Western Cape expands protected areas by 81,000+ hectares

South Africa's Western Cape has significantly expanded the province’s protected wilderness, adding over 81,700 hectares of new nature reserves in just one year - a major win for conservation and nature-based travel.

A major conservation milestone

Between April 2025 and March 2026, over 20 new nature reserves were declared across the Western Cape, strengthening the province’s protected area network and safeguarding ecologically important land for the long term.

These reserves span some of South Africa's most iconic landscapes:

• The Cederberg
• The Agulhas Plain
• The Little Karoo
• The Garden Route

They include a mix of small private properties and large mountain and lowland ecosystems, protecting critical habitats such as fynbos, renosterveld and succulent karoo.

Why this matters for travellers

For travellers, this expansion reinforces the Western Cape's position as one of the world’s leading eco-tourism and self-drive destinations.

The region forms part of the globally recognised Cape Floristic Region — one of just 36 biodiversity hotspots worldwide.

What this means on the ground:

• More protected landscapes for hiking, photography and scenic drives
• Better preservation of wilderness areas, limiting overdevelopment
• Growing opportunities for low-impact, conservation-focused travel

While not all reserves are immediately open to visitors, some may evolve into exclusive or guided-access experiences, especially within privately managed areas.

A unique model: Private land, protected future

A key driver behind this expansion is CapeNature’s Biodiversity Stewardship Programme, which allows landowners to voluntarily declare land as protected areas.

This has several implications for travellers:

• Many reserves are privately owned
• Access can range from fully open to restricted or by prior arrangement
• It’s essential to check access conditions before visiting

Standout Additions to Watch

Some of the most notable new or expanded reserves include:

• Knersvlakte Nature Reserve (expansion) – over 34,000 hectares of globally important succulent karoo
• Cedar Rock Nature Reserve – nearly 10,000 hectares of rugged terrain
• Lettas Kraal Nature Reserve – more than 6,900 hectares of arid biodiversity
• Anysberg Nature Reserve (expansion) – strengthening existing conservation corridors

These additions significantly increase the diversity of landscapes available for future exploration.

Full list: Newly declared Nature Reserves (2025–2026) 

 

Nature Reserve	Hectares
Anysberg Nature Reserve (expansion)	6,918.3081 ha
Bloutoring Nature Reserve	4,610.8996 ha
Buffalo Valley Nature Reserve	318.3445 ha
Cedar Rock Nature Reserve	9,872.7000 ha
Cederberg Oasis Nature Reserve	226.664 ha
Diosma Nature Reserve	10.7664 ha
Doringkloof Karoo Plaas Nature Reserve	209.2027 ha
Franco Three Fountains	21.4250 ha
Fynbosstrand Nature Reserve	425.6964 ha
Gecko Rock Private Nature Reserve	3,658.0296 ha
Haarwegskloof	547.7954 ha
Kleiheuwel Nature Reserve	2,724.5000 ha
Knersvlakte Nature Reserve (expansion)	34,084.3925 ha
Koopmanskloof Nature Reserve	65.5074 ha
Lettas Kraal Nature Reserve	6,922.6114 ha
Machaseh Nature Reserve	844.8371 ha
Mount David Nature Reserve	713.0000 ha
Pietersrivier Nature Reserve	1,151.2790 ha
Puntjie Nature Reserve	102.1145 ha
Silflay Renosterveld Nature Reserve	1,280.6129 ha
Voorstekop Nature Reserve	347.9000 ha
Waterkloof Nature Reserve	2,062.9245 ha
Wilderness	643.6419 ha
Zebraskop Nature Reserve	3,952.2036 ha
TOTAL AREA	81,715.3565 hectares

 

Bigger Picture: The 30×30 Goal

This expansion aligns with the global 30×30 target, which aims to protect 30% of land and oceans by 2030.

For travellers, this signals a clear shift:

• A move towards sustainable, conservation-led tourism
• Increased focus on protected and less commercialised destinations
• Opportunities to support local conservation initiatives through travel

Travel tip

If you're planning a Western Cape itinerary:

• Combine well-known reserves with emerging private conservation areas
• Look for eco-lodges and guided experiences linked to stewardship projects
• Stay flexible — access to newer reserves may still be evolving

Bottom line

The addition of more than 81,000 hectares of protected land in the Western Cape is not just a conservation milestone — it’s a long-term investment in high-quality, sustainable travel experiences.

For nature lovers, photographers and self-drive travellers, this means:
more wild spaces, better protected, and increasingly accessible — if you plan ahead.

 

Subscribe for updates:

Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly updates, border info, road alerts, and travel inspiration for Southern Africa.  

Botswana: Road closures in protected areas after heavy rains!

The Botswana Ministry of Environment and Tourism has issued an update regarding road conditions in the country’s protected areas following recent heavy rains. Several roads within the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR) have been rendered inaccessible due to flooding. Affected routes include:

• Tsau Gate area (Motopi, Passage)
• Matswere Gate area (Deception Pan, Kukama, Lekhubu, Letiahau)
• Xade Gate area (Piper Pan, Phokoje)
• Tau Pan area (Phokoje, Sunday/Leopard Pan)

For safety reasons, these routes have been temporarily closed. Travellers are advised to use alternative roads to reach their destinations.
Additionally, the road from Letlhakeng to Khutse is also flooded. While it remains open, extreme caution is advised when using this route.
In Khwai, the gatehouse collapse on 15 February 2025 has not affected services. An alternative route has been opened, but drivers should proceed with extra caution.
The Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) continues to monitor road conditions. We'll keep you updated.

Kenya to ban single-use plastic in all protected areas!

Kenya's president Uhuru Kenyatta has announced a ban on single-use plastics in all protected areas in Kenya on World Environment Day 2019. Effective 05 June 2020, visitors to Kenya's national parks, beaches, forests and conservation areas will be banned from carrying single-use plastics, such as plastic water bottles, plastic straws, plastic plates, plastic cups as well as plastic spoons and forks. The ban on single-use plastics inside all protected areas comes two years after Kenya banned the use, manufacture and importation of all plastic bags used for commercial and household packaging [link].

Why traditional wildlife conservation seems failing and what we can do to fix it!

Traditional wildlife conservation seems to be failing (eg see: Africa: National parks hit by mammal declines), biodiversity loss is continuing, the species we've set out to protect are more endangered than ever etc.. To sum it up - it has to be done something!
Dr Alan Rabinowitz is one the few conservationists who keeps on addressing the problems and who is giving actual solutions on how to get back on the course of successfull wildlife conservation at the same time. Rabinowitz is the CEO of Panthera – a nonprofit conservation organization devoted to protecting the world's 36 wild cat species, and one of the world's leading (and most charismatic) wildlife conservationists.

• In Myanmar, his work led to the creation of five new protected wildlife areas; 
• in South America he opened up the the world’s first jaguar sanctuary – the Cockscomb Basin Jaguar Preserve (Belize); 
• in Thailand, he conducted the first ever radio telemetry research on Asiatic leopards, Asian leopard cats, and civets, leading to the designation of the Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary as a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. 
• There are way more projects he started that led to new protected areas, National Parks, preserves etc. Have a look on wikipedia for more.

Anyway, Treehugger.com's Brian Merchant met Dr Alan Rabinowitz for an interview recently and filmed it. In the interview (see videos below) Rabinowitz explains why he thinks that the traditional model of wildlife conservation is failing and what his ideas are to fix it!

Madagascar declares three new protected areas

Madagascar has declared three new protected areas in the island's north. The three protected area are:

• Montagnes des Français (near the town of Diego Suarez) - dense deciduous dry forest, famed for various caves
• Bay of Ambodivahibe (29km from Diego Suarez) - forests, pristine coral reefs and mangrove areas
• Zone d'orangeades - famous for its three bays, first military base in the country, now converted into a sanctuary, rich biodiversity of plants and animal species.

View Diege Suarez, Madagascar in a larger map