The City of Cape Town will be allowing free access to all its nature reserves this Heritage Day, 24 September 2025.
This one-day offer applies to selected reserves that usually charge an entrance fee, giving families and nature lovers the chance to experience the city’s natural beauty at no cost.
Visitors can take advantage of scenic walking and hiking trails, picnic spots, and even designated braai facilities.
A day to celebrate natural heritage
Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews, encouraged residents to use the public holiday to explore Cape Town’s natural spaces.
“It’s Heritage Month and we want to showcase our natural heritage in Cape Town. We are so privileged to be surrounded by pristine natural beauty. This Heritage Day, we encourage residents to explore their local nature reserve or venture further to discover one they’ve never visited before—whether for a hike before the braai or a peaceful family picnic,” Alderman Andrews said.
He highlighted two popular destinations, Blaauwberg Nature Reserve, home to the Eerste Steen braai facility, one of the city’s best beach braai spots, as well as False Bay Nature Reserve, with its Zeekoevlei braai facilities overlooking the water.
Free entry nature reserves
Free access on Heritage Day applies to the following reserves:
- Table Bay Nature Reserve
- Blaauwberg Nature Reserve
- Tygerberg Nature Reserve
- Helderberg Nature Reserve
While entry is free at these reserves, regular charges for certain permitted recreational activities still apply.
Beyond the reserves with waived entry fees, Cape Town also manages the following sites, all open for residents to visit:
- Bothasig Fynbos Nature Reserve
- Botterblom Nature Reserve
- Bracken Nature Reserve
- Durbanville Nature Reserve
- Edith Stephens Nature Reserve
- False Bay Nature Reserve
- Harmony Flats Nature Reserve
- Steenbras Nature Reserve
- Uitkamp Wetland Nature Reserve
- Witzands Aquifer Nature Reserve
- Wolfgat Nature Reserve
- Zandvlei Nature Reserve
