The City of Cape Town has announced that new rules will be introduced at the Witzands Aquifer Nature Reserve.
As reported by The South African, the new Code of Conduct for Permissible Activities at the reserve will be effective by the 1st of July.
The City has expressed that the new rules are aimed at managing visitor numbers and overcrowding. They are also a way of enforcing safety standards while ensuring the continued conservation of the reserve.
Picture: Sourced / Cape Town Green Map
Witzands Aquifer Nature Reserve is one of the Mother City’s most popular destinations for dune-related activities such as 4X4 off-roading, quad biking and sandboarding.
Entry to the reserve is controlled through a permit system, and there has been a significant increase in the number of visitors (and permits issued) from 2019 to 2023.
In the interest of the reserve’s continued conservation, a number of rules will be implemented.
Picture: Sourced
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Starting from the 12th of August 2025:
– A daily cap of 80 permits for off-road vehicles will be enforced. Additionally, no individual or operator will be allowed to acquire more than 50% of the daily permits.
– A daily limit of 275 permits for quad bikes and off-road motorcycles will be established. No individual or operator will be permitted to purchase more than 50% of the available daily permits.
– A daily limit of 80 permits for sandboarding will be enforced, with no individual or operator allowed to purchase more than 50% of the daily permits.
From the 1st of July 2025:
– The use of personal protective equipment will be required.
– Day visitor pre-bookings will account for 80% of the daily visitor capacity, while the remaining 20% will be reserved for walk-in visitors on a first-come, first-served basis.
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