8541RB Reading for Me Level 4 Part A

Persuasive
The Tygerberg Nature Reserve
The Tygerberg Nature Reserve lies
in the northern suburbs of Cape
Town. It is a must-see. Thousands
of years ago, the reserve’s hill was
scattered with Khoisan and their
cattle. Their view from the top was
open plains stretching out all the
way to Table Mountain. Through the
years, the plains made way for a
vast urban jungle. The view is still
breathtaking.
The Tygerberg Nature Reserve
covers 309 hectares (roughly 4 km 2 ).
It is home to 24 different mammal
species. There are 137 bird species.
There are 22 different reptiles,
seven frog species and various
butterflies. The reserve is one of
the largest areas where you can find
the critically endangered Swartland
Shale Renosterveld vegetation.
There are 562 floral species found in
the reserve.
The entry fee to the reserve is
R20 per adult and R10 per child.
A few tortoises live in the area
around the gate. If you are lucky,
one might greet you when you
arrive. You can make your way to
the Kristo Pienaar Environmental
Education Centre. There are
beautiful displays to look at. The
guide will also share interesting
facts about nature in the area.
The highlight of your trip will
be your hiking route. There are
13 routes to choose from. The
difficulty ranges from easy to
intermediate. The gravel trails
leading down the hill are more
notorious for wildlife. Keep your
eyes peeled for Cape foxes,
caracals, badgers, porcupines and
various small antelope. Earlymorning
hikes are the best for
wildlife spotting as the animals go
to the waterholes.
The gravel trails up the hill are a
little steep at first, but not too
difficult for children. The Duiker
route leads you to a beautiful
dam with a picnic bench. The
Tortoise route takes you right up
the hill. The view from the top is
spectacular. It feels like you are on
top of the world. You can see Table
Mountain with a 360° view of Cape
Town and its suburbs. There is a
cannon at the top of the hill. It is
still fired on special occasions.
The reserve is wheelchair friendly.
There is a tar road that leads from
the entrance to the top of the
mountain. There is a stunning picnic
area overlooking Table Mountain
and the harbour. You can bring your
friends and host your birthday party
at the picnic spot.
The Tygerberg Nature Reserve is a
wonderful escape from city living. If
you are ever in the area, you have
to come!
102 Reading for Me Level 4 (Part A) 978-1-922843-63-0 R.I.C. Publications ® Prim-Ed Publishing