The Wildebeest's guide to South Africa
Nylsvley Nature Reserve
Afrikaans name: Nylsvley-natuurreservaat
Entrance to Nylsvley Nature Reserve
Photo © Johan van Zyl
Limpopo
Around 150 years ago a group of Voortrekkers stumbled upon a large flooded area with a river leading to the north and decided that this must be the Nile River. So they named the area Nylsvley (Nyl for Nile and vley (or vlei) for an area of flooded grassland). The Voortrekkers were wrong as the Nyl River eventually drains into the Limpopo River, but the name has stuck. Today Nylsvley is a nature reserve around 40 square kilometres in size.
The nature reserve is well-known as a birding hot-spot and over 370 species of birds have been recorded here. Waterbirds are the prime attraction because of the extensive reedbeds and shallow areas of the dam. There are also areas of grassland and open woodland. Water levels in the pan vary and affect the number of waterbirds drawn to the area. In times of peak flooding the numbers of birds are at their highest.
Over 70 species of mammals are found in Nylsvley Nature Reserve. These include Roan Antelope, Giraffe, Waterbuck, Kudu, Tsessebe, Bushbuck, Leopard and Brown Hyena.
If you are in to insects you will be pleased to hear that dragonflies, butterflies and other insects are found in abundance at Nylsvley. Over 50 species of dragonfly and nearly 300 species of butterfly have been recorded.
Accommodation in Nylsvley Nature Reserve is fairly limited but there are a few camp sites, cottages and a guest house.
Above - Visitor Centre
Photo © Johan van Zyl
Above - Accommodation
Photo © Johan van Zyl
Mammals of Nylsvley Nature Reserve
Please note that this is only a guide and, while we have made every effort to be accurate, we can't be held responsible for any errors.
Antbear / Aardvark
Bush Pig
Common Duiker
Honey Badger
South African Hedgehog
Striped Polecat
Water Mongoose
Birds of Nylsvley Nature Reserve
Please note that this is only a guide and, while we have made every effort to be accurate, we can't be held responsible for any errors.
Coqui Francolin
Harlequin Quail
Fulvous Duck
White-backed Duck
Hottentot Teal
Southern Pochard
Kurrichane Buttonquail
Greater Honeyguide
Brown-backed Honeybird
Bearded Woodpecker
Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird
Acacia Pied Barbet
Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill
Common Scimitarbill
African Pygmy-Kingfisher
Striped Kingfisher
Swallow-tailed Bee-eater
Jacobin Cuckoo
Levaillant's Cuckoo
Great Spotted Cuckoo
Red-chested Cuckoo
Black Cuckoo
African Cuckoo
Alpine Swift
Common Swift
White-rumped Swift
African Grass-Owl
Southern White-faced Scops-Owl
Verreaux's Eagle-Owl
Fiery-necked Nightjar
Rufous-cheeked Nightjar
European Nightjar
African Green-Pigeon
Northern Black Korhaan
Red-chested Flufftail
African Rail
African Crake
African Purple Swamphen
Allen's Gallinule
Lesser Moorhen
African Snipe
Marsh Sandpiper
Green Sandpiper
Wood Sandpiper
Little Stint
Ruff
Greater Painted-snipe
African Jacana
Black-winged Stilt
Bronze-winged Courser
Black-winged Pratincole
White-winged Tern
Western Marsh-Harrier
Lizard Buzzard
ShikraShikra
Ovambo Sparrowhawk
African Hawk-Eagle
Wahlberg's Eagle
Lesser Kestrel
Rock Kestrel
Amur Falcon
Eurasian Hobby
Slaty Egret
Yellow-billed Egret
Squacco Heron
Rufous-bellied Heron
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Little Bittern
Dwarf Bittern
Abdim's Stork
Brubru
Black-crowned Tchagra
Brown-crowned Tchagra
Orange-breasted Bush-Shrike
White-crested Helmet-Shrike
Lesser Grey Shrike
Black Cuckooshrike
Cape Penduline-Tit
Grey Penduline-Tit
Ashy Tit
Pearl-breasted Swallow
Greater Striped Swallow
Rock Martin
Common House-Martin
Terrestrial Brownbul
Fairy Flycatcher
Burnt-necked Eremomela
River Warbler
Little Rush-Warbler
Sedge Warbler
African Reed-Warbler
Marsh Warbler
Great Reed-Warbler
Lesser Swamp-Warbler
Olive-tree Warbler
Icterine Warbler
Willow Warbler
Southern Pied Babbler
Chestnut-vented Tit-Babbler
Common Whitethroat
Rattling Cisticola
Tinkling Cisticola
Neddicky
Zitting Cisticola
Desert Cisticola
Black-chested Prinia
Grey-backed Camaroptera
Barred Wren-Warbler
Flappet Lark
Fawn-coloured Lark
Kurrichane Thrush
Pale Flycatcher
Marico Flycatcher
Grey Tit-Flycatcher
Violet-backed Starling
Scaly-feathered Finch
White-browed Sparrow-Weaver
Red-headed Weaver
Yellow-crowned Bishop
Orange-breasted Waxbill
African Quailfinch
Red-headed Finch
Cut-throat Finch
Black-faced Waxbill
Jameson's Firefinch
Village Indigobird
Purple Indigobird
Cuckoo Finch
Yellow-throated Petronia
Plain-backed Pipit
Buffy Pipit
Bushveld Pipit
Black-throated Canary
Streaky-headed Seedeater
References and further reading
The Chamberlain Guide to Birding Gauteng - Author: Etienne Marais and Faansie Peacock - Published: 2008 - Page: 286The Rough Guide to Game Parks of South Africa - Author: P. Briggs - Published: 2020 - Page: 79
Top Birding Spots in Southern Africa - Author: Hugh Chittenden - Published: 1992 - Page: 134
Where to Watch Birds in Southern Africa - Author: A. Berruti and J.C. Sinclair - Published: 1983 - Page: 138
Stuarts Field Guide to National Parks & Nature Reserves of SA - 2nd ed - Author: Chris & Mathilde Stuart - Published: 2018 - Page: 45
Southern African Birdfinder - Author: Cohen, Spottiswoode and Rossouw - Published: 2006 - Page: 180
Illustrated Guide to the Game Parks and Nature Reserves of SA - 2nd edn - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1991 - Page: 81
Caravan & Outdoor Life - Issue 634 - Author: - Published: 2015 - Page: 27
Chris and Tilde Stuarts Guide to Southern African Game and Nature Reserves - Author: Chris and Tilde Stuart - Published: 1989 - Page: 51
Country Life - Issue 230 - Author: - Published: 2015 - Page: 75
Go Birding in the Transvaal - Author: Brendan Ryan and John Isom - Published: 1990 - Page: 101
Atlas of National Parks and Reserves of South Africa - Author: Marielle Renssen - Published: 2006 - Page: 124
Birding Hotspots - Author: Trevor Hardaker - Published: 2007 - Page: 22
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