The City has added another nature reserve to Cape Town’s protected areas, namely Schapenberg. Located on the western side of the Schapenberg Hills in Somerset West, it offers visitors spectacular views of the False Bay coastline and the Kogelberg, Hottentots Holland and Peninsula Mountains. The City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews, launched the Schapenberg Nature Reserve as part of the directorate’s Heritage Month celebrations intended to showcase our unique natural heritage.
The new reserve is located on the western side of the Schapenberg Hills on land recently acquired by the City. It consists of about 14 hectares of Critically Endangered Swartland Shale Renosterveld, which adjoins a private conservation area. It is also host to many threatened plant species and a great diversity of plants and wildlife, including the Blue-beard Lionface (Nemesia barbata) and Fiery-necked Nightjar (Caprimulgus pectoralis).
While the Schapenberg Nature Reserve is relatively small, it neighbours the 40ha private Boskloof Conservation area. There is also huge potential to link the site to Vergelegen’s Nature Reserve and the Hottentots Hollands Mountains via Morgenster Estate, which also has very important remaining natural areas.
‘I’ve visited Schapenberg earlier today and was blown away by the spectacular views from the hill. Then, to see the spectacular plants and highly threatened and poorly protected Swartland Shale Renosterveld that will now fall under our protection and management, made me extra proud. When we took over the Schapenberg land about two months ago, we immediately started with alien clearing to mitigate the huge fire risk these posed; and we will continue this work. Thus, when we say we care about the conservation of biodiversity and Cape Town’s resilience, we mean it. With Schapenberg, we will not only conserve important intact natural habitat, but also help to future-proof our city against the impacts of climate change.
‘Then, of course, there is the joy and educational opportunities Capetonians will get from visiting Schapenberg. Those living in Somerset West now have a beautiful nature reserve on their stoep! And I encourage residents further afield to make an outing of it, and come visit Schapenberg. I’m also excited to see learners benefiting from educational programmes and involvement at the reserve, and of course there will also be training and job opportunities for the adjacent communities in future,’ said the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews.
- Schapenberg is located along Romulus Street in Somerset West
- The reserve is open 365 days a week, from sunrise to sunset
- Currently, visitors can enjoy walking, hiking, and bird watching
- Future activities include additional trails that are currently being developed
What to see at Schapenberg Nature Reserve
- Critically Endangered Swartland Shale Renosterveld
- Twelve Species of Conservation Concern:
- Autumn Bobbejaantjie (Babiana villosula) Endangered
- Pearl Afrikaner (Gladiolus recurvus) Vulnerable
- Fuzzy Dewfig (Drosanthemum hispifolium) Vulnerable
- Swartland Silverpea (Xiphotheca lanceolata) Vulnerable
- Thickleaf Capespinach (Trachyandra chlamydophylla) Vulnerable
- Spider Storksbill (Pelargonium asarifolium) Vulnerable
- Branching Spoonfig (Erepsia ramosa) Vulnerable
- Satin Bush (Podalyria sericea) Vulnerable
- Strict Bobbejaantjie (Babiana nervosa) Neat Threatened
- Baboon Flower (Babiana angustifolia) Neat Threatened
- Fragrant Bobbejaantjie (Babiana fragrans) Neat Threatened
- Creeping Lotononis (Lotononis prostrata) Neat Threatened
The City’s Environmental Management Department is busy developing the ideal activities that are sustainable and compatible with Schapenberg’s natural environment. This will inform the conservation development framework going forward, as well as environmental education and awareness activities such as Spring guided walks, night walks, outdoor classrooms, and so forth.
Interest groups and the local community are encouraged to get involved by means of botanical surveys and bioblitz activities, and hacking and trail maintenance groups to cultivate a sense of ownership and much- needed capacity at the site.
