News
The Camping Diaries at CapeNature
Planning your next camp trip with loved ones’ is exciting, right? Especially when you’re an enthusiast at heart and love embarking on adventurous outdoor activities with the plan to stayover, pitch that tent, and get the best of nature and the outdoors.
CapeNature Urges the Public to Report Fire and Smoke on Sight
From April 2022 to March 2023 CapeNature responded to 70 wildfires which burned nearly 28 000 hectares compared to 87 fires burning almost 30 000 hectares in the same period in 2021 and 2022. CapeNature was able to contain 28.6% of fires where less than 10 hectares were burned and 64.2% where less than 100 hectares were burned.
Plan Your Next Trip by Exploring the New CapeNature Reserves Map
With CapeNature’s new reserves mapcrafted by Forge, planning your next CapeNature adventure just got even simpler. The easy-to-use map neatly highlights all CapeNature reserves, accompanied by links, photos and helpful information.
Indigenous Forests of the Western Cape
It is a well-known fact that indigenous forests are vegetation units dominated by trees. A lesser-known fact is that graminoids (grass-like plants including grasses, sedges, and rushes) are generally rare within the herbaceous layer underneath the forest trees. With this in mind, it becomes important to note the difference between forest and woody savanna. Savanna woodlands have a grassy understorey which is often dominant. Furthermore, in forests, the crowns of trees overlap in at least one of the tree layers, whereas in savanna, the crowns of trees do not overlap (Mucina et al. 2022).
An Unforgettable Camping Experience in Nature’s Wonder
Calling all nature lovers and camping enthusiasts! Discover the breathtaking beauty of CapeNature's camping sites. Whether you're seeking a tranquil escape or an adventurous getaway, our campsites offer an unforgettable experience surrounded by nature's wonders.
Cape Zebra Reunites With Family
On July 22, 2023, the CapeNature team from Kammanassie Nature Reserve carried out a critical rescue mission involving a Cape Mountain Zebra (CMZ) on the Diepprivier farm property in the Noll area, situated approximately 30 kilometers from Kammanassie.
CapeNature and a Community Rally to Save More Than a Thousand Seahorses
CapeNature’s marine rangers led a herculean effort with the support of the community and up to now more than a thousand seahorses were rescued and 720 have been returned to their natural habitat. They are being put back into the estuaries where they usually occur and where there is a huge eelgrass bed where they seek refuge and shelter and where they find their food.
Task-team releases proposals for baboon-proof fencing on Cape Peninsula
The Cape Peninsula Baboon Management Joint Task Team (JTT) consisting of representatives from SANParks, CapeNature, and the City of Cape Town, wants to inform the public that a baboon-proof fencing summary report is now available for affected communities’ consideration.
Monitoring of Critically Endangered Geometric Tortoise
The geometric tortoise (Psammobates geometricus), classified as Critically Endangered, ranks among the top 25 most imperilled tortoises and turtles globally. Its future remains uncertain, with an estimated wild population of fewer than 3000. This species is highly specialised in its habitat requirements, historically found in the low-lying renosterveld shrublands of the Swartland, Upper Breede River Valley, and Ceres Valley.
Penguins Return to De Hoop for Another Breeding Season
Last year, African Penguins successfully bred at De Hoop Nature Reserve, and this year, a pair is once again nurturing two chicks at the new colony. These chicks were spotted at the end of June, perched just outside the nest that was occupied the previous year. African Penguins display remarkable fidelity to their colonies and often return to the same nest annually to reunite with their mates.
Safeguarding Ecological Infrastructure Against Invasive Alien Plant Species
Invasive alien plant species are one of the main causes of biodiversity loss and threaten many indigenous species. To address this issue, government laws, specifically the Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act 43 of 1983 (Act NO. 43 of 1983) and the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 2004 (Act NO. 10 of 2004), legally obligate landowners to monitor, control, and eradicate alien invasive plants.
Collaboration for Conservation Allowed for the Release of a Cape Vulture to the Potberg Colony
A joint initiative between VulPro, Cango Wildlife Ranch, and CapeNature results in the triumphant rehabilitation and release of a Cape Vulture.VulPro, based on the outskirts of Hartebeespoort Dam in the Northwest Province, is a specialised vulture conservation organisation that also undertakes specialist rehabilitation of vultures. VulPro collects injured or grounded birds from every corner of South Africa in an effort to reduce losses - giving each bird a second chance of release and survival.