Press release

On 1 August, we celebrate Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) Day, a global occasion first marked in 2021 to recognise the role that MPAs play in conserving our oceans while supporting the wellbeing of people and communities. The day encourages us to appreciate the value of MPAs and the many ways they benefit both us and the extraordinary marine biodiversity they are designed to protect.

When was the last time a film, photograph or story about nature made you stop and feel something? Perhaps it was a breathtaking wildlife documentary. A short social media reel that transported you to a mountain peak. A travel video that inspired your next adventure. Or a story that highlighted the impact of a wildfire and reminded you why conservation matters. Every adventure has a story. Watch ours on our YouTube channel and subscribe for more.

CapeNature has once again earned international recognition, receiving a Silver Award in the Sustainable and Responsible Tourism category at the International Tourism Film Festival Africa Awards 2026. The award was presented in Johannesburg on 5 June 2026 for Green Noise Season 3, Episode 3: Honouring Culture and Ancestors, celebrating CapeNature's commitment to authentic storytelling that promotes conservation, cultural heritage, and responsible tourism.

Biodiversity crime is often associated with poaching or illegal wildlife trafficking, but some of the most common offences threatening the Western Cape's environment stem from the everyday actions of ordinary visitors to Protected Areas. Entering Protected Areas without a valid permit, fishing without the required licence, leaving designated hiking trails, picking wildflowers, removing rocks or shells as souvenirs, or disturbing wildlife may seem harmless, but

CapeNature's Cubs Club celebrated the second birthday of its beloved mascot, Kai the Leopard Cub, on Thursday, 16 July 2026, at Helderberg Nature Reserve, bringing together children, families, and partners for a day of fun and environmental celebration. The special occasion welcomed children from three orphanages – Goeie Hoop, Hope & Light, and Heartlands Baby Sanctuary – who were given the opportunity to join in the festivities and experience a day

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 

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

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.

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.

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

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.

In the upper reaches of the Huis River near Barrydale, a recent aquatic macroinvertebrate survey is helping to inform conservation decisions for the Critically Endangered Tradouw redfin (Pseudobarbus burchelli), including the potential expansion of its range into upstream habitats in the river. The survey was conducted in partnership with