Access Week 2018 - My Nature, My Heritage
With Monday, 24 September being Heritage Day and September being Heritage month, what more opportune time to reconnect with our natural heritage by exploring the Western Cape and experiencing the sights and sounds of nature? The province is home to a number of World Heritage Sites, so named because they meet the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) requirements for containing fauna and flora of outstanding universal value.
Whether you’re heading to the Garden Route, the Overberg, the Winelands , the Karoo or the West Coast, you’ll be able to visit a CapeNature reserve and experience your natural heritage.
For wonderful day trips, hiking and a glimpse of diverse animal and bird life, add these reserves to your list:
Lambert’s Bay Bird Island, Stony Point, Vrolijkheid and Rocherpan.
The following terms and conditions apply to this campaign
• The conservation fee will be free at the entrance to any CapeNature reserve that is open to the public.
• Free day access will only apply at the reserve gate. Normal rates and access fees apply for any accommodation booked online or through the call centre.
• Free access fee will pertain to general access (conservation fee) and hiking, mountain biking and picnicking. The waiver will NOT apply to the Whale Trail or concessions (including canopy tours, bouldering, horse riding etc).
• Zero (R0) rated permits needs to be given to everyone accessing the reserve during this time, as per usual standard procedure to ensure that all access numbers and activity numbers are counted.
• Access to Protected Areas during the CapeNature Access Week will be conducted during regular reserve hours and applies to entries at CapeNature reserve gates.
There's a reserve rich with heritage close to you - go and experience it for free during access week!
Related News
World Seabird Day calls attention to public role in responding to ongoing avian influenza threat affecting birds
As the world marks World Seabird Day today, members of the public are urged to remain vigilant as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu, continues to affect birds across South Africa, including seabirds along the Western Cape coastline. HPAI is a serious disease affecting birds and can result in significant mortality, particularly among wild bird populations. Members of the public are
CapeNature’s marine conservation work showcased in new kykNET adventure series ‘Hey Skipper’
The beauty, biodiversity and conservation value of the Western Cape’s coastline will be shown to audiences across South Africa when CapeNature features in the new primetime Afrikaans series, Hey Skipper, premiering on DStv Channel 144 kykNET on Saturday, 4 July 2026 at 18:00. Produced and presented by adventurer, filmmaker and outdoor enthusiast Dewald Visser, Hey Skipper takes viewers on a journey across some of the world’s most
The perfect time for a family escape into nature
Winter in the Western Cape is often misunderstood. While many people think of it as a season best spent indoors, it is actually one of the most rewarding times to slow down, reconnect, and take a short break close to home. For domestic travellers, especially families planning around the school holidays, winter offers the ideal opportunity to step away from routine without the stress of long travel or high-season crowds. It is a chance to rediscover what is right on your doorstep.
Newly discovered species named after CapeNature Ecologist, Dr Martine Jordaan
A newly described Paradiplozoon species has been named after CapeNature Fauna Ecologist, Dr Martine Jordaan, in recognition of her knowledge and passion for the aquatic life of the Cape Fold Ecoregion, continuous enthusiasm to study the region's fishes and understanding their parasitofauna. The newly identified species – Paradiplozoon jordaanae – is named after Dr Jordaan.
CALL FOR APPLICATION FOR EXTERNAL MEMBER OF THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE
Applications are hereby invited for candidates to serve on the Audit and Finance Committee of CapeNature.
The member shall be independent from CapeNature, be contracted for a maximum period of two terms of three years each and will be remunerated for attendance at meetings.
Closing date for applications: 3 July 2026
Impact of Inclement Weather across CapeNature Reserves in May 2026
The last bout of extreme weather began in early May, when a cut-off low-pressure system hit the Garden Route. A week later, two powerful cold fronts swept through the rest of the Province, unleashing torrential rains and gale-force winds. The result has been widespread damage, with 85% of all reserves reporting at least some form of damage. The Cederberg region has emerged as the hardest hit.