Manyelanong Game Reserve
Named after the hill which lies north of the Botswana village of Otse,
Manyelanong Game Reserve lies 15 km outside of Lobatse on the Gaborone road.
This sandstone hill well known for the steep, high cliff-face at its southern
end, was declared a game reserve in 1965. Otse Hill, which stands with its
summit at a height of almost one and a half kilometers, is the highest point in
Botswana.
The cliff and its lower wooded slope was fenced off to serve as a sanctuary
for the important nesting population of Cape Griffon Vultures. The mountainous
region which surrounds the small reserve is home to a breeding colony of Cape
Vultures, and for many years the area was known as Otse Vulture Colony. The name
Manyelanong is said to mean, "where vultures defecate" in Setswana, and refers
to the guano cover cliffs where the vultures live.
It is thought by many that the birds fly several hundreds of kilometres to the
Kalahari Desert in an attempt to scavenge for food. Due to its endangered
species status, the Cape Vulture is fully protected under the laws of Botswana.
These raptors have nested in the hills of Manyelanong for hundreds of years,
however in the last four decades their numbers have seen a significant decrease.
During the late 1960's the population dropped to fifty pairs, however recent
years have seen an increase in numbers. The current population consists of about
70 breeding pairs, and is now one of Botswana's largest vulture colonies.
Vultures move in pairs and build their nests in April. A single egg is laid
between May and June, and is incubated by both the male and female for a period
of approximately 53 days. The vulture chick is then taken care of for six months
before it is taught how to fly.
Public access to this area is restricted, though permission from the Department
of Wildlife and National Parks is granted after prior arrangements. The best
time of year to view the vultures is during the winter months, between May and
August, which provides visitors with an excellent opportunity to view both the
adult vultures and their chicks. Visitors to Manyelanong Game Reserve are asked
not to make excessive noise or to disturb the birds in any way, and not to leave
any food lying around.
Other species which are occasionally sighed at Manyelanong Hill include Black Stork which also breeds on the cliffs, pairs of Black Eagle form time to time, Lanner Falcon, and Rock Kestrel.
