World Water Day is celebrated on 22 March each year. This year, the theme is “accelerating change”, which directly speaks to the changes required towards improving the world-wide water and sanitation crisis. 

We have all experienced this at some stage; you’re hiking down a trail that becomes overgrown, the sharp Fynbos is lashing at your shins and moments later you’re basically leopard crawling while cursing beratingly, through a Sugarbush tunnel that’s grown over the path at chest height.

Animals and plants are used in science and monitoring as indicators of the health of an ecosystem, the so-called bio-indicators. In animals, both vertebrate and invertebrate species are used as bio-indicators. In rivers in South Africa, the established biological monitoring tool SASS 5 (or South African Scoring System version 5) uses macro-invertebrates (you can see them with the naked eye) to track water quality impacts.

CapeNature has seven nature reserves within the Overberg area, each showcasing the beauty of plant-life, mountain views, rumbling rivers, ocean vistas and forest-fun. A great getaway experience for large or small groups of people who find pleasure in fully embracing the natural wonders of the world.

Enjoying a glass of wine is great indeed, but have you seen the ‘Nature’ side of life? If not, that’s okay! Get your bucket list out and add the following must-see reserves in the Cape Winelands: Assegaaibosch, Hottentots Holland, and Jonkershoek Nature Reserves. 

CapeNature Fauna Ecologist Dr. Martine Jordaan recently collaborated with the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB) research group on a field trip to the river systems of the Garden Route. 

Some call it ‘peace of mind’, others call it an ‘extreme adrenaline rush’, and others may say that it’s simply the best of both worlds. The calm and the climb. The Cape Karoo, generally known for its arresting calmness and picturesque scenic routes, not forgetting the energising outdoor activities available for everyone to enjoy. 

This landlocked and brackish vlei is fed by the Sout and Potteberg rivers and several underground springs. It provides critical waterbird feeding and breeding habitat. Last month, ornithologist Kevin Shaw generously contributed his time and expertise to complete an eight-hour bird count of the 750-ha vlei. 

Bidders are invited to submit qualified bids for a concession opportunity to manage the operations of a ferry boat and trips up the Keurbooms River, at Keurbooms River Nature Reserve, close to Plettenberg Bay in the Western Cape Province.

CapeNature is looking for a suitable local (residing within Bitou Municipality) individual or company who would be interested in providing the professional services of managing an on-reserve kiosk, selling food & beverages, at Robberg Nature Reserve, close to Plettenberg Bay, in the Western Cape Province.

World Wetlands Day is celebrated annually on the 2^nd of February and is an outcome of the Ramsar Convention which took place in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971. This intergovernmental treaty provides the framework for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and came into force in 1975. South Africa is one of 172 contracting parties to the convention and was one of the first member states to ratify the Convention.

Celebrating World Wetlands Day on 2 February, CapeNature and Western Cape Government Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEA&DP) took 40 learners from the Hikers Network Juniors on an interactive, guided hike through the Helderberg Nature Reserve teaching them about the importance of wetlands and its conservation.