News
What YOU need to know before hiking or fishing
CapeNature is continuing the phased reopening of its reserves across the Western Cape following the easing of the national lockdown regulations to Alert Level 3 to allow hiking and fishing activity. Check the full list of reserves and trails that are currently open to the public here (opens in new tab). Please take into consideration the daily limit […]
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Everything you need to know about renewing or purchasing a Wild Card during lockdown
What is a Wild Card? The Wild Card is a loyalty programme that makes tourism to national parks and nature reserves in southern Africa more accessible and rewarding than ever before. With a Wild Card membership you receive one year’s unlimited access to the most beautiful nature reserves and parks with superb picnic spots, natural […]
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COVID-19 pandemic – National Lockdown
For the latest news and information on how CapeNature is managing a range of services during the lockdown, read the weekly CEO updates outlining the challenges facing us all. 26 March 2020 – 03 April 2020 04 April 2020 – 09 April 2020 10 April 2020 – 13 April 2020 18 April 2020 – 24 […]
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Sinking of the MV Treasure – marking South Africa’s worst environmental disaster
By Kevin Shaw, Team Leader: Ecology | Biodiversity Intelligence The 23rd of June 2020 marks the 20th anniversary of the sinking of the MV Treasure between Robben and Dassen Island. The Treasure was a bulk ore iron carrier that had suffered structural damage in storms and when it sank on the morning of the 23rd it leaked about […]
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Nature Talks goes virtual!
CapeNature invites you to attend a virtual Nature Talks session by live webinar on Monday, 29 June 2020 from 17h00 to 18h00 as we rediscover the most incredible and prominent hiking trails across the Western Cape. The session is for adventure-seekers and nature enthusiasts, both experienced and new to the outdoor scene. We have an exciting lineup […]
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CapeNature announces phased reopening of reserves
CapeNature is delighted to announce the phased reopening of its reserves across the Western Cape following the easing of the national lockdown regulations to Alert Level 3 to allow hiking and fishing activity. Mr. Sheraaz Ismail, acting CapeNature Chief Executive Officer, confirmed that, “Staff are working diligently to ensure that the respective reserves are compliant […]
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World Oceans Day 2020 – understanding our impact on the ocean
By Pierre de Villiers, Senior Manager, Marine and Coasts Operations The link between oceans and the land is often not well understood. People describe the ocean as that massive water space out there. Little do they know that where they live and how they live actually impacts on this ocean, so much so that they, […]
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Ground Pangolin of Southern Africa
Temminck’s Ground Pangolin Smutsia temminckii (synonym Manis temminckii), is the most widespread African pangolin species, recorded from south-eastern Chad, through South Sudan, much of East Africa and southern Africa as far south as the Northern Cape and North West provinces of South Africa and northeast KwaZulu-Natal Province. It is a rare, scale-covered mammal, about the […]
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Plan your next CapeNature getaway virtually!
The global outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the travel and tourism sector severely. CapeNature reserves remained closed during the national Alert Level 4 and will continue to remain closed as the country transitions to Alert Level 3. The entity stands in solidarity with the Western Cape’s official Tourism, Trade and Investment Promotion Agency, Wesgro, who has […]
Read more Of Pangolins, Bats and the Illegal Trade of Wildlife
By Alexis Olds and Philippa Huntly, CapeNature Biodiversity Capabilities The COVID-19 pandemic has got us to think about our relationship to the natural world and specifically the animals with which we share this planet. While there is currently much speculation about the transmission of COVID-19, and the role that wild animals play (particularly pangolins and […]
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Kudos for CapeNature’s biodiversity management
The International Day for Biological Diversity is celebrated on 22 May annually and this year’s theme is “Our solutions are in nature”. According to CapeNature’s CEO, Dr Razeena Omar, “this is indeed a day of celebration as CapeNature has made massive strides in reducing biodiversity loss. The entity has expanded our protected area estate year on year. […]
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Sights unseen, the magical miniature world of aquatic invertebrates
By Jeanne Gouws, Freshwater Ecologist When it comes to the animal Kingdom, conservation is not all about everything big. Big and “furry”, big and “leather-y” or big and “scale-y” vertebrates are not the be-all and end-all of biodiversity. The smaller invertebrate beings, often alien looking, are frequently forgotten. CapeNature ecologists, however, did not forget about […]
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Biodiversity in our rivers
CapeNature ecologists Dr. Martine Jordaan and Jeanne Gouws were fortunate enough to get out into the field (or rivers in this case!) just before lockdown. And what special fish they found! By Dr Martine Jordaan and Jeanne Gouws, CapeNature ecologists March 2020 saw the recording of three new sites in the Tradouw mountains with intact […]
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Insects of the Western Cape: Odonata – Dragonflies and damselflies
By Dr. Antoinette Veldtman, Landscape Ecologist and Jeanne Gouws, Freshwater Ecologist Like many aquatic and semi-aquatic insects in the rivers of the Cape Floristic Region, odonate lineages show high levels of endemism. This means that they are not widespread and only occur in a small or defined geographic location. They are semi-aquatic, with their developmental […]
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Estuaries: a biodiversity treasure trove
By Alexis Olds, Marine and Coastal Ecologist Estuaries are often thought of as part of a river but they are so much more than that. They are the link between the salty ocean and the fresh rivers upstream. A river becomes an estuary as soon as you can measure salt in the water. Some estuaries […]
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The (K)helpful forests of South Africa
By Nicole Horn, Biodiversity Capabilities South Africa has one of the biggest forests on the planet. It is just somewhat less noticeable due to it being hidden under the ocean surface. Craig Foster, author of the book Sea Change refers to it as a three-dimensional liquid forest or ‘golden forest’ where one can float amongst […]
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Birds Connect Our World – World Migratory Bird Day 2020
“Birds Connect our World” is the 2020 theme for World Migratory Bird Day and reflects how birds through their migratory patterns travel to all parts of the world. Worldwide, there are eight recognised flyways along which terrestrial and coastal migratory birds travel. Added to this are the paths taken by marine birds over the Atlantic […]
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CapeNature partners with the Craft and Design Institute (CDI) for exciting new development
(Cape Town, April 2020) CapeNature is delighted to announce exciting new tourism developments at the world-class Kogelberg Nature Reserve (NR), in the Western Cape. Kogelberg NR forms part of the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, the first biosphere reserve in South Africa. The reserve is also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, forming part of the […]
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Join the CapeNature Climate Change Challenge this Earth Day!
Earth Day is celebrated on 22 April annually to highlight environmental issues that are of greatest concern. This year’s theme is “Climate Action” and to celebrate, CapeNature will be hosting an online Climate Change Challenge and invite the public to participate in this meaningful, but also fun event during lockdown between 22 and 30 April […]
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The snake and the mousebird – a lockdown tale
By CapeNature’s Dr Marienne de Villiers, Faunal Ecologist working from home just outside Oudtshoorn It’s hard to ignore a chorus of anxious birds, even when you’re completely immersed in a report on game management. But earlier this week, work was temporarily forgotten as I sprung up to investigate the reason for the noise outside my […]
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Cedar tree planting event due for May 2020 cancelled
Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve & Wellness Retreat in conjunction with CapeNature has announced their decision to cancel the annual Cedar Tree Planting event that was due to take place on 23 May 2020. “Sadly, due to the national lock-down as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and after discussions with all our various partners, we […]
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Plant Appreciation Day 2020
CapeNature, the conservation authority responsible for biodiversity in the Western Cape, celebrates Plant Appreciation Day with an incredible victory in its mandate to protect the special and unique plant life of the Western Cape. The special calendar day falls on 13 April every year and is aimed at highlighting the importance of plants in our […]
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Essential services to continue during the lockdown
CapeNature will continue to offer the following essential services for the duration of the lockdown from midnight Thursday, 26 March to midnight Thursday, 16 April 2020: Disaster management including flooding, fire and oil spill contingency plans. Fire prevention, wildfire suppression and fire fighting. Wildlife conservation including, legislative compliance (through permitting), maintaining animal welfare and responding to immediate, […]
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Bookings affected by COVID-19 lockdown
You still need that break – don’t cancel, postpone. During lockdown our contact centre is still open for new bookings, rescheduling and reimbursements. Call or book online. In light of the lockdown measures announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa, CapeNature reserves were closed from 25 March 2020 until the end of April. Bookings may still be […]
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Other News
What YOU need to know before hiking or fishing
CapeNature is continuing the phased reopening of its ..
Read more
Everything you need to know about renewing or purchasing a Wild Card during lockdown
What is a Wild Card? The Wild Card ..
Read more
COVID-19 pandemic – National Lockdown
For the latest news and information on how ..
Read more