From the Nelson Mandela University Campus Nature Reserve:
The Nelson Mandela University campus was declared a Private Nature Reserve in 1983. The campus covers 830 ha, and is dominated by the St Francis Dune Thicket vegetation community, which is characterised by clumps of thicket occurring within a matrix of Dune Fynbos.
This fynbos vegetation is highly threatened due to agricultural clearing and coastal development, and the Nelson Mandela University Nature Reserve makes a significant contribution towards its conservation. Of the 17 500 ha of this vegetation still in existence, only 1 500 ha are conserved, and the reserve accounts for 48% of this total. Despite some problems with invasive Australian Acacias the vegetation is in very good condition.
Virtual tour:
The Nelson Mandela University Campus Nature Reserve offers a virtual field trip.
Duration:
25:50
This field trip of the rarest tracts of dune fynbos in the world, is available on this website:
Note from the blog owner:
* The Nelson Mandela University campus is the only university campus in South Africa located on a nature reserve.