City challenges Capetonians to explore nature
The City is challenging all Capetonians to explore Cape Town’s natural beauty between 30 April and 3 May 2021. Cape Town is competing with various international cities in the 2021 City Nature Challenge. The aim is to record the most observations of local plant and animal species around Cape Town and Capetonians are urged to get involved and download the free iNaturalist app and take pics of all the wild plants and animals you find.
Participants who make the most observations or capture the most species stand to win various prizes including accommodation from CapeNature and SANParks.
Various nature reserves and conservation areas across the city will be hosting a range of guided tours and will provide free access to anyone participating.
The Mother City stands a good chance of occupying the top spot on the international biodiversity map for the second time after winning two categories in the 2019 City Nature Challenge with the most recorded observations and most recorded species.
‘As Capetonians, we know that we live in a magnificent city, and now it’s time to prove that Cape Town is one of the most biodiverse cities on the planet. This is the perfect opportunity to gather the family for some time outdoors, while exploring natural spaces in the city which many residents might not have had the opportunity to enjoy before. We need as many observers as possible to record our plant and animal life over those four days, thus, the organisers of the City Nature Challenge have arranged various free nature reserve guided walks for all those taking part in the challenge,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Marian Nieuwoudt.
The City Nature Challenge is about finding all the wildlife in a city, be it the starlings on rooftops and along the road, or wildflowers growing in the local park, all submissions are needed. Take a photo and upload it to the iNaturalist app. Experts will then help identify the fauna or flora captured.
Click here to join the project and to find out more about the 2021 City Nature Challenge.
- City of Cape Town reserves will be open to the public free of charge on the four days.
- Kirstenbosch Natural Botanical Gardens will be open free of charge to people who have the iNaturalist app loaded and active over the four days
- Cape Point will be open free of charge to registered participants of City Nature Challenge events in the reserve
Visit the iNaturalist website for more information on walks.
30 April 2021
- Driftsands Nature Reserve
- Ganzekraal Conservation Area
- Penhill Conservation area, Penhill Estate
- Silvermine Dam
- Table Bay Nature Reserve
- Kenilworth Racecourse
- Burghers Walk Entrance
1 May 2021
- Rondebosch East Conservation Area
- Bordjiesrif, Cape of Good Hope
- Table Bay Nature Reserve
- Cape Point – Shipwreck Trail Circuit
- Lower Tokai Park
- Dassenberg hills
2 May 2021
- Die Oog Conservation Area, Bergvliet
- Table Bay Nature Reserve
- Kenilworth Racecourse
3 May 2021
- Witzands Aquifer Nature Reserve
- Majik Forest Conservation Area
- Odendaal Conservation Area
- Cape Point, Buffelsfontein
Download the iNaturalist.com app via their app store.
Click here to join the project and to find out more about this great challenge.
- Any plant, animal, fungi, slime, mould or any other evidence of life (scat, fur, tracks, shells or carcasses) found in Cape Town may be recorded along with the location of each finding
- Schools, universities and social groups are encouraged to use this as an opportunity to facilitate, manage and support student outdoor learning and exploration in schoolyards, nearby parks or other green spaces.
- For more information, please contact Eleanor Hutchings at Eleanor.Hutchings@capetown.gov.za or Tony Rebelo at t.rebelo@sanbi.org.za.
Source: City of Cape Town, Media Office
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