Historic South African nature reserve ruined by reign of terror

Crime in the Fort Klapperkop Nature Reserve in Pretoria reached such concerning levels that it was forced to implement highly restrictive measures.

The Klapperkop Nature Reserve was established in 1898 and is managed by the Department of Nature Conservation.

The reserve is named for the prominent Klapperkop, a hill vegetated with Klapper trees on its northern slopes.

Fort Klapperkop, one of four forts built around Pretoria, completed in 1897, is inside the 460-hectare nature reserve.

A moat with a drawbridge surrounded the fort, and various heavy artillery pieces were placed inside. However, it was never fully armoured.

The reserve boasts various game species, including zebra, blue wildebeest, and red hartebeest and small mammals including jackal, mongooses, and hedgehogs.

For decades, Fort Klapperkop Nature Reserve has been a popular attraction for cyclists, joggers, and sightseers.

It provides excellent views of Pretoria, with numerous vantage points and picnic spots where people can enjoy the reserve.

The reserve was open 24 hours per day, and many people living in Pretoria would visit it at night to enjoy the views and socialise.

However, the Klapperkop Nature Reserve became a crime hotspot, with criminals targeting unsuspecting visitors.

Criminals posing as joggers robbed visitors during the day, and occupants of cars were attacked when they stopped to enjoy the views.

Despite interventions like security fence upgrades, installing boom gates, and putting guards at the gates, crime continued to escalate.

Even routine patrols by the South African police, Metro Police, and private security failed to stem the number of attacks.

By 2018, multiple criminal gangs were operating in the nature reserve and at its peak, there were 30 muggings in two weeks.

To address the rising crime wave, the Klapperkop Nature Reserve introduced strict opening and closing hours.

Numerous stakeholders agreed that this intervention was needed to regulate and manage the number of visitors and stop the muggins.

The Klapperkop Nature Reserve also closed access from the R21 Nelson Mandela Drive to further reduce thoroughfare.

This means that anyone who wanted to visit the reserve could only access it through the Johann Rissik Drive.

These interventions helped to control access, but criminals continued to terrorise visitors and cyclists in the reserve.

It reached such concerning levels that the United States Embassy in South Africa warned American Citizens about the reserve.

In February 2020, it said there were reports of increased criminal activity at the Fort Klapperkop Nature Reserve.

“In recent months, there have been several incidents of a group stopping and robbing hikers and cyclists within the park,” it said.

“The U.S. Embassy recommends travelling in large groups and exercising increased caution within the reserve or avoiding the area.”

Despite numerous additional interventions, the crime continued. In March 2022, two cyclists were robbed at gunpoint on a Saturday morning.

Today, the drastic measures needed to address crime in the Fort Klapperkop Nature Reserve made it a shadow of its former self.

Visitors can only access the reserve through one gate, and strict visiting hours between 06:00 and 18:00 are observed.

This means that citizens can no longer enjoy the fantastic views in the evenings, which is one of the reserve’s biggest attractions.

The Friends of Groenkloof and Klapperkop Nature Reserves organisation is doing excellent work to revive the area to its former glory.

It organises numerous events and works to create a safer environment for cyclists, joggers, and visitors to the reserve.

However, despite their good work, crime has stolen most of the historic reserve’s allure. The freedom to visit it at all times and enjoy the scenery is gone.

The photos below, taken at 17:30 on Saturday, 8 February 2025, show what South Africans trying to visit the reserve will see.

What Fort Klapperkop Nature Reserve visitors should see

What Fort Klapperkop Nature Reserve visitors see