Landscape

CLIMATE

The area experiences a mild maritime climate with rainfall occurring throughout the year but with peaks in Autumn and Spring. The mean annual precipitation for the nearby Robberg Peninsula is approximately 550 mm (1998 – 2008). Winter rainfall is mainly caused by anticlinal cold fronts from predominantly westerly winds. The prevailing wind in summer is mainly from the east.

TOPOGRAPHY AND TERRAIN MORPHOLOGY

The topography of the area is characterised by a coastal plateau extending inland from very steep cliffs on the coastal side. The steep cliffs consist of resistant rock layers that typify the interface between the coastal plateau and the marine environment. The coastal plateau slopes gently upwards towards the base of the Outeniqua Mountains and is on average approximately 200 m.a.s.l

GEOLOGY, GEOMORPHOLOGY, SOILS AND LAND TYPES

The geology west of Robberg mainly consists of rocks from the Cape Supergroup i.e. Table Mountain Group that is characterised by quartzites. Reddish-brown, coarse–grained conglomerates of the Enon formation of the Uitenhage Group are also found.

The landscape is dominated by the coastal marine platform that resulted as a consequence of erosion by the sea that took place between 140 and 25 million years ago when the sea level was much higher than present.

The area has a complex soil distribution pattern originating from combinations of land types, erosion, material transport and deposition as well as the geology. Cairnbrogie alone has 19 soil types that have been identified.

HYDROLOGY AND AQUATIC SYSTEMS

The rise of the coastal plateau above the sea has resulted in deep ravines draining southwards towards the coast. The only river of note is the Crooks River in the west on the boundary with the Harkerville section of the Garden Route National Park. Although the property of Jackalskraal 433/6 is not along the coast it does form part of this PE with the Piesang River running through it flanked on both banks by indigenous forest.