Travellers visiting the Western Cape from 19 to 25 September 2026 can take advantage of CapeNature's 12th annual Access Week, with free day entry offered at 23 participating nature reserves across the province.
The initiative is a good opportunity to explore some of the Western Cape's best hiking, fynbos, coastal and wildlife destinations without paying the usual conservation entrance fee. Participating reserves range from Jonkershoek and Kogelberg near Cape Town to De Hoop, Robberg, Swartberg and Anysberg further afield.
Which reserves are participating?
The 23 reserves taking part are:
West Coast: Groot Winterhoek, Bird Island and Rocherpan
Central: Kogelberg, Hottentots Holland, Jonkershoek, Assegaaibosch, Limietberg and Stony Point
South: Walker Bay, De Mond, De Hoop, Marloth, Grootvadersbosch, Geelkrans and Vrolijkheid
Garden Route: Robberg, Keurbooms River, Goukamma and Outeniqua
Karoo: Swartberg, Gamkaberg and Anysberg
For visitors planning a spring road trip, the Access Week could be a particularly good reason to add a reserve that might otherwise have been skipped. Popular options include the hiking trails of Jonkershoek and Groot Winterhoek, the coastline at Robberg and De Hoop, and the Cape mountain scenery of Kogelberg and Swartberg.
What travellers need to know before visiting
There are a few important conditions attached to the free entry offer:
- Walk-in visitors only: Simply arrive at the reserve during normal operating hours. No booking is required.
- Do not book if you want free entry: Visitors making reservations through the CapeNature Contact Centre or online booking system will be charged the normal entrance fee.
- Capacity limits apply: Entry is not guaranteed once a reserve reaches its visitor capacity. Arriving early is advisable, especially at popular reserves.
- General day entry only: The offer includes access for activities such as hiking and mountain biking where these are normally permitted, but excludes activities such as the Whale Trail, certain partner or concession areas and commercial activities.
- Check access before travelling: Temporary closures or restrictions may affect parts of individual reserves.
CapeNature's 2026 theme, "Nature is for Everyone," makes this one of the Western Cape's useful annual opportunities for budget-conscious travellers to experience the province's protected landscapes for free. If you're in the region during the week, it may be worth planning your itinerary around one or two of the participating reserves — particularly those you have not yet visited.
CapeNature Access Week runs from 19 to 25 September 2026.
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