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Comment on proposed variations to the Codes of Conduct for Permissible Activities at Witzands Aquifer Nature Reserve

<div class="ExternalClass8389A15E4F734B0596473C3C04B611F5"><p>The City is inviting adventure sport operators and all stakeholders to comment on proposed variations to the Codes of Conduct for permissible activities at the <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/See-all-city-facilities/Our-recreational-facilities/Nature%20reserves/Witzands%20Aquifer%20Nature%20Reserve">Witzands Aquifer Nature Reserve (WANR)</a> in the interests of public safety, security and well-being of visitors and staff, the unique sense of place of the WANR, and the continued conservation of this natural asset. One of the proposed measures is the daily gate limits.</p></div>

<span> <h2 class="sectHeading">About the WANR</h2></span><span> <div class="notification with-heading dark-copy pink bg-light-grey"><div class="graphic with-border"> <i class="info note"></i> </div><div class="desc"><h4>amended notice</h4><p> This notice was amended on 22 October 2025 to extend the public commenting period. </p></div></div></span> <p>The WANR is a protected area in terms of the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act, 57 of 2003. The City of Cape Town is the appointed management authority of the WANR.</p><p>The WANR is one of the most popular destinations in the Western Cape for recreational activities on the dunes, among which are 4X4 off-roading, sandboarding and quad biking, entry of which is controlled through a permit system.</p><p>There has been an exponential and continuing increase in these recreational activities and the number of commercial operators resulting in overcrowding at the WANR. </p><h4>Impacts and concerns related to overcrowding at the WANR</h4><ul><li>The impact on the natural and cultural environment, amongst which loss of ecosystem function, value, and attraction </li><li>Increase in adventure sport accidents </li><li>Increased risk of contamination of the Atlantis aquifer which supplies water to Atlantis </li><li>Impact on the sense of place </li><li>Impact on visitors who are not participating in motorised activities such as schools’ programmes, birdwatchers and hikers </li><li>Littering </li><li>Increase in illegal activities such as consumption of alcohol </li><li>Impact on the reserve’s efforts to conserve energy and water </li><li>Impact on the reserve’s conservancy tank that regularly overflows during peak visitor months </li><li>Parking bay area filled to capacity and beyond</li></ul><p>The City is responsible for managing and conserving the WANR, which is renowned for its water catchment source, surface biodiversity, and mobile dunes. The WANR is an irreplaceable natural asset that must be preserved for current and future generations.</p><p>We are aware that there are stakeholders that rely on the reserve for their business operations and that these recreational outdoor activities contribute to Cape Town’s adventure tourism industry. The purpose of the proposed measures is to strike an appropriate balance between conservation and commercial and recreational activities in order to create and maintain a safe and secure environment for residents and visitors to fully experience and enjoy this beautiful nature reserve. The high season for the permissible activities commences on 1 November 2025. </p><h4>The proposed daily gate limits:</h4><ul><li>A daily limit of 150 permits for off-road vehicles from <strong>1 December 2025 to 30 June 2026 </strong></li><li>A daily limit of 80 permits for sandboarding from <strong>1 December 2025 to 30 June 2026 </strong></li><li>A daily limit of 600 permits for quad bikes and off-road motorcycles on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday from <strong>1 December 2025 to 31 January 2026 </strong>and from <strong>3 April 2026 to 6 April 2026 </strong></li><li>A daily limit of 300 permits for quad bikes and off-road motorcycles on Tuesday, Wednesday (subject to the commercial closure day measure described below) and Thursday from <strong>1 December 2025 to 31 January 2026 </strong></li><li>A daily limit of 300 permits for quad bikes and off-road motorcycles from <strong>1 February 2026 to 30 June 2026</strong>, excluding the period from <strong>3 April 2026 to 6 April 2026 </strong></li></ul><h4>Daily permits:</h4><p>No individual/organisation may purchase more than <strong>20%</strong> of all daily permits and all permits will be sold on a first come first serve basis. Permits may not be resold without the prior written consent from the City.</p><h4>Commercial closure day:</h4><p>No commercial tours shall be permitted to the WANR on Wednesdays (except where the Wednesday falls on a Public Holiday, and on 24 and 31 December 2025). These days are reserved for non-commercial off-roading, sandboarding and quad biking, as well as for walking, bird watching, environmental education and filming. </p><h4>Indemnity and waiver of liability:</h4><p>Access to the WANR is subject to the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act (Act 57 of 2003); Regulations for the Proper Administration of Nature Reserves (Regulation No. R. 99, 8 February 2012), City of Cape Town By-laws and applicable Codes of Conduct. All visitors, service providers and their clients will be required to complete and sign a copy of the City’s indemnity and waiver of liability on their arrival at the nature reserve.</p> <span> <h2 class="sectHeading">Comment period</h2></span><span> <div class="notification with-heading dark-copy pink bg-light-grey"><div class="graphic with-border"> <i class="info note"></i> </div><div class="desc"><h4>Please note<br></h4><p>The comment period closed on 2 November 2025. No late submissions will be accepted.<br></p></div></div></span> <h2 class="sectHeading">Contact us</h2><p>For more information and general enquiries, contact:</p><h4>Witzands Aquifer Nature Reserve<br></h4><p> <em>Telephone:<br><a>021 400 6000</a><br><br> Email:<br><a href="mailto:witzandsnature.reserve@capetown.gov.za">witzandsnature.reserve@capetown.gov.za</a> </em></p>

Comment period is closed.