City challenges all Capetonians to come out and explore nature
16 April 2021
The City Nature Challenge is coming up in less than two weeks and the City is calling on all Capetonians to gather their friends and family to explore Cape Town’s natural beauty between 30 April and 3 May 2021. To participate in this challenge, residents will need to download the free iNaturalist app and capture photos of all the wild plants and animals they can find. Various nature reserves and conservation areas across the city will be hosting a range of guided tours and will provide free access to all participants over this period. Read more below:
‘As Capetonians, we know that we live in a magnificent city, and now it’s time to prove that Cape Town is one of the most biodiverse cities on the planet. This is the perfect opportunity to gather the family for some time outdoors, while exploring natural spaces in the city which many residents might not have had the opportunity to enjoy before. We need as many observers as possible to record our plant and animal life over those four days, thus, the organisers of the City Nature Challenge have arranged various free nature reserve guided walks for all those taking part in the challenge,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Marian Nieuwoudt.
The City Nature Challenge is about finding all the wildlife in a city, be it the starlings on rooftops and along the road, or wildflowers growing in the local park, all submissions are needed. All that is required of residents when making an observation is to take a photo and upload it to the iNaturalist app. Experts will then help identify the fauna or flora captured.
Cape Town is competing with various international cities to record the most observations of local plant and animal species. The Mother City stands a good chance of occupying the top spot on the international biodiversity map for the second time after winning two categories in the 2019 City Nature Challenge with the most recorded observations and most recorded species.
Residents in Cape Town are spoilt for choice with an array of nature reserves and conservation areas right on their doorstep. Guided tours at coastal and inland protected areas across the city have been arranged. Here participants will have the opportunity to capture an array of species ranging from reptiles to birds and Fynbos to marine life.
Participants who make the most observations or capture the most species will win various prizes, which include accommodation from CapeNature and SANParks. Spot prizes will also be available for anyone who participates.
Residents are to note the following information about conservation areas around Cape Town:
Kirstenbosch Natural Botanical Gardens will be open free of charge to people who have the iNaturalist app loaded and active over the four days
Cape Point will be open free of charge to registered participants of City Nature Challenge events in the reserve
Residents can access a complete list of walks open to the public via the iNaturalist website at https://www.inaturalist.org/posts/47444-planned-events-for-2021 and are advised to confirm event details closer to the time.
30 April 2021
Driftsands Nature Reserve
Ganzekraal Conservation Area
Penhill Conservation area, Penhill Estate
Silvermine Dam
Table Bay Nature Reserve
Kenilworth Racecourse
Burghers Walk Entrance
1 May 2021
Rondebosch East Conservation Area
Bordjiesrif, Cape of Good Hope
Table Bay Nature Reserve
Cape Point - Shipwreck Trail Circuit
Lower Tokai Park
Dassenberg hills
2 May 2021
3 May 2021
Witzands Aquifer Nature Reserve
Majik Forest Conservation Area
Odendaal Conservation Area
Cape Point, Buffelsfontein
Participants need to download the iNaturalist.com app via their app store. Any photo taken in the City of Cape Town during the challenge dates will automatically be included in the competition, but you can join the project at https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2021-city-of-cape-town to keep updated.
Any plant, animal, fungi, slime, mould or any other evidence of life (scat, fur, tracks, shells or carcasses) found in Cape Town may be recorded along with the location of each finding
Schools, universities and social groups are encouraged to use this as an opportunity to facilitate, manage and support student outdoor learning and exploration in schoolyards, nearby parks or other green spaces.
End
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
