Heroes, not Villains
7 September 2024 is International Vulture Awareness Day, and CapeNature will be celebrating all vultures everywhere but especially the Cape Vultures that call De Hoop Nature Reserve home.
These extraordinary birds are masters of flight, devoted parents, have extraordinary eyesight, and are fastidious about personal hygiene. They are nature’s clean-up crew, disposing of carrion and thereby preventing the spread of diseases. But many vulture species are at risk of extinction. The 2024 National Vulture Multi-Species Biodiversity Management Plan highlights the threats that they face – deliberate and accidental poisoning, electrocutions and collisions with power infrastructure, disturbance at breeding sites, and harvesting of body parts for use in the bushmeat and traditional medicine trades.
Despite this, the De Hoop Cape Vulture colony has increased steadily over the last 30 years. For this, we thank the dedicated staff at De Hoop, wildlife rehabilitation organizations such as VulPro and Cango Wildlife Ranch, and especially the many conservation-minded farmers in the Overberg area.
Note: Visitors to De Hoop Nature Reserve can book a guided “vulture experience” hike to the vulture viewing platform on Potberg Mountain: https://www.dehoopcollection.com/project/vulture-experience/.
Related News
How CapeNature and partners "Reverse the Red"
Reverse the Red is “a global coalition of conservation organisations and species experts working together to accelerate action to halt and reverse biodiversity loss” and every year, 7 February marks Reverse the Red day. The term stems from the effort conservations make to try and reduce the number of species on the IUCN Red List.
CapeNature goes cashless at select nature reserves
In line with its commitment to service excellence, sustainability, and safety, CapeNature is excited to announce the transition to a fully cashless payment system at five of its flagship nature reserves from 2 February 2026. The move will streamline operations, reduce queue times, and enhance the visitor experience while reducing the risks associated with cash handling.
Celebrating the cultural heritage of wetlands on World Wetlands Day 2026
As the world commemorates World Wetlands Day annually on 2 February, CapeNature joins communities across the Western Cape in recognising the deep and enduring relationship between people, culture and wetlands, celebrating under the 2026 theme “Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge… Celebrating Cultural Heritage”.
Cederberg fire recovery and visitor access
After a significant wildfire spread throughout the Cederberg Wilderness Area during the festive period, recovery and reopening efforts are now underway as CapeNature looks forward to welcoming visitors again. CapeNature has begun a comprehensive recovery programme, which will continue over the next six to twelve months.
Curio Shop Summer Essentials with CapeNature
Did you know that some of your most-loved CapeNature reserves have Curio Shops right on site? That’s right - making it easier than ever to take a piece of your journey home with you. From customised souvenirs to practical summer essentials, these shops are filled with locally made treasures crafted by small businesses, including beautiful handmade items.
Cederberg Complex Fire Update
The wildfire in the Cederberg, which started on 22 December, continues to be actively managed by firefighting agencies. The affected area is now measured at just over 34 000 hectares. While large sections of the fire are contained, the fire is not yet fully contained, and multiple active fire lines remain, particularly in mountainous and inaccessible terrain.