Western Cape: CapeNature has announced the dates for the annual "CapeNature Access Week"!

CapeNature, the public institution with the responsibility for biodiversity conservation in South Africa's Western Cape, has announced the dates for the annual "CapeNature Access Week". Entrance will be waived for visitors to selected CapeNature reserves between 20 - 27 September 2022. Free access will pertain to general access (conservation fee) and hiking and mountain biking. The waiver will not apply to the Whale Trail, partners or concessions (including canopy tours, bouldering, horse riding etc.). To ensure that all access numbers and activity numbers are recorded, zero rated permission will need to be given to everyone accessing CapeNature reserves during the "CapeNature Access Week". No pre-bookings will be required. The daily reserve maximum capacity availability will apply to visitor walk-ins. Access to protected areas during the "CapeNature Access Week" will be conducted during regular reserve hours and will apply to entries at CapeNature reserve gates.

The following nature reserves are participating in the "CapeNature Access Week 2022":

• West Coast
• Groot Winterhoek
• Cederberg (Algeria + Kliphuis)
• Matjiesrivier
• Rocherpan
• Winelands
• Limietberg
• Jonkershoek
• Assegaaibosch
• Hottentots Holland
• Vrolijkheid
• Overberg
• Kogelberg
• De Mond
• De Hoop
• Marloth
• Grootvadersbosch
• Walker Bay
• Stony Point
• Garden Route
• Robberg
• Keurbooms River
• Goukamma
• Klein Karoo
• Gamkaberg
• Swartberg
• Anysberg

Western Cape: CapeNature has announced the dates for the annual "Free Access Week"!

CapeNature, the public institution with the responsibility for biodiversity conservation in South Africa's Western Cape, has announced the dates for the annual "Free Access Week". Entrance will be waived for visitors to selected Nature Reserves from 13 September 2021 to 20 September 2021. Visitors will enjoy free day entry (excluding overnight stays) at Nature Reserves in the Western Cape ranging from the West Coast to the Winelands, Overberg, Garden Route and the Klein Karoo, as part of the annual promotion.

The following CapeNature Nature Reserves are participating in the "Free Access Week" 2021:

• WEST COAST: Groot Winterhoek, Bird Island, Cederberg, Matjiesrivier, Rocherpan.
• WINELANDS: Limietberg, Hottentots Holland, Assegaaibosch (picnic only).
• OVERBERG: Kogelberg, De Mond, De Hoop, Marloth, Grootvadersbosch, Walker Bay.
• GARDEN ROUTE: Robberg, Keurbooms River, Goukamma, Geelkrans.
• KAROO: Swartberg, Gamkaberg, Anysberg.

Free access will not apply when booking through CapeNature's call centre or when making an online booking. This offer excludes accommodation bookings (normal rates and access fees apply with any accommodation booking). Free access will pertain to general access (conservation fee) and hiking, mountain biking and other day activities allowed. The waiver will not apply to the Whale Trail, select landowners, partners, or concessions (including canopy tours, bouldering, horse riding etc.). Zero-rated permits will be given to everyone accessing CapeNature Nature Reserves during this time, as per the usual standard procedure to ensure that all access numbers and activity numbers are recorded.

Eastern Cape Tourism has announced the dates of the annual "FREE access" week! [update]

update (19 October 2020): Eastern Cape Tourism has released a list of Provincial Nature Reserves taking part in the  "FREE access" initiative. The following Reserves will offer free access:

• Commando Drift Provincial Nature Reserve
• East London Coast Provincial Nature Reserve
• Mpofu - Fort Fordyce Provincial Nature Reserve
• Mkhambathi Provincial Nature Reserve
• Oviston Provincial Nature Reserve
• Thomas Baines Provincial Nature Reserve
• Waters Meeting Provincial Nature Reserve
• Dwesa Provincial Nature Reserve
• Great Fish River Provincial Nature Reserve
• Hluleka Provincial Nature Reserve
• Ongeluksnek Provincial Nature Reserve
• Silaka Provincial Nature Reserve
• Tsolwana Provincial Nature Reserve
  

Eastern Cape Tourism announced on Facebook and Twitter that all 16 provincial Nature Reserves in the Eastern Cape managed by the Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency (ECPTA) are offering free access for one week (Monday to Sunday) at the end of October 2020. The "FREE access" initiative starts on 26 October 2020 and ends on 01 November 2020.

Experience the natural wonders of our provincial nature reserves with FREE access from 26 October to 1 November 2020 #ECYours2Explore pic.twitter.com/2ArcHf8fq5

— Eastern Cape Tourism (@EC_Tourism) October 7, 2020

To get to know the provincial Nature Reserves in the Eastern Cape, Eastern Cape Tourism has released the new Provincial Nature Reserve Visitor Guide. Click here (pdf) to download the Visitor Guide.

Western Cape: CapeNature has announced the dates for the annual "Free Access Week"!

CapeNature, the public institution with the responsibility for biodiversity conservation in South Africa's Western Cape, has announced the dates for the annual "Free Access Week". Entrance will be waived for visitors to selected Nature Reserves from 16 September 2020 until 22 September 2020. Pre-bookings will not be required. The free access fee will pertain to general access (conservation fee) and hiking and mountain biking. The waiver will not (!) apply to the Whale Trail or concessions (including canopy tours, bouldering, horse riding etc). Zero (R0) rated permits need to be given to everyone accessing the Nature Reserves during the "Free Access Week", as per usual standard procedure to ensure that all access numbers and activity numbers are recorded. Access to protected areas will be conducted during regular reserve hours and applies to entries at CapeNature reserve gates. 

South Africa: Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) has reopened selected nature reserves in Mpumalanga!

In line with South Africa's alert level three regulations, the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) has with effect from 23 June 2020 opened selected nature reserves in Mpumalanga to the public for self-drives, hiking, fishing and hunting activities. The MTPA introduced strict health protocols to safeguard both our staff and guests and encourages those intending to visit the nature reserves to make the necessary bookings prior through MTPA's central reservations office. The braai facilities, picnic sites, swimming pools and camping sites in the reopened nature reserves remain closed for the public. Social distancing should be observed at all times and no groups will be permitted.

The following nature reserves in Mpumalanga have been opened to the public with the following activities being offered:

• Loskop Dam Nature Reserve - self drive
• Barberton Nature Reserve - self drive
• Songimvelo Nature Reserve - self drive, hunting and fishing
• Manyeleti Nature Reserve - self drive
• Blyde River Canyon - self guided walk and hiking trails
  (Belvedere day walk hiking trail available from 07:00 - 12:00)
• Ohrigstad Dam Nature Reserve - fishing and hunting
• Andover Nature Reserve - hunting

South Africa: KwaZulu-Natal gets 26 more legally recognised Nature Reserves!

KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa gets 26 more Nature Reserves. The Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) World Wildlife Fund of South Africa (WWF South Africa) and Conservation Outcomes as well as legal firm Ndlovu de Villiers Attorneys together cleared the path for these areas in KwaZulu-Natal to be legally recognised as Nature Reserves. All 26 areas are important for biodiversity and consist of a mixture of communal, private and state-owned land. They are all now receiving South Africa's unique biodiversity tax incentive, section 37D of the Income Tax Act, to support their conservation efforts through Wilderness Foundation Africa's Environmental Tax Services.
Although the 26 reserves were originally gazetted, legal omissions in the title deed endorsement process meant that none had been properly registered at the National Deeds Office. As a resulst, they were unable to access the biodiversity tax break. The omissions also meant that these properties were not secured in perpetuity, as is required for nature reserve declarations in South Africa. All the reserves have now been provided with the correct legal paperwork needed for their title deed endorsements.
As of 03 Jun 2020, 18 nature reserves have completed and finalised the declaration process. This amounts to some 21 600 ha and includes the popular Karkloof Nature Reserve near Howick, unique Red Desert Nature Reserve near Port Edward (billed as the world’s smallest desert), and the Ncandu Private Forest and Grassland Reserve near Newcastle – with another 50 000 ha pending finalisation.

Western Cape: CapeNature's "Free Access Week" is back in September 2019!

CapeNature, the public institution with the responsibility for biodiversity conservation in South Africa's Western Cape, offers free access to all CapeNature reserves open to the public from 23 - 29 September 2019. Free day access will only apply at reserve gates and will pertain to general access (conservation fee) and hiking, mountain biking and picnicking. The waiver will not (!) apply to the Whale Trail or concessions (including canopy tours, bouldering, horse riding etc). 

Zero (R0) rated permits need to be given to everyone accessing the reserve during this time, as per usual standard procedure to ensure that all access numbers and activity numbers are recorded. Access to protected areas during the CapeNature Access Week will be conducted during regular reserve hours and applies to entries at CapeNature reserve gates. No free access fee will apply when booking through the call centre/online bookings and excludes accommodation bookings (normal rates and access fees apply with any accommodation booking).

Western Cape: Free access to CapeNature's reserves in September 2018!

CapeNature, a public institution with the responsibility for biodiversity conservation in South Africa's Western Cape, offers free access to all CapeNature Reserves open to the public from 17 - 24 September 2018. The free access fee will pertain to general access (conservation fee) and hiking, mountain biking and picnicking. The waiver will not apply to the Whale Trail or concessions (including canopy tours, bouldering, horse riding etc). Normal rates and access fees apply for any accommodation booked online or through CapeNature's call centre. 

Zero (R0) rated permits needs to be given to everyone accessing the reserve during this time, as per usual standard procedure to ensure that all access numbers and activity numbers are counted. Access to Protected Areas during the CapeNature Access Week will be conducted during regular reserve hours and applies to entries at CapeNature reserve gates.

Google Street View: Take a walk in all of South Africa's national parks!

Google has extended the existing Street View imagery of South Africa’s wilderness areas to include all 19 national parks, 17 previously "un-trekked" nature reserves and many sites of natural, cultural and historical significance in all nine provinces of South Africa. A year in the making, the project aimed to create 360° imagery of the country's wildest areas and comprised 206 South African volunteers. Google's ground partner, Drive South Africa, coordinated the collection of all imagery and volunteers. Kudos. Big time!



 

Fast facts:

• 170 new trails
• 900km trekked on foot
• 50,000km travelled over the 12-month project duration
• 232 points of interest recorded
• 206 South African volunteers
• 9 Provinces of South Africa
• All 19 National Parks, 17 nature reserves and many other tourist attractions
• Lion, cheetah, elephant and other wildlife encountered on foot (guided by rangers)
• 6 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
• First time Google has partnered with a third-party in South Africa via the Street View Camera Loan Program

Western Cape: Free access to CapeNature's reserves in September 2017!

Cape Nature, a public institution with the responsibility for biodiversity conservation in South Africa's Western Cape, is providing free access to all of their reserves open to the public to day visitors between 18 - 25 September 2017. The waiver of the access fee will pertain to general access (the conservation fee), day hiking (included in conservation fee) and other activities, including white river rafting (with your own canoe), mountain biking (with your own bike) or picnicking. Normal rates will apply for accommodation and camping, horse riding at Anysberg Nature Reserve, multi-day hiking, as well as concessions that are run by outside suppliers on Cape Nature's reserves.

Day visitors will have free access to the following Cape Nature reserves:

• Matjiesrivier Nature Reserve
• Stony Point Nature Reserve
• Robberg Nature Reserve
• Keurbooms River Nature Reserve
• Goukamma Nature Reserve
• Outeniqua Nature Reserve
• Gamkaberg Nature Reserve
• Swartberg Nature Reserve
• Anysberg Nature Reserve
• Boosmansbos Wilderness Area
• Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve
• De Hoop Nature Reserve
• De Mond Nature Reserve
• Walker Bay Nature Reserve
• Kogelberg Nature Reserve
• Marloth Nature Reserve
• Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve
• Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve
• Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve
• Jonkershoek Nature Reserve
• Limietberg Nature Reserve
• Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area
• Rocherpan Nature Reserve
• Lambert’s Bay Bird Island Nature Reserve 
• Cederberg Wilderness Area