Cape Town Nature Reserves, Parks and Botanical Gardens.

Cape Town Nature reserves are more often than not well-managed and is a real pleasure to visit.

Do not expect many animals, but do definitely expect many bird and flower species. More than in most natural areas you are bound to visit in the world.

If you serious about seeing animals and lots of them, visit one of the private nature reserves.

Here is my favorite 10 nature reserves or gardens in Cape Town (In alphabetical order):

  1. Cape Point Nature Reserve
  2. Harold Porter National Botanical Garden
  3. Intaka Island
  4. Jonkershoek Nature Reserve
  5. Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
  6. Lion's Head Walk
  7. Tokai Forest Arboretum
  8. Tygerberg Nature Reserve
  9. University of Stellenbosch Botanical Garden
  10. West Coast National Park

Below is the full list of Nature Reserves and Botanical Gardens.


Public Nature Reserves - Alphabetically


Cape Point Nature Reserve
Take the Flying Dutchmen funicular up to the old lighthouse or sit down for refreshment in the Two Oceans Restaurant.

Flying Dutchmen funicular, Cape Point, Cape Town Nature, Cape Town

Cecilia Forest
Cecilia Forest is the ideal place if you want to take the whole family, including the dog for a walk.

Cecilia Forest, Cape Town Nature, Cape Town

Chapmans Peak drive
Chapmans Peak Drive is one of the most spectacular marine drives in the world.
This 9km route with its 114 curves skirts starts at Hout Bay and ends at Noordhoek.

Chapmans Peak drive, Cape Town Nature, Cape Town

Durbanville Nature Reserve
Durbanville Nature Reserve is home to both the critically endangered Swartland Shale Renosterveld and Cape Flats Sand Fynbos.

Durbanville Nature Reserve, Cape Town Nature, Cape Town

Harold Porter National Botanical Garden
A garden of 10 ha while the remainder is managed as a natural reserve, included the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve.

Harold Porter National Botanical Garden, Cape Town Nature, Cape Town

Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve
The Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve is a 70 000 ha reserve in the Hottentots Holland Mountains approximately 90km from Cape Town.

Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve, Cape Town Nature, Cape Town

Cape Town Nature page.

Intaka Island
Intaka Island is a 16 hectare wetlands and bird sanctuary situated in the centre of Century City.

Intaka Island, Cape Town Nature, Cape Town

Jonkershoek Nature Reserve
Jonkershoek Nature Reserve, which includes Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve, lies near the town of Stellenbosch.

Jonkershoek Nature Reserve, Cape Town Nature, Cape Town

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
Kirstenbosch is the oldest and largest botanical garden in South Africa with 9 000 fynbos species can be viewed here.

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, Cape Town Nature, Cape Town

Koeberg Nature Reserve
The Koeberg Nature Reserve is a private reserve of 3000 ha around the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station.

Koeberg Nature Reserve, Cape Town Nature, Cape Town

Cape Town Nature page.


Kogelberg Nature Reserve
Kogelberg Nature Reserve is often considered the heart of the Cape Floral Kingdom and presents perhaps the finest example of mountain fynbos in the Western Cape.

Kogelberg Nature Reserve, Cape Town Nature, Cape Town

Lion's Head Walk
The Lion's Head walk is a beautiful walk with great views over the Cape Peninsula.

Lion's Head Walk, Cape Town Nature, Cape Town

Rondevlei Nature Reserve
Rondevlei Nature Reserve was established as a bird sanctuary in 1952. There are 237 bird species: from Ducks to Herons, Ibises, Pelicans, Weavers and many more.

Rondevlei Nature Reserve, Cape Town Nature, Cape Town

Rietvlei Nature Reserve
Rietvlei Nature Reserve is a large wetland situated between Milnerton and Table View. This is a birders’ paradise, especially in spring and summer when migrant birds arrive from the northern hemisphere.

Rietvlei Nature Reserve, Cape Town Nature, Cape town

Silvermine Nature Reserve
Silvermine Nature Reserve forms part of the Table Mountain National Park in Cape Town. Attractions within the reserve range from popular and well marked mountain bike trails, to bird watching and hiking.


Silvermine Nature Reserve, Cape Town Nature, Cape town

Tokai Forest Arboretum
The Tokai Forest Arboretum is situated on the slopes of Constantiaberg and allows for more than 150 tree species, including pine, oak, eucalyptus and Californian coast redwoods, to be seen.

Tokai Forest Arboretum, Cape Town Nature, Cape town

Tygerberg Nature Reserve
Tygerberg Nature Reserve is a small reserve boasting 460 different plant species, 50 different mammals and 125 bird species.
It also offers a spectacular view of Cape Town!

Rondevlei Nature Reserve, Cape Town Nature, Cape town

University of Stellenbosch Botanical garden
The US Botanical Garden focusses mainly on miniature plants such as succulents, herbs, dwarf shrubs, bonsai and pot plants.

University of Stellenbosch Botanical garden, Stellenbosch, Cape Town Nature, Cape town

West Coast National Park
The West Coast National Park surrounds the Langebaan Lagoon, a protected wetland, which is home to many migrant waders.

West Coast National Park, Cape Town Nature, Cape Town

Cape Town Nature page.


Private Cape Town Nature Reserves - Alphabetically.


Aquila Private Game Reserve
Aquila Private Game Reserve has gone to great lengths to source and re-introduce wildlife into the Cape region and offers visitors an opportunity to experience a Big 5 safari.

Aquila Private Game Reserve, Cape Town Nature, Cape Town


Bartholomeus Klip
Bartholomeus Klip is a Victorian farmstead on a large wheat and sheep farm with its own 10 000 acre private nature reserve.

Bartholomeus Klip, Cape Town Nature, Cape Town


Buffelsfontein
Buffelsfontein Game & Nature Reserve is a private game reserve situated on the R27 in the heart of the Cape West Coast.

Buffelsfontein, Cape Town Nature, Cape Town

Clara Anna Fontein
Clara Anna Fontein is a private game reserve and country lodge situated on the .

Clara Anna Fontein, Cape Town Nature, Cape Town

Kagga Kamma Private Game Reserve
Kagga Kamma is situated in the peaceful southern Cederberg Mountains. The location of the lodge was once home to the Bushmen and today many of their ancient cave paintings are still clearly visible on the rocks.

Kagga Kamma, Cape Town Nature, Cape Town

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