About Princess Vlei
Princess Vlei is a wetland on the Cape Flats with a mythical history, which has long been treasured for its beauty and tranquillity. In 2014, a five-year community campaign successfully prevented the development of a shopping mall on its banks. The Princess Vlei Forum is now working with the community and the City of Cape Town to restore the biodiversity and transform the 110 ha into a world-class heritage site celebrating its rich natural, social, and cultural heritage. But the struggle is not over - the site has been badly neglected and we are still working to ensure that the City invests the resources the Princess Vlei needs.
Videos
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In 2022, Rewild Africa worked with Princess Vlei Forum staff and volunteers to create a short documentary to tell the Princess Vlei story.
Watch the movie on the Waterbear website Read more about the film here |
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Some of the indigenous species that we protect
Thistle Sugarbush/ Witskollie
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Cape Dwarf Chameleon
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Western Leopard Toad
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Rondevlei Spiderhead
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Our progress so far
0,9 Hectares
Area Restored |
5,5 Hectares
Area Rehabilitated |
13
Threatened Species Introduced |
42 275
Plants Planted |
546
Community Members Engaged |
2642
School Children Engaged |
Our Supporters
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Upcoming Events |
Recent Events
November 16: Great Southern Bioblitz 2023
The sharp eyes of Adam Kroukamp spotted a beige -coloured baby Cape Dwarf Chameleon, about 2.5cm in size, creeping along a dried grass stem. Adam was the youngest in our group of 16 enthusiasts who gathered on Saturday, November 25th on the dunes of Princess Vlei i as part of the Great Southern Bioblitz (GSB). Read More 
November/December : Meet our fragile friend, Mr Toad
Princess Vlei is a good place for toads to breed because it is full of natural vegetation and is a very calm and peaceful place… These were some of the observation of the young toad explorers who came to Princess Vlei to investigate what Western Leopard toads need to live well, and to breed. Read More 
4 November : Mountains of Moss
'We come to the mountain for peace, to get away from and out of the home situation, to come into nature to be able to breathe, to come into nature to find the kind of peace which only nature can give.’ These were some of the reflections from learners who attended the hike to Ceclia Waterfall on November 4. Read More 
28 October : Community Conservation Conference
"Engaging community means listening well and being aware of how alienating language and jargon can be... if you can’t operate with different languages and different thinking you are going to struggle as a community activist." - Luzann Isaacs Read More 
21 October : Just Earth jamboree
The air was filled with the sounds of drumbeats and children chanting, as 200 learners and adults joined the Just Earth Procession from Retreat Civic to Princess Vlei. The blustery southeaster set the tassels and wings of the giant bird puppets and dream catchers rippling in the breeze.. Read More 
October : Verse for Biodiversity
we put our hands in the soil sand and plants are in our palms: all indigenous This and other verses were created by a group poetry performance as part of the Just Earth project. Read More 
October : The Just Earth Jive
In September and October, young Princess Vlei Guardians were hard at work preparing for the Just Earth Celebration to be held on October 21. Their preparations included composing and practicing dances, painting T-shirts, creating totem poles and composing poetry. Read More 
October : Stealthy herons and slithering snails
The heron moves its neck in and out, it moves stealthily to catch its prey… the hawk glides through the air … the grasshopper leaps… the snail slithers …. These were some of the observations made by learners at the Just Earth field trips in August and September this year. Read More 
22 July : Shine bright in your corner
There was something quite magical at Princess Vlei on 22 July, when over forty friends, family and community volunteers came together to honour the memory of George Davis. Read More 
7 April : A magical tiny toad for the Wetland Wizards
We saw a stick insect and grasshoppers and a tiny Western Leopard Toad” This was reported by our thirty young wetland explorers at the Princess Vlei Forum’s Wetland Wizard event on 7 March who came to Princess Vlei to find out what creatures live in the wetland, and what is needed to create a safe habitat where they can thrive... Read more 
5 April : Gentle eyes and a very listening ear
The Princess Vlei community has been greatly saddened by the loss of George Davis, who passed away on 27 February this year after a long illness. George was a founding member of the Princess Vlei Forum in 2012, but his involvement in Princess Vlei goes back to 2008.... Read more. |
