Western Cape: Picnic site & hiking trails in the Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve reopen!

CapeNature, the public institution with the responsibility for biodiversity conservation in South Africa's Western Cape, has announced that the picnic area in the Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve is set to reopen on 28 September 2024 following an upgrade. The two hiking routes in the Nature Reserve, which were closed to the public for necessary trail maintenance, are also reopening.

The Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve is located in the Jonkershoek Nature Reserve. It is about 9km from the town of Stellenbosch in the Western Cape and 204 hectares in size. The reserve lies next to the Eerste River, which forms the northern boundary and extends up the north-eastern slope of Stellenbosch Mountain, which forms the southern boundary. Along with Jonkershoek Nature Reserve, the Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve is a World Heritage Site.

Western Cape: CapeNature has closed some areas within its Nature Reserves due to the current adverse weather conditions!

CapeNature, the public institution with the responsibility for biodiversity conservation in South Africa's Western Cape, has informed the public that the current adverse weather conditions in the province have affected operations at some of its Nature Reserves such as Jonkershoek Nature Reserve, Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve, Gamkaberg Nature Reserve, Limietberg Nature Reserve and the Cederberg Wilderness Area. These adverse weather conditions are expected to continue for the next few days, so that CapeNature took the decision to close certain areas within the Nature Reserve mentioned above as these are compromised due to the heavy rainfall. We'll keep you posted!

Western Cape: Jonkershoek Nature Reserve & Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve are currently closed to the public! [update]

update (08 July 2021): All hiking at Jonkershoek Nature Reserve and the Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve including picnic spots are closed and will open on 6 November 2021

CapeNature, the public institution with the responsibility for biodiversity conservation in South Africa's Western Cape, has announced on its website that the Jonkershoek Nature Reserve and the Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve are currently closed to the public to allow recovery time after the recent devastating fires in the area. According to CapeNature, Jonkershoek Nature Reserve will be closed until further notice while Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve will be closed until the end of June 2021.
The Jonkershoek Nature Reserve, which includes the smaller Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve, is located about about 9km from Stellenbosch in the south-western part of the Western Cape.

Western Cape: Jonkershoek Nature Reserve & Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve closed until further notice!

CapeNature, the public institution with the statutory responsibility for biodiversity conservation in South Africa's Western Cape, announced on their website that the Jonkershoek Nature Reserve and the Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve have been closed again to visitors until further notice due to protests and violence in the Jonkershoek Valley area.
The Jonkershoek Nature Reserve, which includes the smaller Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve, is located about about 9km from Stellenbosch in the south-western part of the Western Cape. 

Western Cape: Jonkershoek Nature Reserve temporarily closed again!

CapeNature, the public institution with the statutory responsibility for biodiversity conservation in South Africa's Western Cape, announced on its website that the Jonkershoek Nature Reserve has been closed again to visitors until further notice. The Nature Reserve was closed to the public several times in the last couple of month due to protests and violence in the Jonkershoek Valley area.
The Jonkershoek Nature Reserve, which includes the smaller Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve, is located about about 9km from Stellenbosch in the south-western part of the Western Cape.

Western Cape: Jonkershoek Nature Reserve & Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve are again temporarily closed!

CapeNature, the public institution with the statutory responsibility for biodiversity conservation in South Africa's Western Cape, announced on their website that the Jonkershoek Nature Reserve and the Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve have been closed agaon to visitors until further notice due to protests and violence in the Jonkershoek Valley area.
The Jonkershoek Nature Reserve, which includes the smaller Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve, is located about about 9km from Stellenbosch in the south-western part of the Western Cape. 

Western Cape: Jonkershoek Nature Reserve & Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve are temporarily closed!

CapeNature, the public institution with the statutory responsibility for biodiversity conservation in South Africa's Western Cape, announced on their website that the Jonkershoek Nature Reserve and the Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve are currently closed to visitors until further notice due to recent protests and violence in the Jonkershoek Valley. The Jonkershoek Nature Reserve, which includes the smaller Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve, is located about about 9km from Stellenbosch in the south-western part of the Western Cape.

Western Cape: CapeNature closed two Nature Reserves due to ongoing fires!

The Western Cape in South Africa is currently in the middle of the annual fire season. Due to ongoing fires in the area (see map below), CapeNature, the public institution responsible for biodiversity conservation in the province, decided to close both the Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve and the Jonkershoek Nature Reserve to the public until further notice. We'll keep you posted!



The Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve lies in the majestic Hottentots Holland Mountains, about 90km south-east of Cape Town. The 70 000-hectare reserve stretches from Elgin in the south to beyond Villiersdorp in the north, and from the Stellenbosch Mountains in the west, eastwards to the Groenland Mountains, and is a World Heritage Site.

The Jonkershoek Nature Reserve is home to the majestic Jonkershoek Mountains and parts of the Jonkershoek valley. The reserve, which includes the smaller Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve, lies near the town of Stellenbosch in the south-western Cape. Visitors may choose to explore one or both reserves, as they are in easy reach of each other. The reserves are about 9km from Stellenbosch, on the Jonkershoek valley road.