The Western Cape has many diverse nature reserves and game parks, some are specifically for the preservation of the huge diversity of flora and some are home to the big 5. South African wildlife organisations are committed to preserving the natural diversity that the country has been blessed with. These organisations are improving access to these areas for local communities to build a greater conservation consciousness in the country. Eco-tourism is significant in the Western Cape.
Many reserves are close to Cape Town and these make great day drives. The reserves with their forests, mountains, and beaches boast spectacular scenery plus a wonderful diversity of plant and animal life. There are also spectacular places close to other centres in the Western Cape such as the Nature reserves on the West Coast and Nature reserves along the Garden Route.
Self-drive safari or guided tour?
Members of the public can do a self-drive safari in their own car or a hire vehicle. There are many options for Game drives in the Western Cape where you can sit back and enjoy the scenery while a knowledgeable guide or ranger will share information about what you see. The diverse variety of biospheres from the Boland to the Garden Route include forests, beaches, mountains and deserts, many with great amenities such as picnic spots, natural swimming pools, and waterfalls. There are also great hiking and mountain biking trails in the nature reserves.Â
FaunaÂ
There are many nature reserves in the Western Cape Some are quite close to Cape Town. There are reserves where visitors can see the Big 5. Buffalo, Elephants, Leopards, Rhinos and Lions. The advantage of visiting a game farm in the Western Cape is that the area is malaria-free unlike reserves further north.
The Cape is home to so many species of animals and birds. The representatives of reptiles and amphibians are particularly varied. The rare Geometric Tortoise (Psammobates geometricus), Â is one of the most threatened tortoises in the world, as it has lost 97 per cent of its habitat to agricultural expansion. Many unique frog species can also be found in the Western Cape. The Ghost frog can be found only in the Table Mountain National Park.
Flora
The Cape Floral Region is a biodiversity hotspot that consists of 13 protected areas that are in the Eastern and Western Cape. From Boulders Beach to Table Mountain National Park including Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. This garden at the foot of the mountain has the biggest concentration of plant species in the world. The South American Rainforest which is its nearest rival has roughly one-third of the number of species. About 70% of the 9600 species found in the Western Cape grow nowhere else on the planet. The West Coast has several reserves where wildflowers are preserved and wildflower trails are popular.
Accommodation
A lot of the Nature reserves in the Western Cape also offer accommodation from boutique hotels to self-catering to camping. See Colourdots listings for some ideas.
Find a safari adventure here. Choose a region and select the type of experience you are looking for from the list of reserves. Filter the list further using the tags, whereby you can find hiking and biking trails. Plus Fishing and birdwatching opportunities. Some of the reserves have wonderful examples of ancient rock art and some have more recent historical significance.