CapeNature reserves adjust to Level 3 lockdown restrictions
In line with the updated Alert Level 3 announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa on 01 February 2021, the following rules will apply to all CapeNature reserves with immediate effect and until further notice:
Permitted activities:
- Reserve accommodation remains OPEN and unchanged (this includes the Whale Trail and Whiskey Creek);
- Conference venues remain OPEN at 50 % capacity;
- All recreational swimming pools within nature reserves will remain OPEN to visitors (adhering to strict protocols). Signage and capacities are in place and checks are implemented);
- Hiking and mountain biking
Opening and closing times
- In accordance with the adjusted Level 3 Disaster Management Government Gazette, all CapeNature reserve gate times may now open earlier to the public.
- Opening time between 07h00 - 08h00, as per individual gate times prior to 29 December 2020.
- Closing times between 16h00 – 19h00, as per individual gate times prior to 29 December 2020.
Protocol reminder
CapeNature would like to remind visitors of our 4-step process for day-visitors and 5-step process for overnight visitors. With the safety of visitors and staff remaining a top priority, all visitors entering a controlled CapeNature reserve entrance gate will be subjected to a screening process upon arrival. This will include the mandatory completion of a 4-step check-in process requiring 1) the compulsory sanitising of hands, 2) wearing of masks, 3) temperature checks, 4) completion of a quick “Visitor Access Register” and 5) compulsory completion of a “Visitor Screening Questionnaire” for all overnight visitors.
Related News
Don’t Be Trashy campaign fights waste on land and sea in Western Cape
CapeNature, in partnership with Soapbox and the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEA&DP), is working on the “Don’t Be Trashy” Drive to address the growing threat of waste to ecosystems across the province.
Celebrate the 11th annual Access Week and grab your chance to experience nature for free!
Rediscover the beauty of the Western Cape’s protected areas during the 11th annual Access Week, taking place from 20 to 26 September 2025. CapeNature is celebrating over a decade of breaking down barriers to the Western Cape’s natural spaces, with free day visitor entry to selected reserves across the province.
Catch and release helps to conserve the Western Cape’s indigenous fish
Freshwater ecosystems across the Western Cape are rich in biodiversity, supporting a variety of indigenous fish. However, these species are increasingly threatened by the spread of invasive alien fish species, that prey on indigenous species and compete with them for food, space, and breeding grounds.
Celebrating innovative, resilient women in tourism
Women are thriving in tourism and wielding influence from the boardroom to hiking trails, where they beat a pathway for others to follow. They occupy 70% of the tourism workforce in South Africa, and their voices are being amplified in the sector now more than ever. A powerful yet often overlooked statistic that underscores their vital role in the sector.
Rivers, Watersheds, and the Klein Estuary: A 2025 Natural Breach Event
Over millions of years, South Africa’s rivers and watersheds have evolved through the forces of erosion, rainfall, and shifting geology. A river catchment, or watershed, is an area of land where all surface water flows toward a single river, stream, or channel, eventually reaching the sea.
Avian Influenza detected in Western Cape: Public urged to stay alert, not alarmed
High pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI or “bird flu”) is a viral disease of birds that can also, on rare occasions, infect humans and mammals. The virus spreads through bird faeces and droplets from the nose and mouth, and is present in other body fluids and tissues of dead birds. The disease can cause high mortality rates in domestic poultry.
How can I assist you today?
How can I assist you today?