Cape Town: Rietvlei Wetland Reserve partially reopened to the public!

The City of Cape Town has announced that the land-based areas of the Rietvlei Wetland Reserve in Cape Town, which forms part of the Table Bay Nature Reserve, are open again to the public for recreational activities such as birdwatching and walking. The land-based areas of the Wetland Reserve were closed by the City of Cape Town on 11 July 2024 after severe flooding affected roads, trails, picnic areas and boardwalks.
The Old Friend's bird hide is open again to the public, while the section of boardwalk leading to the Sunset bird hide and the Sunset bird hide will remain temporarily closed due to significant damage.

Visitors are encouraged to enjoy the reopened areas and explore the following activities:

• Hiking and jogging along the trails
• irdwatching
• Braai and picnic at the Rietvlei shoreline
• Environmental educational programmes – ask the reserve management for more information
• Sail, ski, powerboat, paddle and canoe at Rietvlei and the Milnerton Aquatics Club
• Fishing at selected sites, be mindful that a freshwater fishing permit is required

Daily operating hours:

• From 07:30 to 16:00, all must exit the reserve by 17:00 latest

Water sports operating hours:

• From 10:00 to 16:30, Monday to Friday
• From 07:30 to 16:30 on weekends

Cape Town: Table Bay Nature Reserve Rietvlei section bird hide temporarily closed!

Following the severe rainfall and subsequent flooding on the weekend of 22 – 25 September 2023, the Old Friend’s hide and a section of the boardwalk leading to the hide located in the  Rietvlei section of the Table Bay Nature Reserve in Cape Town have been temporarily closed. According to the City of Cape Town's Spatial Planning and Environment Directorate, the repairs are expected to take a month as there are structural concerns along the boardwalk. The closed off section will only be re-opened once the walkways are deemed safe. The rest of the boardwalk and the Sunset bird hide is open for visitors. Visitors can also consider the following activities:

• Hiking and jogging on the trails
• Birdwatching
• Braai and picnic on Rietvlei's shoreline
• Environmental education programmes on offer (enquire with reserve management)
• Sail, ski, powerboat, paddle and canoe at Rietvlei and Milnerton Aquatics Club
• Fishing at selected sites (freshwater fishing permit required)

Opening hours:

• Daily from 07:30 – 16:00 (exit reserve by 17:00)

Water sports hours:

• Monday to Friday from 10:00 – 16:30
• Weekends from 07:30 – 16:30

Cape Town: Free access to Table Bay Nature Reserve on 18 & 19 March 2017!

The Table Bay Nature Reserve, an 880-hectare nature reserve in Milnerton (Cape Town), is hosting an open weekend from 18 to 19 March 2017. Visitors will have free access to the reserve, which consists of several smaller constituent reserves, including the Rietvlei Wetland Reserve, Diep River Fynbos Corridor, Zoarvlei Wetlands, Milnerton Racecourse Nature Reserve and Milnerton Lagoon, and is home to to about 412 plant species, 31 species of mammal, 196 bird species, 33 reptile species, 9 species of amphibian, and 14 fish species.
The open weekend at the Table Bay Nature Reserve coincides with Milnerton Aquatic Club's 24-hour endurance sailing challenge at the Rietvlei Water Area. Due to the event, visitors to the nature reserve will not be permitted to practise water sports within the recreational water on the 18 and 19 March 2017.

Ein Beitrag geteilt von Martine Viljoen (@martineviljoen) am 9. Mär 2017 um 0:44 Uhr

Due to limited parking, spectators and visitors are encouraged to use public transport or arrive on foot. There are several MyCiTi bus stops along Blaauwberg Road that are about a kilometre from the main entrance.

Cape Town: Travel free with MyCiti on 19 March 2017! >>