If your holiday is not complete without taking to the water on a canoe, kayak or boat, CapeNature has some great options for you.

Picture new horizons, activities that stretch you and the best night’s sleep you’ve ever had. For a getaway that combines nature, adventure and stunning accommodation, look no further than CapeNature reserves.

The Western Cape has an abundance of small mammals for game viewing, including springbok, duiker, rhebok, steenbok, klipspringer, Cape mountain zebra, bontebok, mongoose, African wild cat, wild horse, baboon, honey badger, mice, seals, and various frogs, lizards and snakes. A few of the Cape’s nature reserves are also home to caracal and leopard, but these predators are shy and seldom seen.

There are few better ways to enjoy tranquil nature than on horseback. CapeNature has some fantastic options for horse riding in some of its reserves.

If adventure is the name of the game for you, and kloofing is the thrill you seek, a number of CapeNature reserves await!

Whether you love to swim in the ocean, rivers, rock pools or open-air swimming pools, the CapeNature reserves have something for everyone, so bring your bathing costume along.

Most CapeNature reserves have picnic spots. Grab your friends and family, pack the picnic basket and check out what the Cape has to offer! Here are just a few ideas to get you thinking.

One of the most fun and exhilarating ways to explore the great outdoors is by mountain bike – and CapeNature reserves offer a plethora of fantastic options.

Fishing is a popular outdoor pastime and enjoyed by South Africans from all walks of life. Recreational fishing using rod and line is permitted in several CapeNature reserves (e.g. Goukamma, Limietberg) but prohibited in others (e.g. De Hoop with its no-take marine reserve).

Whale watching season is prime time to visit the Overberg, and if you put a little effort in, not only can you witness some of the best land-based whale watching in the country, but you can also experience the variety of wonders that the Western Cape has to offer!

It goes without saying that CapeNature’s reserves are a mecca for birds of all types and sizes. Here’s an overview to help you plan a birdwatching holiday.

If rock climbing and bouldering are your adventure activity of choice, plan a visit to the Cederberg Wilderness Area – the craggy mountains and stunning rock formations in this part of the world are a climber’s paradise.

The Western Cape 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.

At Swartberg Nature Reserve you can enjoy the beautiful donkey slack-pack trail while in the Cederberg, a traditional donkey cart takes you across the magnificent, rugged mountains, which helps to create jobs for locals and supports ecotourism.

The Western Cape has some incredible 4x4 trails, which allow you to really explore the region and see the wilderness in a whole new light. The rugged trails on offer are often challenging, but the scenery and panoramic views are worth the effort!

If you’re a keen hiker, it will take you many years to explore all the spectacular, scenic trails – from easy, short walks to challenging multi-day hikes – that CapeNature reserves have to offer.