Western Cape: CapeNature announces reopening dates for several nature reserves!

CapeNature, the public institution with the responsibility for biodiversity conservation in South Africa's Western Cape, had to close several of its nature reserves due to the severe weather conditions and flooding the Cape region recently experienced. Kogelberg Nature Reserve, Stony Point Nature Reserve and De Hoop Nature Reserve remain closed until further notice, while the following seven nature reserves, and one trail, will reopen on:

• 28 September 2023 - Cederberg Wilderness Area
• 29 September 2023 - Jonkershoek Nature Reserve
• 29 September 2023 - Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve
• 30 September 2023 - Gamkaberg Nature Reserve
• 30 September 2023 - Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve
• 02 October 2023 - Anysberg Nature Reserve
• 02 October 2023 - Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve
• 14 October 2023 - Swartberg trails in the Swartberg Nature Reserve

Table Mountain National Park: SANParks released an update on the impact of the current severe weather conditions! [update #3]

update (26 September 2023): The Camps Bay Pipe Track and Tafelberg Road are closed until further notice due to mudslides and rockfalls blocking access.
Other affected areas in the Northern Section of Table Mountain National Park include:

• Kloofnek Public ablution closed due to no water as a result of damaged water pipes.
• Lions Head Parking area.
• Signal Hill trees uprooted and fell at the back of the ablution, blocking the footpath and parking area.
• The Glen road collapsed causing trees to uproot and damage water pipe supply to Kloofnek precinct.
• Kloof road from the Circle to Camps Bay  closed by the City of Cape Town.
• Reports of mudslides and soil erosion due to severe water flow at Devils Peak, Deer Park, and the Glen jeep track.

update (26 September 2023): Current situation in the Upper Tokai management tracks in the Central Section of Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) due to the recent floods in Cape Town.

• There's currently no access for vehicles or recreational users in the Prinskasteel stream.

update (26 September 2023): Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) ranger teams conducted flood assessments across the National Park earlier today following the adverse weather conditions the Cape region experienced over the past two days. SANParks is aware of the following areas of concern:

• Report of a developing sinkhole at the low-water bridge Schusterskraal (Scarborough)
• Report of a fallen tree on Plateau Road close to the Cape Point Main Gate
• Landslide off the hiking trail to the Admirals Waterfall in Simonstown
• A road verge erosion in Noordhoek Circuit - Silvermine West
• Report of a new gabion structure on the verge of collapsing below Silvermine Dam
• Landslide at Chapman's Peak Drive
• Effected areas in Tokai:
• Lower Tokai
• Pine trees uprooted, and extensive fuel loads in the Pine plantation due to fallen debris.
• Erosion of equestrian track and stream. Siltation of riverbed impacting (flooding) CoCT greenbelt trails.
• Tokai Arboretum, 6 trees uprooted and Management track eroded.
• Constantia Berg slippage has increased.
• Seven active slippages above Zwaanswyk and Steenberg estate noted. One slippage has damaged a residential property and fenceline.
• Tokai overflow picnic is flooded. The equestrian track impacted.
• Tokai Picnic - hazardous branches have fallen, including uprooted trees in the Tokai Pine plantation in Lower Tokai.

The list will be updated as more information is received from various sections of the Park. Table Mountain National Park management would like to request Park Users to exercise caution during this time and wait for a drier period to access mountain hiking, horse, and bike trails. We'll keep you posted!

The management of Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) in Cape Town has released an update (25 September 2023) on the impact of the severe weather conditions and flooding the Cape region is currently experiencing. Numerous pine trees in the Lower Tokai plantation were uprooted and fell as a result of the inclement weather. An inspection will be conducted today (26 September 2023) to assess infrastructure and other damages. Localized flooding of the trails in Lower Tokai and the mass movement of soil in Upper Tokai has also been reported.
South African National Parks (SANParks) is advising the public to avoid mountain trails in Table Mountain National Park where slippery, wet, and muddy conditions persist to avoid having accidents and requiring rescue. People should not cross or walk through flowing water as there could be sink holes underneath, which could cause serious injury. Visitors are recommended to wait for a drier period to access mountain hiking, horse, and bike trails. We'll keep you posted!

Cape Town: Chapman's Peak Drive closed until further notice!

The management of Cape Town's famous Chapman's Peak Drive, a scenic 9 km route between Noordhoek and Hout Bay along the western flank of the Chapman's Peak, has annouced that the road is currently closed until further notice. This is due to the severe weather conditions and flooding the Cape recently experienced - see the pictures below. Should one need to travel between Noordhoek and Hout Bay, kindly use Ou Kaapse Weg as an alternative route. We'll keep you posted!

Namibia launches a new online tourist visa application service! [update]

update (25 September 2023): The "e-services" website of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security is working again!

The Namibian Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, Dr. Albert Kawana, announced on the occasion of the commemoration of International Identity Day on 22 September 2023, that Namibia has launched an online tourist visa application. The new online service will enable those wishing to visit Namibia to apply for tourist/ holiday visas online from the comfort of their homes wherever they are in the world. According to the Minister, the system has been carefully designed taking security into consideration [sic.]. Unfortunately, the "e-services" website of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security is currently (25 September 2023) unavailable. We'll keep you posted!

All visitors to Namibia must have a valid passport for at least six months after the date of entry, and have sufficient pages for entry and exit stamps (at least three blank pages for the entry and exit stamps). All visitors must also have a valid return ticket. In addition, all visitors must have a visa, except those visitors from countries with which Namibia has the necessary visa exemption agreement. These include, amonst others, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK and the USA.

One of Johannesburg's busiest roads to be renamed Winnie Mandela Drive!

One of Johannesburg's busiest roads, the William Nicol Drive, is set to get a new name. The road, which is connecting the suburbs in the north to Sandton, will be renamed Winnie Madikizela-Mandela (1936 - 2018). Former President Nelson Mandela's (1918 - 2013) second wife was a South African anti-apartheid activist, Politician and Member of Parliament. She served on African National Congress' (ANC) National Executive Committee and headed the party's Women's League. The official renaming ceremony will take place on 26 September 2023, which coincides with the her 87th birthday.

 

Table Mountain National Park: Tap water unsafe to drink at several locations in the Cape of Good Hope section! [update]

update (25 September 2023): It seems that SANParks has removed its post regarding the tap water in the Cape of Good Hope Section of Table Mountain National Park in Cape Town from social media. Whatever that means...

South African National Parks (SANParks) has informed the public not to consume tap water at the several sites in the Cape of Good Hope Section of Table Mountain National Park in Cape Town until further notice. This includes the Buffelsfontein Visitor Centre, the Buffels Bay picnic site and the Bordjiesdrif picnic site. This is due to groundwater seeping into the main water supply at these locations which is making the tap water unsafe to drink. According to SANParks, the City of Cape Town and SANParks are trying to resolve the issue. We'll keep you posted!

Western Cape: All beaches in the George area set to reopen!

The George Municipality just announced that all beaches in the George area in the Western Cape, including Gwaing Beach, Victoria Bay, Herold’s Bay, Wilderness, and Leentjiesklip, will be open to the public again starting Friday, 22 September 2023. The beaches were closed due to the high spring tides that hit the coastal areas of George over the past weekend. According to the Municipality, heavy construction vehicles are still moving around the beaches and certain beach infrastructure such as benches and walkways have been removed. Due to the absence of lifeguards and debris in the water, swimming is currently not advisable.