Anysberg Nature Reserve, Nature reserve in Western Cape, South Africa

Anysberg Nature Reserve is a protected area in the Cape Fold Mountains featuring deep gorges, steep mountainsides, and river systems flowing through the landscape. The reserve provides cottage accommodation and marked trails for visitors to explore on foot or by bike.

Land below the Anysberg Mountain Catchment Area, designated in 1978, was first set aside for the reserve in 1984 to conserve succulent and fynbos flora of the Cape Fold Belt and to reintroduce game that formerly occurred here. Between 1996 and 2001, purchases by the WWF and the Leslie Hill Succulent Trust enlarged the reserve to its present 62,500 ha.

San rock art appears across the mountains, showing scenes of daily life and traditions from early inhabitants of the region. These paintings offer a window into how people lived in this landscape long ago.

Visitors need a high-clearance vehicle to navigate the terrain and reach different areas of the reserve. It helps to plan ahead which trails or routes you want to explore during your stay.

The central mountain is named after anise, Pimpinella anisum, which grows in the reserve. The reserve also holds San rock art painted thousands of years ago, and more than 160 bird species have been counted there.