Over 81,000 Hectares Protected With 24 Newly-Declared Nature Reserves in Western Cape!

Photo Credit: Lettas Kraal

To put 81,000 hectares in perspective…that’s roughly 114,000 soccer fields of precious biodiversity now under formal protection!

Cape Town, South Africa (24 March 2026) – Between April 2025 and March 2026, CapeNature and the Western Cape Government formally declared 24 new nature reserves across the province, adding over 81,715 hectares to South Africa’s protected area network in one single year!

That’s the equivalent of more than 114,000 soccer fields of fynbos, renosterveld, mountain and karoo landscapes that now have formal, legal protection.

Two of the reserves, Anysberg and Knersvlakte, are CapeNature-managed expansions. The rest are privately owned, brought into the protected area network through CapeNature’s Biodiversity Stewardship Programme, which allows landowners to voluntarily declare their properties as nature reserves.

The Cape Floristic Region is one of the most beautifully diverse places on Earth. In fact, it’s one of only 36 recognised global biodiversity hotspots. Our Cape Floral Kingdom is home to thousands of plant species that can’t be found anywhere else on Earth! Sadly, many of them under pressure from habitat loss, invasive species and climate change.

Formal protection doesn’t solve those problems directly but it gives the land a chance to fight back.

“These hotspots are regions that have high levels of biodiversity, but that are also the most threatened reservoirs of plant and animal life on earth. Healthy and resilient ecosystems are essential to sustain livelihoods and economic growth and must be actively protected, managed, and restored.” said Anton Bredell, Western Cape Provincial Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning.

The new reserves cover a wide spread of the Western Cape from the Cederberg and Agulhas Plain to the Garden Route and Little Karoo. They range in size from just under 11 hectares to more than 34,000 hectares.

The expanded Knersvlakte Nature Reserve alone accounts for over 34,000 hectares of succulent karoo, one of the most botanically rich arid regions on the planet!

The 24 declarations made over the past year also contribute to South Africa’s commitments under the ongoing global initiative that aims to formally protect 30% of the planet’s land and oceans by 2030. Every hectare declared here counts toward that!

“Our ability to declare these additional reserves is made possible through partner organisations and landowners, working with CapeNature.” adds Bredell.

South Africa is delivering conservation wins that the world really needs. And more importantly, ordinary South Africans have become a big part of that difference.

Most of these new reserves are privately owned. Which means that individual landowners like farmers, families, and property owners made the choice to voluntarily commit their land to conservation through CapeNature’s Biodiversity Stewardship Programme. That comes with a long-term commitment and responsibility to manage protected land.

“Their commitment ensures that important natural areas receive formal protection, and together we are taking steps toward securing a healthier, more resilient environment for decades to come.” said Dr Ashley Naidoo, CEO of CapeNature

Every landowner who steps up to protect their land makes a real difference for conservation.

The 24 Newly Declared Nature Reserves

Anysberg Nature Reserve (expansion) — 6 918.3081 ha
Bloutoring Nature Reserve — 4 610.8996 ha
Buffalo Valley Nature Reserve — 318.3445 ha
Cedar Rock Nature Reserve — 9 872.7000 ha
Cederberg Oasis Nature Reserve — 226.664 ha
Diosma Nature Reserve — 10.7664 ha
Doringkloof Karoo Plaas Nature Reserve — 209.2027 ha
Franco Three Fountains — 21.4250 ha
Fynbosstrand Nature Reserve — 425.6964 ha
Gecko Rock Private Nature Reserve — 3 658.0296 ha
Haarwegskloof — 547.7954 ha
Kleiheuwel Nature Reserve — 2 724.5000 ha
Knersvlakte Nature Reserve (expansion) — 34 084.3925 ha
Koopmanskloof Nature Reserve — 65.5074 ha
Lettas Kraal Nature Reserve — 6 922.6114 ha
Machaseh Nature Reserve — 844.8371 ha
Mount David Nature Reserve — 713.0000 ha
Pietersrivier Nature Reserve — 1 151.2790 ha
Puntjie Nature Reserve — 102,1145 ha
Silflay Renosterveld Nature Reserve — 1 280.6129 ha
Voorstekop Nature Reserve — 347.9000 ha
Waterkloof Nature Reserve — 2 062.9245 ha
Wilderness — 643.6419 ha
Zebraskop Nature Reserve — 3 952.2036 ha

Keen to visit? Public access will be determined in line with each reserve’s land-use and conservation requirements. For the privately managed ones, the public is advised to contact the reserve directly.

The Biodiversity Stewardship Programme is open to landowners across the Western Cape. If you own land with conservation value, you can apply to have it formally declared as a Protected Area and nature reserve, joining the growing network of privately protected land in the province.

Want to make a difference? Reach out to CapeNature’s Stewardship Team here to begin the process of formally protecting your land.