Nature Reserves | Cape Town

Cape Town has always been considered the jewel in the crown of the Western Cape, with the city’s natural beauty, the depth of experiences on offer, and the iconic Table Mountain.

You're spoilt for choice when it comes to nature reserves close to Cape Town.

Jonkershoek Nature Reserve

Majestic mountains provide the perfect hiking trails, just keep an eye out for slithering reptiles – who are among over 1 100 plant species and a variety of small mammals, birds. This reserve also incorporates the smaller Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve.

Koeberg Nature Reserve

The nature reserve, managed by Eskom, incorporates a number of environments (habitats) which include small seasonal wetlands, coastal dune fields, Cape Flats Dune Strandveld, Atlantis Sand Fynbos, an intertidal zone, as well as the Primary Sandveld Aquifer and the Malmesbury Aquifer.

Hiking and biking trails provide the perfect opportunity to spot some of the more than 210 bird species that been identified in the nature reserve, or the wide variety of mammals.

Cape Flats Nature Reserve

The Cape Flats has the world’s highest rate of plant extinction, due in part by urbanisation. The vegetation of this reserve consists of the Cape Flats Dune Strandveld, which is endangered with only 7% in proclaimed reserves, and the Cape Flats Sand Fynbos, which is critically endangered with only 15% remaining.

The Cape Flats Nature Reserve is a private reserve which falls under the administration of the University of the Western Cape, functioning as a base for ecological teaching, environmental education, research, the reserve is also open to the public.

Tygerberg Nature Reserve

Tygerberg nature reserve is home to 562 different plant species, of which 23 are threatened, 8 are endemic to Cape Town, and 3 are endemic to Tygerberg itself. The reserve also features a diverse collection of species: approximately 24 different mammal species, 137 bird species, 22 different reptiles, 7 types of frogs, and numerous butterfly species.

Visit the reserve and take in a 360-degree view of the City.

Hottentot Holland Nature Reserve

Described as “an adventure-lover’s playground” and nestled in the Hottentots Holland Mountains, this reserve offers rocky mountains, bright wildflowers, and still natural pools. You can test your taste for adventure with a Cape Canopy Tour zipline adventure, a challenging hike, or pulse-racing kloofing.

Table Mountain National Park

Stretching from the north of Cape Town, down to the Cape Peninsula, and to Africa’s southwestern extremity, the Cape of Good Hope, this vast national park is deservedly named after one of the Western Cape’s most iconic sights. Table Mountain, thought to be around 300-million years old, looms large over the Mother City.

Table Mountain and Signal Hill, together with Lions Head, offer a number of activities – including a cable way and popular full moon hikes – conveniently located near the city centre. The reserve also includes these popular attractions:

• Cape Point, Cape of Good Hope
• Boulders Penguin Colony
• Silvermine

All nature reserves mentioned are managed by public entities.