Babanango Game Reserve is a treasure trove – home to some of the richest natural and geological diversity to be found anywhere in Southern Africa. In recognition of our internationally significant geology, here is a window into what makes the rocks and landscapes of Babanango Game Reserve world class.
Sitting on a foundation of ancient granite that formed part of Earth’s first continent, the reserve contains, among many other rock types, a geological sequence that is globally unique. These rocks are visible downriver from Madwaleni River Lodge to the river below Matatane Camp, and they are a superbly preserved record of what happened on that first continent.
In most parts of the world, such ancient rocks have either been destroyed by Earth’s processes, or are buried so deeply that we cannot see them.
At that time, more than 3 billion years ago, the only living things were single-celled organisms, there were no big plants or animals, much of the planet was covered in water, and meteor bombardment was common. Volcanoes were also highly active. Here at Babanango Game Reserve you can see some of the world’s best-preserved rocks from those very early times, as well as much more recent rocks which tell of volcanic outpourings, oceans, and giant glaciers, all directly above the places we now stand.
Fundamental to understanding this area’s geology is that there were many kilometres of rock above us, and that water and time have removed them, revealing the current landscape. New landscapes are below us, emerging as water and time take today’s landscape surface to the sea. These processes have been happening since Earth began.
Geology can seem intimidating, so here are some principles for understanding rocks and landscapes
- The shape of the earth’s surface is determined by the rocks it is made of.
- Normally, old rocks are at the bottom and new ones are on top.
- Rocks that form from sand and mud usually start out as flat, horizontal layers. If they’re no longer flat, something changed them after they were formed.
- If one rock type cuts through another, the one that does the cutting is younger.
- Harder rocks stay in a landscape longer than softer rocks.
Some geological words and their meanings
- Weathering: The breaking down of rock in place.
- Erosion: The removal of weathered rock by wind and water.
- Igneous: Rocks formed from melted rock deep inside the earth.
- Sedimentary: Rocks formed from layers of sand, mud or other material.
- Metamorphic: Rocks formed from other rocks that have been changed by heat and pressure underground.
- Magma: molten rock beneath the Earth’s surface.
- Lava: molten rock that erupts onto the Earth’s surface.
Major rock types of Babanango Game Reserve
From youngest to oldest, with age in millions of years (Mya)
- Dolerite (dark magma that solidified on its way to the surface) 180 Mya
- Sandstone (layers of sand that became stone) 290 Mya
- Shale (layers of mud that became stone) 290 Mya
- Tillite (rock powder and fragments from melting glaciers, which became stone) 310 Mya
- Dolerite (dark magma that solidified on its way to the surface) 2,700 Mya
- Gabbro (dark magma that solidified very slowly deep below the surface) 2,800 Mya
- Sedimentary rocks – Quartzite (hardened sandstone) 2900 Mya
- Stromatolites (layered lime-rich rocks formed by some of Earth’s earliest life forms) and Volcaniclastics (volcanic ash, fragments and mud that became stone) 2,900 Mya
- Basalt (dark lava that solidified on the surface) 3,000 Mya
- Granite (pale magma that solidified very slowly deep below the surface) 3,200 Mya
All these rock types, spanning a huge segment of Earth’s long history, can be seen and touched on the reserve.
This blog series will highlight all our major rock types and landscape features, opening up the hidden world of Babanango Game Reserve in new ways.
If you’d like to know more, or book a special Geology Safari that includes not only wildlife but a personalised tour of our geological highlights, feel free to contact reservations@babanango.com.
Words and images by John Roff, Geology and Nature Guide and Trainer