Nelson Mandela University Nature Reserve- Travel Tips

What to See, How to Plan & Tours

Nelson Mandela University Nature Reserve in Gqeberha spans approximately 830 hectares of protected dune-thicket and fynbos vegetation on the South Campus, officially designated a private nature reserve in 1983. Set atop an ancient marine platform that dates back around 15 million years, the ecosystem features undulating quartzite, calcrete, beach-rock and dune sands. These formations support a mosaic of critically endangered St Francis dune thicket, dotted with relic plant communities and 20+ globally threatened species—some of which are conserved only here. Visitors can explore the Grysbok Trail, a 4.8 km circular route created in 1995 for conservation and education, weaving through habitat that's home to over 24 mammal species (including endemic Cape grysbok, springbok, plains zebra and red hartebeest), as well as diverse reptiles, amphibians and more than 120 bird species. The university offers guided game drives in a 4×4 across campus, a rare experience on any South African university grounds. Ideal for outdoor enthusiasts and scholars alike, the reserve functions both as a living laboratory and a rich wildlife corridor within easy reach of Algoa Bay's coastal urban centre.