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Protected Area Blaauwberg Nature Reserve

ID: w188867 View large map

Located in South Africa :: Western Cape (Cape Metro)  :: Bloubergstrand
Category: Protected Areas :: Protected Area

Booking

The Blaauwberg Nature Reserve is located approximately 25 km from Cape Town. It boasts of the most intact and diverse lowland vegetation habitats in Cape Town, marking the beginning of the West Coast flora.

Two proclaimed heritage sites can be viewed from here, namely Table Mountain and Robben Island.

Need a permit to do activities set out by the nature reserve.

There are three vegetation types that are protected by the Blaauwberg Conservation Area such as the endangered Cape Flats Dune Strandveld, critically Endangered Swartland Shale Renosterveld and the critically endangered Cape Flats Sand Fynbos. Its biodiversity embraces 558 species of plants, 42 types of mammals including the whale, dolphin and seals, 140 species of birds, 28 reptile species and 5 amphibians.

This reserve is the only one you can still find White-tailed Mouse, the Aardvark and a bird known as Layard's Titbabbler. It will eventually conserve 2000 hectares and be stocked with larger animals such as Eland and Red Hartebeest.

Human evidence is evident in this reserve with shell middens 15 000 years old. In this reserve the site where the British took possession of the Cape from the Dutch a second time in 1806 called the Battle of Blaauwberg. On the Blaauwberg Hill there was seven building constructed during the Second World War, they include a radar station, a lookout and a mess room.

Since it has been made a reserve, conservation has progressed rapidly and restored. Some of the activities such as 4x4 vehicles driving on the beach, was stopped, which gave the vegetation a chance to recover and welcoming back the Black Oystercatchers. The 4x4 vehicles not just endangered the vegetation and Black Oystercatchers but also destroyed the shell middens. Cape Gerbils population exploded when the alien vegetation was removed but management is limiting the population now.

Barn Owls are encouraged to come by placing Barn Owl nesting boxes in the reserve, because they eat the Gerbils. They are carefully monitored to make sure they don't eat the endangered White-tailed Mice.

Contact
Address :  Eerste Steen Resort, Otto du Plessis Drive (M14), north of Bloubergstrand
Tel :  +27(0)21 444 0454
Tel2 :  +27(0)21 444 7321
Email :  Click Here
Website :  Click Here

Opening Times : 

7 days a week: Coastal section: Sunrise to sunset, Eerste Steen Resort picnic site: 08:00-19:00 (Nov-Apr), 08:00-17:00 (May-Oct)

Rates and Payment
Fee/s :  Vehicles R28.00, Adults (18+) R20.00. Children (aged 3-17), students and senior citizens R15.00 (proof required). Children under 3: free. Learner/student: R7.00. 'Friend' of this reserve: free

Facilities
Other Facilities :  Braai areas

Activities
Hiking Trails Fishing Swimming
Picnics, Surfing
More Activities :  Historic buildings.
Notes on Activities :  For fishing you need to be in possession of a valid permit. (Some activities may be offered nearby).

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