Nylsvlei Nature Reserve

Nylsvley Nature Reserve, spanning 40 km² near Mookgophong in Limpopo, is a Ramsar wetland site. Its name derives from 'vlei' (flooded area) and 'Nile,' reflecting its location on the seasonally flooded plains of the Nyl River. The reserve is a diverse landscape, featuring reedbeds, grassveld, and open woodland. It supports 370 bird species, including over 100 waterfowl, with numbers soaring to 80,000 during peak floods. The area also provides a habitat for roan antelope and tsessebe. A unique feature of the reserve is its population of wild rice, *Oryza longistaminata*, the only stands of this species found in South Africa.