The "Karee Chronicle" was the first publication to describe the Rhenosterspruit Nature Conservancy as "a gem of a place".  And throughout the Conservancy the truth of that statement is affirmed.

Palaeontology and Geology

The RNC borders the Cradle of Humankind, and as one resident often remarks "And who told those hominids not to cross over the R512?"

The assumption is clear that the Conservancy is as valuable as the Cradle of Humankind. It has within its borders - and beyond to the east - confirmed digs where Robert Broom was busy at the time of the great discovery in the Cradle.  Digs abandoned now, but very likely to contain interesting and valuable artifacts.  The digs run on the same contour as the Sterkfontein caves, and may even interlink in a vast landscape below the surface.

Geology

The Conservancy lies across two ancient geological formations:

• the Transvaal System to the north which is over 2.3 billion years old.

• the Archaean Basement Complex on the south which is over 3 billion years old.

Within the two broad geological formations there are three main rock types, the dolomites and Black Reef quartzites of the Transvaal Series, and the Archaean Complex.

The granite formed a vast inland sea in an extensive shallow basin.  In this basin, over billions of years and correspondingly different conditions, various sedimentary layers were deposited.

We often notice the flash of white quartz in the Rhenosterspruit, in some places even extensive outcrops.  An earlier layer of quartz, pebbles and sand is devoid of remains of organic life forms.

Other layers followed, including silica and carbonate deposits from algae  that started growing in the saline water.  It is in this layer that the dolomite rock was formed

In more recent times, the area has supported many silver mines, lime kilns, has copper deposits and boasts the site of first discovery of gold on the reef.

At greatest risk is the karst landscape of the dolomite. Inappropriate development or land use on the dolomite can have a devastating impact on underground systems and ground water.  The mining activity in the West Rand is also causing Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) to threaten the adjoining Cradle of Humankind.

Heritage Sites

The Conservancy is home to many sites of heritage significance.  South African Heritage Society points out that these sites are valuable for a combination of factors - cultural (such as Boer war sites, ancient kraals, etc), archaeological  (iron age sites with artifacts from stone implements to pottery shards), palaeontological (further to enhance the discoveries in the Cradle of Humankind) and living heritage (sangomas visit and perform rituals at sacred places, collect medicinal plants).

There are structures erected by Italian craftsmen held as prisoners of war, lime kilns with amazing stone work, sacred sites where chiefs pronounced judgments and held council, a honeycomb of caves with undisturbed sandy deposits...so much to see and study in order to understand our history and heritage.

Scenic Beauty

The RNC has places of great scenic beauty.  On the periphery of the fast-paced hub of South Africa's economy, a treasure of open space, sweeping vistas and uninterrupted views still exist.

A filmmaker's find, a birder's paradise, an endurance athlete's playground, a mountain biker's undiscovered trail.

The conservation and protection offered by the RNC, has to date saved the priceless views.  In other countries - such as Ireland - areas are declared to be of "great scenic beauty" and then have a formal protected status.  In this manner, the government prevents its citizens from being denied the continuation of or access to what are national treasures. These areas remain open to the public - citizens and tourists - and there is funding available for preservation.

In the absence of similar forward-thinking initiatives by SA government, the RNC residents protect scenic beauty from being degraded or encroached on by inappropriate development and land use.

Often developers plan to carve up and populate areas within the RNC, relying on other residents to provide the views, space and vista (by not developing their own land).  Such exploitation is actively discouraged.

Fauna and Flora

Landowners have by agreement fenced large areas and re-introduced game.  The largest of these areas is the Oori Private Game Reserve.

Through protecting the wider area, the small game, insects, reptiles, birds etc have found a home in close proximity to the cities,

Within the RNC, there are more than 90 mammal species, 55 species of amphibians, tortoises, turtles and snakes and 298 species of birds - at last count!

And the reports of leopard in the RNC was recently confirmed -  sadly by the death of a leopard struck while crossing the busy Lanseria Road.

The Conservancy is also home to Shamwari Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, where injured or ill game is cared for and returned to the wild.

Never believe that veld is just grass! The delicate and beautiful flowers that abound in the RNC are testament to the often hidden beauty of the untouched areas. There is a proliferation of aloe species, karee and acacia trees, endangered and threatened grasslands, and of course a myriad of wild flowers.

About 125 varieties of trees and shrubs flourish in the Conservancy (compare that with Great Britain, which can boast of 33 tree species!)

The RNC has waged war against aliens such as the Pom-Pom weed, to protect and preserve the diversity of plant life. Vital to the well-being of the biosphere, wonderful wild flowers are protected from over-grazing, arbitrary removal and picking, and wildfires.

The landscape may not have the blush of the Namaqualand after rain, but the discovery of a bloom amidst the grass is no less exciting.

The region is broadly classified as Bankenveld, but there are also areas of Sour Bushveld. The grassland soils vary, and correspond closely to the local geology.

Vegetation types within the Conservancy are Andesite Mountain Bushveld, Carletonville Dolomite Grassland and the endangered Egoli Granite Grassland.