Bracken Nature Reserve is a 36-hectare conservation area located on a hill (Kanonkop) in Brackenfell, about 40 km east of Cape Town. Managed by the City of Cape Town, the reserve protects two critically endangered vegetation types: Swartland Granite Renosterveld and Cape Flats Sand Fynbos. Therefore, the reserve plays a crucial role in the protection of unique flora and fauna within the boundaries of Bracken.
Visitors can enjoy peaceful walking trails, scenic picnic spots with mountain views and historical features like an old VOC signalling cannon. The reserve also hosts regular guided walks, talks, hacks and fun runs through the Friends of Bracken Nature Reserve, offering great ways to connect with Cape Town nature. Become a member of the reserve to support local conservation. Visit the Friends of Bracken Facebook page or Events page to stay up to date on what's happening at the reserve.
Perdekop Nature Reserve, a small site located just 1 km from Bracken, will be linked to it via an ecological corridor in the future.
The primary purpose of the reserve is the conservation of its unique biodiversity and to preserve the ecological integrity of the area. It thrives to be socially, economically and ecologically sustainable, accessible to all and safe to enjoy whilst providing education and recreation opportunities for all.
Bracken Nature Reserve is home to over 300 plant species, many of which are endemic or rare, such as the critically endangered Kraaifontein Spiderhead (Serruria furcellata). Visitors can enjoy seasonal blooms throughout the year: early-flowering species like Paintbrush (Haemanthus pubescens), March Lily (Amaryllis belladonna) and Suikerbossie (Protea repens); cold and wet season bloomers like Viooltjie (Lachenalia quadricolor), Aasblom (Orbea variegata) and Piempiempie (Chasmanthe floribunda); and vibrant spring flowers such as Cape Buchu (Agathosma capensis), King Kalkoentjie (Gladiolus alatus), Sterretjie (Pauridia capensis) and fields of Cape Daisy (Dimorphotheca pluvialus) and Namaqua Gousblom (Arctotis hirsuta). Explore the variety of plant species in Bracken Nature Reserve on the Flora page.
The reserve also supports a wide range of wildlife, including birds like the Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus), Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) and Southern Double-collared Sunbird (Cinnyris chalybeus), mammals such as the Small Grey Mongoose (Herpestes pulverulentus), Cape Grysbok (Raphicerus melanotis) and Cape Hare (Lepus capensis), and reptiles like the Cape Dwarf Chameleon (Bradypodion pumilum), Cape Cobra (Naja nivea), and Parrot-beaked (Homopus areolatus) and Angulate Tortoise (Chersina angulata). Amphibians and diverse insect life also thrive in this rich natural environment. To discover the different animal species in Bracken Nature Reserve, visit the Fauna page.
