Water gives us life.
At the southern tip of Africa, people and wildlife depend on an intricate water network.
The Nuwejaars wetlands, and the rivers and underground water arteries that feed them, are at the heart of this network.
A group of worried landowners and Agulhas Plain residents in South Africa saw how these wetlands started disappearing. And how nature and people suffered.
And so we formed the Nuwejaars Wetlands Special Management Area.
Today we have 25 landowners, and the town of Elim, working together over 46,000 hectares in the Plain, to protect our water systems, and the biodiversity-rich landscapes all around them. The Nuwejaars Wetlands Special Management Area (or SMA) is a new way of protecting nature and all its complex ecosystems on private land in the Overberg municipal region.
It’s a conservation model new to South Africa.
We’ve committed to conservation and sustainable farming by signing title deed restrictions. That means that we’ll forever protect this biodiversity hotspot, while still supporting food security in South Africa through our sustainable farming. While we’ve tested the model here in the Overberg, it’s now being replicated in other parts of South Africa – with wonderful success.
CONSERVE
EDUCATE
INSPIRE
You’ve got to see this area for yourself.
If you love the outdoors, the Nuwejaars Wetlands Special Management Area offers a natural world you won’t see anywhere else. It’s a paradise for birders, with the Agulhas Plains birding project identifying 235 species. There are a range of places to overnight – from more rustic and private accommodation, to luxurious homes and cottages. The Nuwejaars Wetlands members include wineries in the Agulhas Wine Triangle.
Tours CLOSED for the winter season
Morning Wildlife Tour
(R450/person, and R200 for children aged 12 and under; toddlers free)
Meet at the Black Oystercatcher at 8.30am, for a 3-hour trip through the Nuwejaars Wetlands SMA, including coffee and rusks – overseen by our trained guide.
Sunset Wildlife Tour
(R500/person, and R200 for children aged 12 and under; toddlers free)
Meet at the Black Oystercatcher at 5pm, for a 3-hour trip to a lovely, secretive lake, including sundowners at this sunset viewpoint. Hippos live in this lake, and could pop by for a visit (this trip is overseen by our trained guide).
Booking is essential
book@nuwejaars.com
076 833 6341
Why is the Agulhas Plain so important?
The Cape Floral Kingdom covers much of the landscape around the Nuwejaars wetlands and rivers.
Highly threatened lowland fynbos grows here – home to plant species found nowhere else in the world.
This critical habitat also gives life to globally threatened birds. Birds like the Southern Black Korhaan, Secretarybird and Hottentot Buttonquail thrive here.
That’s why the Nuwejaars Wetlands Special Management Area forms part of an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area.
The Special Management Area is the original home of the Bontebok – once nearly extinct. Now we’ve brought them back.
And we’ve reintroduced Buffalo, Hippo and Hartebeest – once extinct on the Agulhas Plain.
Come and hike on the Nuwejaars Wetlands
A new walking trail has been launched on the Nuwejaars Wetlands Special Management Area. The easy 4.2km African Marsh Harrier Trail starts at Zoetendal Vineyards close to the town of Elim, and leads you through the wetlands, over the Nuwejaars River, to a number of hidden-away birding spots. And you never know what you could see along this route, including the wonderful wetlands life, such as the miniature Micro Frog.
Conservation Highlights
Let’s make our roads safer – for drivers AND wildlife
Our wildlife is threatened by many man-made activities. Cars driving along roads in the Nuwejaars Wetlands SMA are chief among the culprits.
42 years later and thought to be extinct: A chance rediscovery
Eugéne had found a species that was believed to be extinct – known as Moraea minima. It was last officially seen in 1981, and
Wat om te doen as jy ’n luiperd in die Kaap sien
Selfoonfoto’s van ’n luiperd langs ’n plaaspad in die Agulhasplein een skemeraand in Augustus het opspraak gemaak in ons streek. Die foto’s wys ’n enkel luiperd wat anderkant ’n draad sit
The survival of the bontebok: A Bredasdorp success story
The bontebok is one of a handful of antelope species endemic to South Africa. It was once considered to be the rarest antelope in the world. But few people realise there is a local
Our changing Agulhas Plain: Life and extinction
The Palaeolithic Period covers the time from 2,5 million years ago to about 10 000 years BCE which was also the middle stone-age period. The graph below shows how during the last 300 000 years
Discovering the aquatic animals of the Nuwejaars
For the past 6 months, some members of the Nuwejaars Wetlands Special Management Area team have spent every spare moment trying to capture the wetlands life on camera.
Every day we ...
Access our biodiversity
If we want to reach social and environmental sustainability, the Nuwejaars Wetland Special Management Area must achieve economic sustainability.
Teaching about nature
School outings are now being hosted to the Nuwejaars Wetlands SMA, where children can connect with this wondrous, intricate natural world.
Sustainable Agriculture
Traditionally private landowners in the Overberg have made their income from agricultural activities, like grain and livestock farming.
We work with
We work with
We work with
