The two thousand two hundred (2,200) hectare Gustav Klingbeil Nature Reserve lies situated on the eastern fringes of the historic Mpumalanga town of Lydenburg. The reserve is situated along the scenic Long Tom Pass, which links Lydenburg to Sabie, and provides visitors and passers by with amazing scenic views of the Mpumalanga escarpment. The reserve is named in honour of the late Gustav Klingbeil, a former Lydenburg Town Council member, who campaigned to have the area declared as a nature reserve. This has to be one of the most beautiful locations in the world. The reserve features the Klipgatspruit river, which cuts the mountainous area into a deep valley. The main habitats to be found within the Gustav Klingbeil Nature Reserve include thornveld and bushveld on the lower lying reaches, and montane grassland on hillsides and plateaus, with protea woodland located on the higher altitudes.

One of the main features in the reserve, drawing many visitors, is its impressive and much varied birdlife. The Gustav Klingbeil Nature reserve supports a total of about three hundred and twenty recorded bird species, making it an ideal destination for avid bird watchers. A number of special and rare species can be found in the reserve, including Jackal Buzzard, Amur Falcon, Gurney's Sugarbird, Malachite Sunbird, Grey-winged Francolin and Red-winged Francolin, Bar-throated Apalis, Olive Bush-Shrike and Denham's Bustard. A vulture restaurant in the reserve attracts mainly Cape Vulture, Cape Crow and White-necked Raven. The reserve is also home to a variety of game species which include Bushbuck, Kudu, Impala, Zebra, Eland, Grey Rhebuck and Steenbok, all of which contribute to truly memorable game viewing experiences.

The reserve features four hiking trails, the Pedi-route which covers a distance of five kilometers, the slightly longer 9 km crane route , the protea route (12 km) and the long distance Ribbok route, which is a two day route commencing over 20 km, featuring an overnight hut. The shorter routes visit wooded areas which lie along the streams and lower hillside areas, and are ideal for day visitors, The longer routes lead to the higher and more mountainous areas, where hikers are met with spectactular views over Lydenburg and the Long Tom Pass.

At the entrance to the reserve on the Long Tom Pass, there is a museum which hoses an auditorium for conferences, an open exhibition and a curio shop. The museum also features an interesting and informative exhibit displaying various aspects of Lydengurg's history, and the history of the archaeological Stone Age sites, providing visitors with much to talk about on the way home. The Gustav Klingbeil Nature Reserve is open daily from 08h00 to 16h00 on weekdays and until 17h30 over weekends, and entrance fee per vehicle is payable at the gate. For more information call (013) 2352213 or write to the Museum Curator, PO Box 61, Lydenburg, 1120.