Event information
Proclaimed a local and provincial nature reserve in 2007, the reserve has a spectacular view down fynbos slopes, across the city, to 7 km of rocky, sandy coastline and the ocean. It is one of the few viewpoints in the world from where you can see two World Heritage Sites; Table Mountain and Robben Island. The reserve conserves three threatened vegetation types; Cape Flats dune strandveld, Swartland shale renosterveld, and Cape Flats sand fynbos.
This biodiversity embraces a wetland, 624 plant species, 40 mammals, including whales, dolphins and seals, 166 bird species, 30 reptiles and four amphibians. It is the only City nature reserve where you can still find the white-tailed mouse, the ant bear or aardvark and a bird known as Layard’s titbabbler. Evidence of early human occupation has also been found in this area.
The reserve also conserves the site of the 1806 Battle of Blaauwberg, when the British took possession of the Cape from the Dutch for the second time. During World War II several buildings were constructed on Blaauwberg Hill that can still be visited today. These include a radar station, a lookout and a mess room. A new accommodation facility has been built nearby.
