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
October 12: Cherish the Waters, Cherish the earth
We pledge care, respect and sustainable practices. We commit to nurturing this vital eco system. This pledge was made by learners from Levana Primary, at the ceremony to launch a floating sculpture at Princess Vlei. The sculpture is intended to honour of the Khoe princess who gave Princess Vlei its name. Read More 
October 11: The making of a Princess
THE Floating Princess has long been in our collective imagination, a spiritual presence reminding us of the complexity of history and story that lives through Princess Vlei. But she has now taking material form, as a sculpture on a floating platform anchored about thirty meters off shore. Read More 
Farewell to a dream catcher...
Our wish for Princess Vlei is that if anyone has bad intentions, bad dreams and bad wishes for this area that those dream catchers will catch those and only let through the good vibes.” - Ayesha Price, 2012 Ayesha Price was one of the leading inspirational voices in the struggle to save Princess Vlei, and the journey of renewal since then. Her death at the age of 49 has been a great shock to all who worked with her. Read More 
3 October : A river of creativity
During August and September, over 70 learners at local primary schools have been attending creative workshops as part of the Princess Vlei Forum’s Living Waters Project. The learners came together to tie-dye T-shirts, and to create colourful fish puppets. Read More 
September 21: Great Southern Bioblitz 2024
On the morning of the 21st of September, 15 citizen scientists from around Cape Town congregated at the Retreat Civic Centre to observe the species diversity along the southern dunes of Princess Vlei, as part of the Great Southern Bioblitz 2024. Read More 
September 1: Spring comes to Princess Vlei
On September 1st, about 15 community members gathered to celebrate the first signs of spring with a walk around the southern shore of Princess Vlei to Little Princess Vlei. People from all walks of life, and their furry friends, came together to explore and appreciate the natural beauty of the Vlei. Read More 
A Dedicated Community Builder
It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to Petrina Roberts, who died on 14 August 2024. Petrina was a founder member of the Princess Forum, and served on its first Management Committee for three years. She was a tireless organiser, involved in planting, picketing, and organising a multifaith protest meeting against the proposed shopping mall at Princess Vlei. Read More 
August 30: How do we dance the living waters
This was the challenge for the seventy learners from primary schools around Princess Vlei who attended the Living Waters field trips in August this year. The two field trips were the first events in the Princess Vlei Forum’s Living Waters Project. This collaborative creative project aims at celebrating youth, and focusing on what keeps our water bodies alive, and what threatens their vitality.. Read More |
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