Latest news
CapeNature celebrates a decade of connecting communities to nature with Access Week 2024
CapeNature celebrates its 10th annual Access Week between the 21st and 27th of September 2024 this year. The public is invited to access any one of 24 selected Provincial nature reserves across the Western Cape for free during this time. Visitors will be allowed day entry at no cost to enjoy activities such as hiking, bird watching, swimming and mountain biking. CapeNature will also be facilitating a variety of programmes for various community groups during this period.
Steps underway to secure baboon rangers for festive season, and beyond
The Cape Peninsula Baboon Management Joint Task Team (CPBMJTT) consisting of representatives from SANParks, CapeNature, and the City of Cape Town, wants to inform communities from baboon-affected areas that processes are underway to secure the services of baboon rangers for December 2024, including the upcoming transitioning period starting on 1 January 2025. Read more below:
New population of Critically Endangered Northern moss frog discovered in Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area
A new and healthy sub-population of the Critically Endangered, Northern moss frog was recently discovered in the far south of the Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area during a targeted biodiversity survey. With a maximum size of only 14mm, the Northern moss frog, Arthroleptella subvoce, was previously known from only three locations in South Africa, all within the mountains of the Groot Winterhoek Reserve and Wilderness Area.
Wildlife trafficker convicted and sentenced to six years imprisonment and ordered to pay R100 000
The Western Cape’s continued commitment to combatting wildlife crime is seeing results after a forty-two-year-old from Durbanville was sentenced on Friday, 27 September, at the Bellville Regional Court to six years imprisonment and ordered to pay R100 000 after being convicted on all 16 charges relating to the illegal trafficking and possession of 56 protected birds, snakes and spiders.
Kai enjoys a beautiful place in nature with his friend, Siya
Hey kids. Today Siya the Orange-breasted Sunbird shows Kai just how special the Western Cape is. Find out about our beautiful fynbos by checking out this short version of the story or click here to download the full story.
Campsites Worth Visiting This Season #ComeCampWithUs
It’s officially camp season, so get excited! The weather is warming up, the skies are brighter, and we’re ready to welcome you to camp with us at a CapeNature reserve this season!
CapeNature introduces South Africa’s first slow overnight hiking trail at De Mond Nature Reserve
CapeNature is excited to announce the launch of South Africa's first slow hiking trail at the beautiful De Mond Nature Reserve, just a stone’s throw from the historic seaside town of Arniston. The Damara Trail is a new immersive experience in nature and invites visitors to slow down and enjoy the environment at a leisurely pace. Launched in celebration of World Tourism Day, held annually on 27 September 2024, the trail embraces this year’s theme of peace.
Conservation in action
Celebrating gender equality in conservation
There is a number of women working at CapeNature in so-called non-conventional roles. The entity is known for creating an enabling environment where women employees can thrive and progress.
Groenvlei Carp Project
The Invasive Fish Species Management Non Profit Company (IFSM) consists of a group of volunteers that approached CapeNature in 2018 to remove invasive carp from Groenvlei lake by means of fishing bows.
Monitoring the Great White Shark
The waters around Dyer Island are an important seasonal feeding ground for great white sharks. Researchers working through Dyer Island Conservation Trust have demonstrated a decrease in white shark sightings around the island since 2017.
Possibly extinct Brenton blue butterfly
Of the two localities at which it is known to have occurred, the Brenton blue butterfly is now extinct at one (Nature’s Valley) and possibly extinct at the other (the Brenton Blue Butterfly Reserve near Knysna).
Conservation of Barrydale redfin
The tiny Critically Endangered Barrydale redfin, for example, is limited to just 40 km2 in the Tradouw catchment where it is threatened by water abstraction, pollution and alien fish.
Rough moss frog
The rough moss frog occurs at a single locality on the southern slopes of the Klein Swartberg Mountain. The main threats to this species are invasive alien plants and too-frequent fires.
Events Calendar
CapeNature Conservation Review 2024
CapeNature Conservation Review 2024
World Wetlands Day 2024
World Wetlands Day 2024
Access Week 2023
Access Week 2023
Featured accommodation
Reviews
Featured reserves
Goukamma Nature Reserve
We recommend that you use a vehicle with a high ground clearance when traversing on reserve.
Goukamma Nature and Marine Reserve was proclaimed a marine protected area in 1990 and it is heralded as one of the country’s conservation success stories. The reserve stretches along 16.5km of the coastline between Buffalo Bay and Platbank, and 2 500 hectares inland.
Buffalo Valley’s three self-catering timber lodges are fully equipped and sleep between four to six people.
Buffalo Valley is a large conservation area two kilometres from the warm Indian Ocean.
Marloth Nature Reserve
Marloth Nature Reserve is hidden away in the imposing Swellendam Mountains, between Swellendam, Ashton, Barrydale and Suurbraak. The peaceful reserve, which is 14 123 hectares in size, is managed together with 16 532 hectares of privately owned land, and is a World Heritage Site.