City nature reserves | City nature reserves | | <img alt="" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/PublishingImages/City%20nature%20reserves%20Header.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | <div class="ExternalClass36A4BB2A01B84D778E1912FD41AC4FF0">
<p>A visit to our
<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Explore%20and%20enjoy/See-all-City-facilities/Our-recreational-facilities/Nature%20reserves">nature reserves</a> and other natural areas will take you through our network of beautiful flora and fauna and allow you to get close to nature. Our reserves also offer the opportunity for environmental education and plenty of outdoor fun.</p></div> | <h2 class="sectHeading">Nature reserve activities</h2>
<p>The City’s nature reserves protect and conserve our natural areas and biodiversity heritage. Most of these reserves conserve unique biodiversity that may only be found in Cape Town. They are an integral part of our
<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Local%20and%20communities/Nature-and-the-community/Conserving-our-natural-heritage/Our-conservation-strategies-and-plans">Biodiversity Network</a>.</p><p>Visit our <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/See-all-City-facilities/Our-recreational-facilities/Nature%20reserves">listing page</a> to find a nature reserve in your area and enjoy the scenery and outdoor activities on offer. </p><h4>
Our outdoor activities include the following: </h4><ul><li>Picnics </li><li>Walks </li><li>Bird watching </li><li>Fishing </li><li>Hikes </li><li>Trail running </li><li>Mountain biking</li><li>Surfing</li><li>Boating </li><li>Sailing</li><li>Sandboarding</li><li>4x4 off-road driving</li></ul><p>Some of our reserves also have overnight accommodation, conference facilities and
<span class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-2-0">Environmental Education Centres</span><span class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-2-0">.</span> </p>
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<i class="info toptip"></i> </div><div class="desc"><h4>Top tip</h4><p>Visit one of our
<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/See-all-City-facilities/Our-recreational-facilities/Environmental%20education%20centres">Environmental Education Centres</a>, whether on your own, with a school, organisation or your community.</p></div></div></span><span>
<h2 class="sectHeading">Find your favourite reserve</h2>
<p>Visit our
<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Explore%20and%20enjoy/See-all-City-facilities/Our-recreational-facilities/Nature%20reserves">nature reserves listing page</a> to find a reserve near you. Information about our reserves, along with location map and contact details, can be found in our
<a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Graphics%20and%20educational%20material/CCT_Nature_Reserves_pamphlet.pdf" target="_blank">Nature Reserves Pamphlet </a>– easy to download and print. You can also download our
<a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Graphics%20and%20educational%20material/CCT_Nature_Reserves_book_2010-02.pdf" target="_blank">Natures Reserves Booklet</a> for an introduction to Cape Town’s amazing plants and animals, our conservation challenges and successes, and an overview of each reserve. </p>
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<strong>For provincial and national reserves in Cape Town and the Western Cape, please visit the following websites:</strong></p>
<ul><li>
<a href="https://www.capenature.co.za/" target="_blank">Cape Nature<i class="icon link-external"></i></a>: manages 24 nature reserves and wilderness areas across the Western Cape. Most offer overnight accommodation and/or camping and a variety of activities. </li><li>
<a href="https://www.sanparks.org/" target="_blank">South African National parks (SANParks)<i class="icon link-external"></i></a>: manages five national parks within the Western Cape, including
<a href="https://www.sanparks.org/parks/table_mountain/" target="_blank">Table Mountain National Park<i class="icon link-external"></i></a>.</li></ul>
<p>If you’re interested in how we manage our reserves, take a look at our reserve management plans and maps in
<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/City-publications/publications-and-reports/environment">environment reports and publications</a>.</p>
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<h2 class="sectHeading">Biodiversity areas</h2></span>
<p>The City’s
<span class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-2-0">Biodiversity Areas</span> offer easy access to nature and her gifts – from riverine areas and wetlands, to a bird sanctuary that was once a wastewater treatment works, to one of the last remaining breeding sites for the
<a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Graphics%20and%20educational%20material/Western_Leopard_Toad_leaflet_2015-02.pdf" target="_blank">endangered Western Leopard Toad </a>– all of these are supported by a range of community partners. </p>
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<h2 class="sectHeading">Being responsible in our reserves</h2></span>
<p>We can all enjoy our natural heritage and play our part in protecting our biodiversity.</p>
<table>
<caption>Do's and don'ts</caption>
<thead><tr><th>Do</th><th>Don't</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Stick to the designated paths</td><td>Don’t take part in activities like filming or cutting wood without the correct permits</td></tr><tr><td>Enjoy the many activities on offer</td><td>Don’t collect or remove animals or plants from the reserve</td></tr><tr><td>
<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Get-involved/Volunteer/cape-town-environmental-education-trust/Cape%20Town%20Environmental%20Education%20Trust">Get involved</a> at your local reserve</td><td>Don’t disturb nesting birds</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="1">Visit one of our
<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/See-all-City-facilities/Our-recreational-facilities/Environmental%20education%20centres">Environmental Education Centres</a><br></td><td rowspan="1">Don’t litter or cause fires</td></tr></tbody></table></span> | | GP0|#baf3acfa-f37e-4175-9d50-df800f756659;L0|#0baf3acfa-f37e-4175-9d50-df800f756659|City nature reserves;GTSet|#ef3a64a2-d764-44bc-9d69-3a63d3fadea1;GPP|#18da33b4-b150-4fb2-9409-e82d667ad4dd;GPP|#553ce1f7-0fea-434b-bbc1-744edbd62039;GPP|#c529c1ac-1f8d-48ae-8079-d34f4dae9c57;GP0|#fdbaf615-b951-421e-9353-cae598df2c00;L0|#0fdbaf615-b951-421e-9353-cae598df2c00|City nature reserves;GPP|#5616b319-4d6d-4233-a91b-3c66c9a39b7b;GP0|#68235a17-3a25-4fce-bd42-7e3335612313;L0|#068235a17-3a25-4fce-bd42-7e3335612313|City nature reserves;GPP|#fc00a4dc-b14a-4621-b420-535212a84a7f | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | An introduction to the City’s nature reserves and other natural areas. | 0 |