About Princess Vlei

“Princess Vlei has always been a place …where the bird life with its joyful sounds soothes the sometimes angry inner soul.” – Phillip Bam

The Princess Vlei is the gateway to the wetland system that runs through Grassy Park, purifying the water before it runs into the sea. The Vlei has long been treasured by the many citizens who have enjoyed its beauty and tranquility.

The Vlei was named after a Khoisan Princess, who, according to local legend. was abducted by Portuguese sailors while bathing in its waters. During the years of apartheid, it became one of the few natural areas that “coloured” people could visit, after they were forcibly removed by the government to housing estates on the Cape Flats. Though loved by the people, it was neglected by the authorities, and became further degraded when a road was built through it with little regard for conserving its ecology.

Despite the authority's neglect,  local residents, environmentalists and concerned citizens campaigned to save Princess Vlei from commercial development, and embarked on a process to restore the natural fynbos on the site. This was started by Kelvin Cochrane who managed a project called Dressing the Princess, and has continued with volunteers.

But what is it about Princess Vlei that has made the community defend it so fiercely? Below are some of the unique features of this site:

Heritage
  • The vlei is named after a Khoisan princess, who legend tells us was abducted by Portuguese sailors while bathing in her waters. The Khoisan were Cape Town’s earliest inhabitants, forcibly enslaved or driven out by those who came later. The Vlei remains an important site for celebrating and memorialising this heritage.
  • When people classified as coloured and black were forcibly removed to the Cape Flats by group areas, this was the one of the few natural places they could come to relax and enjoy picnics with their families. Since people were denied access to the beaches, Princess Vlei become known as “Claremont beach” and “Gala land.”
  • The Vlei is layered with a rich tapestry of the memories of multiple generations, of playing in the mud as small children, defying parents to swim in the waters, raising your own children, of growing old watching the pelicans skim over the water to land. It is a repository of collective memory and identity
  • It has long been used as a place for water immersion Baptism. Church groups come every Sunday from Nyanga, Gugulethu, Philippi….At Easter, they come from as far afield as Gauteng,  baptising hundreds in a morning. Many others come to the vlei to be close to God and nature.
Community
  • The vlei offers a venue where Capetonians from all walks of life can enjoy nature together. Located between formerly coloured and white areas, it is perfectly situated to build community, overcome historical divisions and bring people together. 
  • The Vlei provides a valuable public space to communities facing socio-economic challenges in highly urbanised environments.
Nature
  • The Princess Vlei  provides a habitat for endemic and endangered species, and nurtures biodiversity. As human pressure on natural resources increases, our continued existence is under threat if we do not find a way to live more sustainably. A sustainable city works closely with nature, nurturing biodiversity and allowing natural systems such as wetlands to live and breath.
  • It is a space to reconnect urbanised communities with nature, and an outdoor classroom where youngsters can experience and develop an appreciation of and love for nature.
Watch the following documentary made by STEPS/SANBI. This film is available on DVD for groups and  institutions who would like to use it for educational purposes.
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"She cries more than just a river, she cries more than just a lake...
Our Princess of the Vlei, will we her again forsake?"
Listen to Emile Jansen and Mixed Mense's song about Princess Vlei.

Read more about
The Heritage  of Princess Vlei
The Natural Richness