Rare Flora & Birdlife of the Steenkampsberg Mountains

The Steenkampsberg Mountains are one of South Africa’s lesser-known natural treasures. Stretching across the Mpumalanga highlands, this range rises to over 2,300 metres and forms part of the country’s mistbelt sub-alpine grasslands — an ecosystem that’s both fragile and rich in life. I’ve travelled and guided in wild places around the world, but few areas combine such quiet beauty, clean air, magnificent cloud formations, endless changing landscapes and ecological importance.

Because of their altitude and rainfall, the Steenkampsberg Mountains support a mix of unique plant life found almost nowhere else. Delicate ground orchids hide along pristine streams ad seeps, everlastings gather among rocky outcrops, proteas flower in windswept grasslands, and patches of Leucospernum and Erica species cling to cool slopes. These grasslands play a vital role in water catchment, feeding rivers that flow toward the Lowveld region. Sadly, they’re also among South Africa’s most threatened ecosystems — vulnerable to overgrazing, invasive species, mining and careless development.

For anyone exploring these mountains on an e-dirt bike, it’s important to ride with care and respect. The quieter electric motors allow us to move through these areas without disturbing the wildlife, giving riders a chance to stop, listen, and truly appreciate what’s around them. Our tours often pass through areas where wildflowers bloom in spring and early summer, carpeting the hillsides in orange, yellow, pink, and purple.

Birdlife here is equally remarkable. The Steenkampsberg is one of the best places in South Africa to see the endangered Blue Crane — our national bird — as well as the Southern Bald Ibis, Ground Woodpecker, and the elusive Gurney’s Sugarbird, Grass Owl and Marsh Owl. Raptors like the Jackal Buzzard and Cape Vulture soar overhead, using the mountain thermals to glide effortlessly between valleys.

For me, guiding guests through this environment isn’t just about adventure — it’s about connection. Every ride reminds us that we share these wild spaces with countless living things, many of them rare or endangered. As pioneers of electric adventure touring in South Africa, we have a responsibility to set the highest standard in how we use these sensitive areas. If we ride with care, awareness, and respect, we help ensure that these rare species and all the fauna and flora— and the highland wilderness they call home — remain for generations to come.