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 The beautiful Jonkershoek Nature Reserve lies in the Jonkershoek Valley just above Stellenbosch and includes the smaller Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve. Surrounded by the magnificent Jonkershoek Mountains, part of the Boland mountain range, this is the place for wonderful hikes within their peaks and never-ending kloofs.
You may choose to explore one or both reserves on a single occasion, as they are in easy reach of each other. The reserves are approximately 9 km from Stellenbosch, and may be reached by following the Jonkershoek valley road.
In total, the Jonkershoek Nature Reserve is 9 800 hectares of mountain catchment area that provides a rugged terrain for hikers, whilst Assegaaibosch, at 204 ha, is more popular with those with a picnic and light stroll in mind, or something slightly less taxing than attempting the peaks of Jonkershoek. The two nature reserves combined provide 10 000 hectares of fynbos, proteas and over 1 100 plant species - this is natural pristine diversity at its best, and a wonderful place to find fynbos endemics.
The natural vegetation of the Jonkershoek area is mainly mountain fynbos. More than 1100 plant species are known to occur, of which a number are rare and/or endemic to the area. Distinctive species are Protea repens, P. neriifolia, mountain cypress, as well as various ericas and restios. Several relic forest communities occur in narrow, moist kloofs where they are relatively sheltered from fire. Dense riparian vegetation grows along the banks of the Eerste River. Oak trees, although not indigenous, have been allowed to remain in Assegaaibosch because of their special historical value. Large pine plantations are a distinctive feature of the valley and occur on property neighbouring the nature reserves. The reserves' management programmes include control of hakea and other invasive alien plants which threaten the fynbos.
The Eerste, Berg, Lourens, and Riviersonderend rivers all begin their descent in the Jonkershoek Mountains, and flow from there down through the winelands. There is a huge variety of birdlife that includes the jackal buzzard, ground woodpecker, Cape sugarbird, orange-breasted sunbird, Cape bulbul and protea seedeater.
A visit to the Jonkershoek Nature Reserve provides wonderful opportunities for walking, driving, cycling or hiking and there is a good network of gravel roads along the Eerste River - a great place to spot the southern boubou, fiscal flycatcher, Cape robin-chat and forest canary due to the dense riverine vegetation. There is a dam almost a third of the way up the valley with picnic areas on the banks, and some of the walks that lead up the valley are well worth doing. Look out too for the honey badger, baboon, klipspringer, mongoose and leopard.
History
In 1692 Simon van der Stel granted a number of freeholds in the Jonkershoek valley. A certain Jan Andriessen, also known as Jan de Jonkheer because he had been a bachelor midshipman, named his grant of land the Vallei Jonkershoek. The Assegaaibosch farmstead was built in 1790, and with time it was altered quite substantially by its various occupants. The huge old oak trees were planted by Wouter Eduard Wium, who was granted the land by Lord Charles Somerset in 1817, with the special proviso that he plant oaks in the area. Over the years the farm changed hands several times and by the early twentieth century it had become quite run-down. In 1960 the Cape Provincial Administration purchased Assegaaibosch, and the house was renovated to its present condition. It is now a national monument and is used as a guest house.
In 1893 the Colonial Government rented a portion of the estate belonging to a Mr Watermeyer, adjacent to Assegaaibosch, where a trout hatchery was to be established. The sturdy stone hatching house was constructed by John Scott and still serves its purpose today. Many years later, in 1939, the Cape Provincial Administration became responsible for the property, and the hatchery was managed by the then Department of Inland Fisheries. Today CapeNature utilises the property and most of the buildings as a conservation station. The department no longer breeds trout as they are an exotic species. The original hatching house is a national monument, and some of the facilities are used for experimental work by the University of Stellenbosch
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