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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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

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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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