De Tweedespruit Bewaria

De Tweedespruit Conservancy

The De Tweedespruit Conservancy is situated in Northeast Gauteng and is registered as a rural conservancy with the Gauteng Department of Agriculture, Conservation, Environment and Land Affairs (DACEL).

This conservancy was established in 1997 and gained official recognition the following year. It comprises 11072 ha and is home to a diverse mosaic of human activity including, for example, nature conservation, game farming, farming and holiday resorts.

Our mission is to collectively look after the total area although we all live and practice our economic activities within the boundaries of our properties.  

The conservancy is managed by a management committee comprising a chairperson, a vice chairperson, secretary, treasurer, editor and one additional member. The management is elected by a majority of paid up members during the annual AGM's. It is the duty of the management committee to appoint an executive committee responsible for the execution of conservancy projects.

Due to the inverse effect of local differences in altitude on temperature the climate is very diverse, ranging from frost-free areas to areas down in the river valleys that receive more than 30 days of heavy frost per year. The soil environment also varies considerably, from deep sandy, acid and infertile soils derived from sedimentary geology to fertile red clay soils.

Five streams flow through the conservancy. Of these the Gauteng Elands River and the Malanspruit are the major ones. The confluence of these two streams is in the conservancy and the water eventually flows into the Elephants River, then the Limpopo River (in Mozambique) and ends up in the Indian Ocean. The Elands River, according to the State of the Rivers report, is the cleanest river in Gauteng and 9 of the original 14 endemic fish species still occur in the conservancy.

Biodiversity is alive and well in this haven and includes, amongst others, large numbers of avian (265 species), mammalian (37 species), amphibian, reptilian and invertebrate species. We are also proud to be the custodians of a diverse plant community, including rare species, e.g. Frithia humilis and Combretum moggii. Furthermore, the sedimentary geology of the area can be viewed at only two other locations in South Africa and nowhere else is it as well exposed and as extensive.

This conservancy is also extremely proud of our environmentally conscious farmers, who have been looking after the biophysical environment for many years. Farm produce from this protected area includes beef, milk and processed dairy products, e.g. cheese, processed ostrich products such as sausage and salami, pecan nuts, Protea cut flowers for the export market, soft fruit and vegetables.