve

Province : Eastern Cape
Region : Nelson Mandela Bay
Nearest Town : Port Elizabeth
Distance from nearest town : 25km
Location of start : -33° 59' 8.10" 25° 22' 12.41"
Trail distance : 16Km

Difficulty : Easy to moderate
Suitable for kids : Yes
Contact : 041 378 1634

The Island Nature Reserve is located approximately 25 km from Port Elizabeth and is accessed via the Seaview Road turn off on the national road (N2). After the turn off from N2, you travel for 6km to the entrty point of the Reserve which is on the left hand side of the Seaview road.

The Reserve, a good example of a climax community growing on consolidated dunes, comprises 480 ha of indigenous Alexandria coastal forest and boasts tree species such as Outeniqua yellow-wood, white and hard pear as well as white milkwood.

The Reserve offers numerous walks, the most well known being the 16 km Bushbuck Hiking Trail which starts just outside the Main Office of the Nature Reserve . The trails can also be fragmented into 5 trails according to the distance they are covering .

TRAIL 1: This is the shortest trail of about 900m long which used by old people and young children for hiking. It starts on the left of the office building and ends behind the first ablution block . This trail is on a area liked by Blue Duikers and if one is lucky , he may see one of them. Different types of birds can be seen . It is unlikely that a hiker can get lost because we have markers especially when a trail turns

TRAIL 2: This trail is also short but longer than the 1st one and goes as far as the subway under tarred road . It covers 975m long. Markers are available

TRAIL 3 : This trail covers 3.95km . Markers are available. Important plants found on this trail are Hard pear ( Olinia cymosa 2.4km); Outeniqua yellow wood tree(Podocarpus falcatus 3.2km). You also get veld figs (Ficus burtt-davyi )

TRAIL 4 : This is the longest trail which covers a bigger part of the reserve covering 7.6km long.
This also covers an upper part of the reserve where you have a lookout and see further places like Jeffreys Bay & Cape St. Francis on clear days (10.4km). Many of the trees are labelled with their national tree list numbers to aid identification and the birdlife is impressive - some 120 bird species have been recorded in the reserve. Vervet monkeys, bushpig and small antelope such as bushbuck and blue duiker are often spotted in the forest. The full circuit, which will take about 3.5 hours requires some endurance, especially in hot weather. A map is available at the start and the trail is indicated by dotts and arrows (Watch out for ticks.

There is also an easy 1.3km trail and picnic sites with fireplaces. An entrance fee is charged at the gate which is open from 08h00 till 16 h30 during the week and on weekends it is 08h00 to 16h00.

TRAIL 5 : This trail is shorter than trail 4 measuring 3.4 km , it joins the end of trail 4 then continues up to the staff village. A caracal is often seen along this trail.