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The Lajuma Research Centre provides fieldwork opportunities to students, volunteers and research teams from foreign countries, local universities and local disadvantaged communities. To date more than 500 students and volunteers ranging from pre-university to Ph.D. candidates to Postdoctoral Fellows have participated in the Lajuma Programme or conducted their own research, publishing over 100 peer-reviewed articles.
Lajuma is situated 25 km east of Vivo and 45 km west of Louis Trichardt (Makhado) high up in the Soutpansberg Mountain range. The highest peak of the Soutpansberg is situated on the reserve. Lajuma has a surface area of 430 hectares. Topography is rugged, with deep valleys and high cliffs. The reserve is characterized by clear mountain streams and beautiful waterfalls. Vegetation varies from montane grassland to woodland, thicket, and groundwater forest. Due to its location and diversity of soil and climatic zones, the area contains a remarkable diversity of plants and mammals. There are more than 2500 plant species and 600 tree species present on the Lajuma RC grounds.
Leopard density is relatively high ,but sightings are rare due to persecution in the past. Some rare species such as the narina trogon, crested guinea fowl and gorgeous bush shrike are abundant at Lajuma. A high diversity of reptiles and amphibians occur, including numerous snakes species.
Lajuma has good populations of mountain reedbuck, red duiker, grey duiker, Sharpe’s grysbok, klipspringer, bushbuck, warthog, bushpig and kudu. All five South African primate species occur in abundance namely chacma baboon, vervet monkey, samango monkey, lesser bushbaby and greater bushbaby. Aardvark is relatively abundant but rarely seen, and several sightings has been reported of pangolins. We have a variety of predator species including several mongoose species, honey badger, two genet species, serval, caracal, brown hyena, and leopard.
Mountain Ranges
Lajuma does not represent the typical perceived African savannah environment but does however present a unique wilderness area with a remarkable diversity of plants and animals. Beautiful mountain scenery, remote, unpolluted and tranquil yet within an hour's drive of an urban centre with shopping centres and good medical facilities.
You will not hear lions roar at night but you will experience tranquillity with more stars than you ever imagined existed. You will hear fruit bats squeaking, bush babies calling, a wood owl duet or a baboon giving a warning call from a cliff, possibly for seeing a leopard in the moonlight.
Secluded Waterfalls
Endless Landscapes
The Lajuma research Center is located high
up in the Southpansberg mountain range.
The highest peak of the Southpansberg is
situated on the reserve, at a height
of 1747 meters. The reserve has a
surface area of 430 hectares
and forms part of the Luvhondo
Nature Reserve Part of the
UNESCO Vheme Biosphere
Reserve.
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