Melville Koppies offers season tickets
MELVILLE – Now, you can hike and visit the koppies all season long.
In response to many repeat visitors to the koppies, a one-year season ticket is now available.
Jenny Grice, a volunteer at the koppies said hikers return many times to see if they can better their time on the 5km hike while others come back just to enjoy the peace and quiet.
On one particular Sunday, twitchers – birdwatchers whose main aim is to collect sightings of rare birds – came to spot the winter migrant, the fairy flycatcher. With help of Melville Koppies guide and bird expert, Anthony Paton, they spotted several of the winter visitors darting and flitting about.
“They also chanced on a barn owl, basking in the early morning sun,” she said. Adding that later, when the sun was much warmer, a group of students arrived to enjoy the koppies together.
Melville Koppies Central (Nature Reserve and Heritage Site) is open every Sunday from 8am to 11.30am. There is no need to pre-book. Tickets are R80 for adults and R40 for children; a season ticket for a year is R500 per adult (non-transferable). Security on the Koppies is provided; park in secure parking opposite the entrance at Marks Park on Judith Road, Emmarentia. Mid-week school tours and ordinary tours can be arranged.
