Celebrating the Cape Floral Region’s Protected Areas Network
As manager of the Table Mountain Fund, I often get asked, “How do you know if your fund is making a difference?” Some days my answer will be “It’s complex. And nuanced. And we might need decades to know for sure”. And other days my…
TMF’s support of CapeNature’s Biodiversity Stewardship Programme has contributed to the restoration and protection of important biodiversity areas such as the Bontebok Ridge Nature Reserve. A short 15 min drive from Wellington, in the Western Cape’s Winelands district, you will find Bontebok Ridge, a beautiful…
Just outside Riebeek Kasteel, in the Swartland region of the Western Cape’s Winelands district, you will find Elandsberg Nature Reserve, where guests to the luxurious Victorian homestead Bartholomeus Klip can enjoy walking, hiking, mountain biking, canoeing, birdwatching and educational nature drives. This pristine 4000 ha…
Jakkalsfontein Nature Reserve is located just a short drive from Cape Town, along South Africa’s beautiful and dramatic West Coast. Spanning over 1,800 hectares it is home to pristine fynbos, coastal dune vegetation, and wetland ecosystems, making it a haven for a wide variety of…
Situated in the Overberg Region of the Western Cape, the Van Der Stel Cluster lies in the low-lying area between Groenlandberg and the Riviersonderend mountain range, creating the last viable corridor linking these two ranges. Made up of four adjoining protected areas, namely Eagle Rock…
Situated on the Groenberg Mountain outside of Wellington in the Cape Winelands District of the Western Cape, Foxenburg Estate is a wonderful example of a working farm and a Nature Reserve coexisting on the same property. Visitors to the estate can indulge in award-winning handcrafted…
A short 45min drive from Cape Town, up the West Coast’s R27, you will find the spectacular Grotto Bay Private Nature Reserve. The 356 ha reserve was proclaimed in 2002 and forms part of the Cape West Coast Biosphere reserve which was proclaimed by UNESCO…
Nestled amongst the majestic mountains and fertile valleys of the Stellenbosch Winelands, Mooiplaas Wine Estate is well known for its environmentally friendly wines and its long-standing commitment to the conservation of the Cape Floristic Region. In 1995, Mooiplaas established a Private Nature Reserve dedicating 70…
Set in the majestic Bottelary Hills in Stellenbosch, Koopmanskloof is a beautiful and historic wine farm dating back to 1777. While the farm is synonymous with great wines, Koopmanskloof is also well known for its dedication to the conservation and restoration of the Cape Floristic…
In the heart of the Cape Floristic Region, 10 kms from Botrivier, you will find the beautiful Ruwami Private Nature Reserve. Proclaimed in 2000, this 423ha Nature Reserve forms part of the larger Honingklip property, which is owned by Maryke and Robert Middelmann, and managed…
Platbos Conservation Area protects one of the best-kept secrets in the magnificent Slanghoek Valley. Surrounded by the majestic Slanghoek Mountains, the reserve conserves beautiful indigenous forests and fynbos. In 2007, a 74ha portion of Slanghoek Mountain Resort was set aside under a Biodiversity Agreement with…
Situated in the picturesque Elgin Valley, just an hour’s drive from Cape Town, you will find Paul Clüver Family Wines and the De Rust Estate. For over 120 years, The Clüver family has been farming in the Elgin Valley, and has always placed great emphasis…
In the Slanghoek Valley, renowned for its rugged landscapes and picturesque vineyards, you will find the Kanolvlei Conservation Area which forms part of the Opstal Estate. This beautiful property has been under the stewardship of the same family for seven generations. Through long-term, proactive initiatives,…
The Fairview-Diamant Conservation Area spans approximately 39ha and is home to Endangered Boland Granite Fynbos, as well as a small fragment of Critically Endangered Swartland Granite Renosterveld. Sitting adjacent to unfragmented critically endangered vegetation on neighbouring properties and linked to Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve, its…
Nestled in the picturesque Elgin Valley you will find the beautiful Thandi Wine Estate, renowned for being the world’s first wine brand to achieve Fairtrade certification. The farm is owned by the Lebanon Fruit Farm Trust, a remarkable Land Reform project started in 1996 to…
Proclaimed in 1999, the Klein Houwhoek Private Nature Reserve spans 1150.41 hectares and holds considerable connectivity and strategic importance in the local landscape. As the only formally protected link between the Groenlandberg and Houwhoek Nature Reserves, the Reserve plays a critical role in completing the…