New Codes of Conduct to preserve Witzands Aquifer Nature Reserve

12 May 2025

The City of Cape Town wants to inform stakeholders and residents that the Codes of Conduct for Permissible Activities at the Witzands Aquifer Nature Reserve (WANR) will come into effect as from 1 July 2025, and the gate limits on 12 August 2025. The Codes of Conduct stipulate interventions in the interest of safety and security, restrictions on the number of daily operators and visitors to prevent overcrowding, and measures in the interest of the continued conservation of this unique natural asset. Read more below:

A public participation process about the draft codes took place in September and October last year, and the City assessed the comments that we received to further refine the proposed codes.

The finalised Codes of Conduct stipulate interventions in the interest of safety and security. The restrictions on the number of daily operators and visitors to prevent overcrowding will come into effect on 12 August 2025.

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, quad biking, and sandboarding, entry of which is controlled through a permit system. However, from 2019 to 2023 the City recorded a 1 501% increase in the number of visitors to the WANR and permits issued, and subsequently decided to implement Codes of Conduct in the interest of the continued conservation of this unique natural asset.

The Codes of Conduct:

• A daily limit of 80 permits for off-road vehicles, and no individual or operator may purchase more than 50% of the daily permits. The daily gate limits will be implemented from 12 August 2025.
• A daily limit of 275 permits for quad bikes and off-road motorcycles, and no individual or operator may purchase more than 50% of the daily permits. The daily gate limits will be implemented from 12 August 2025.
• A daily limit of 80 permits for sandboarding, and no individual or operator may purchase more than 50% of the daily permits. The daily gate limits will be implemented from 12 August 2025
• As from 1 July 2025 all tour operators must have a valid tour guide certificate as required by the Tourism Act; and First Aid accreditation, and are responsible for the safety and wellbeing of injured clients
• As from 1 July 2025 the wearing of personal protective equipment will be mandatory
• As from 1 July 2025 service providers will be allowed to use only one parking bay per service provider, and must park their vehicles at their depots
• As from 1 July 2025 day visitor pre-bookings will constitute 80% of the daily visitor limit, with 20% being kept open for visitors on a first-come-first-served basis
• No commercial tours are permitted to the WANR on Mondays, except when the Monday is a public holiday. These days are reserved for non-commercial off-roading, sandboarding, and quad biking, walking and bird watching, Environmental Education and filming. This restriction will be implemented from 12 August 2025

Any person who contravenes the City of Cape Town Nature Reserve By-law or the proposed Code of Conduct may be liable for a compliance notice, a fine, or be banned from the reserve for a period of time

Intention of the Codes of Conduct:

• To ensure public safety
• To optimise the visitor experience
• Integrate various recreational uses and user groups to the reserve
• Ensure international best practice; and Protect Cape Town’s environmental assets and strategic water sources, while we continue to provide equitable opportunities for tourism and associated businesses at the reserve.

The Codes of Conduct for Permissible Activities for the Witzands Aquifer Nature Reserve are available on the City’s website at Witzands Aquifer Nature Reserve.

‘The City is responsible for managing and conserving the Witzands Aquifer Nature Reserve, which is renowned for its water catchment source, surface biodiversity, and extensive mobile dune field. The WANR is an irreplaceable natural asset that must be preserved.

‘We are also well aware that many stakeholders rely on the reserve for their business operations and that these outdoor activities contribute to our local adventure tourism industry. As such, we offered stakeholders and residents two months to comment on the draft codes, and we hosted several information sessions as well. We assessed all of the comments we received and took these into account as we finalised the codes. I want to thank all of those who participated in and contributed to this process.

‘The Codes of Conduct strive to optimise business opportunities in a sustainable manner while creating a safe and secure environment for residents and visitors to fully enjoy this beautiful nature reserve. I encourage operators to adapt their business models accordingly in order to comply with the Codes of Conduct,’ said the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews.

End

Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office