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Bergrivier Tourism Newsletter
~ AUTUMN EDITION ~

The Bergrivier region, which lies just north of Cape Town, has been officially dubbed as the Adventure Capital of the West Coast and it is no surprise as to why.

This beautiful area – known for its open spaces and dramatic landscapes – boasts some of the most pristine and untouched nature reserves, wetlands, lagoons, mountain landscapes and more. It is also peppered with small towns that offer a massive array of activities and adventures to suite all ages, interests and budgets.

“Holiday makers are increasingly looking for exciting experiences, for local adventures in off-the-beaten-track destinations – and the Bergrivier region, situated just over an hour’s drive from Cape Town, certainly delivers,” says Nomonde Ndlangisa, CEO of Bergrivier Tourism. “We are so excited to be able to officially present this stunning part of the Western Cape to visitors as the “Adventure Capital”.”

“The Bergrivier area offers incredible outdoor, water sport, and camping adventures – to name a few. But we are also aware that adventure comes in so many different shapes and sizes, and the area also offers unique culinary and cultural adventures – there truly is something for every taste, interest and fitness level!”

“The towns of Velddrif, Aurora, Piketberg, Porterville, Redelingshuys, Eendekuil, Goedverwacht and Wittewater all fall within the Bergrivier district and each one is a perfect travel destination for people looking for an adventure,” says Ndlangisa.

Read Article Here

PIKETBERG MTB CIRCUIT LAUNCH

We were honoured to have our Deputy Mayor Councillor Mario Wessels at the launch of the new Piketberg MTB Route at Redelinghuys. The multi-day MTB circuit starts at Piket Bo-berg and cuts through the small rural villages of Redelinghuys, Aurora, Kapteinskloof and Goedverwacht. For more details on the route go to www.piketberg.bergriviertourism.co.za

Development cyclists from the Piketberg Cycling Club cycled from Aurora to Redelinghuys as part of the launch of the Piketberg MTB Circuit.

Simone Sharpe joined the team and cycled the 30km gravel road from Aurora to Redelinhuys as part of the launch.

BERGRIVIER MARKETS

GOEDVERWACHT ORGANIC MARKET
Where: Goedverwacht
Times: First Saturday of the Month
08:00-12:00
Contact: 078 316 3988
Find them online: Here

PORTERVILLE COMMUNITY MARKET CEX
Where: Show Grounds, Porterville
Times: Second Sunday of the Month
Contact: 083 302 5388
Find them online: Here

REDELINGHUYS COUNTRY MARKET
Where: Sandveld Dorpshuys, Redelinghuys
Times: Quarterly
Contact: Wendy - 083 629 7250
Find them online: Here

PIKET-BO-BERG FARMERS MARKET
Where: Kruistementvlei, Piket-Bo-Berg
Times: Last Saturday of the Month
Contact: 083 208 6873
Find them online: Here

PIKETBERG VILLAGE MARKET
Where: Piketberg Museum Grounds, Piketberg
Times: First Friday of the Month
Contact: Maude - 082 842 6524
Find them online: Here

WEST COAST CANOE CHALLENGE

Velddrif Weskus Canoe Challenge Jan 2022

LAST FRIDAY PIKETBERG - FOOD & ART

Last Friday offers a little something special on the Last Friday of every month. From live music to food and drink specials to art gallery exhibit openings. Come and experience being a local! See more HERE.

MEMBERS

Bergrivier Tourism Organisation - our new camping guide is available in our information offices as well as online. Download it HERE.

LOOKING FORWARD TO

Contact Ross for more info 071 891 6451

Contact Laaiplek Hotel for more info 022 783 1116

MEDIA COVERAGE

iol.co.za

netwerk24.com

iafrica.com

OUR ENVIRONMENT

MEDIA STATEMENT

BERG ESTUARY DESIGNATED AS SOUTH AFRICA’S 28^th WETLAND OF INTERNATIONAL IMPORTANCE

2 FEBRUARY 2021

As the world marks World Wetlands Day 2022, South Africa is celebrating the declaration of its 28^th wetland of international importance.

The Berg Estuary in the Western Cape was declared as a Ramsar Site under the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance in time for the marking of World Wetlands Day.

“The declaration of South Africa’s 28^th Ramsar site is an indication of the importance of conserving and protecting these unique environments that are considered super ecosystems because of their contribution to the provision of water and because they provide habitats to a large variety of migratory birds, especially water birds,” said the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Ms Barbara Creecy.

The Berg Estuary, which is one of 290 estuaries in South Africa, is the second wetland of international importance to be declared in the country in two years. In 2021, the Ingula Nature Reserve in the northern Drakensberg was declared the country’s 27^th Ramsar Site.

ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY, FISHERIES AND THE ENVIRONMENT

EDITOR’S NOTE:

The Ramsar site stretches from the R27 road bridge upstream to the tidal extent of the estuary approximately 61 km from the Estuaries mouth. This system is highly reliant on the management of its catchment, which extends c. 160 km upstream from the river mouth to its source in the Franschhoek and Drakenstein mountains. From its source, the river flows through the towns of Paarl and Wellington before arching west and meeting the Atlantic Ocean at Laaiplek. The lower reaches of the river meander over very flat country so that, on average, the riverbed falls only 1 m in the last 50 km. The estuary has been designated as a Ramsar site due to the presence of representative, rare and unique natural or near-natural wetland types, the presence of rare species and threatened ecological communities, high levels of biological diversity, the provision of support to species during their critical life stages, and the fact that it supports vast numbers of waterbirds, 9 species of which have over 1% of their total population that can be found at the estuary and due to the fact that significant and representative fish species that use the estuary as a spawning ground are found in the estuary.

Since 1975, approximately 250 bird species have been recorded on and adjacent to the lower Berg River, 127 of which are waterbirds. In terms of numbers of waterbirds, the area is the most important coastal wetland in South Africa, ranking above Langebaan Lagoon and Lake St Lucia. The most important habitats for foraging birds are the estuarine mudflats and ephemeral floodplain pans, while for breeding the riparian marshes and the commercial salt pans are key. In combination, the estuary and floodplain regularly support more than 20 000 birds; in December 1992 a count of both habitats yielded 46 234 waterbirds.

The commercial salt pans hold many breeding species, including very large numbers of the world's largest tern (the Caspian Tern Sterna caspia), a red data species, incorporating up to 13% of the South African breeding population. A large number of globally threatened species also occur at the estuary including the Cape Cormorant (with estimates of up to 60 000 Cape Cormorants coming in to roost in the evenings), Crowned Cormorant, Lesser Flamingo, African Black Oystercatcher, Black Harrier and Chestnut-banded Plover. Regionally threatened species that can be found include the Greater Flamingo, Great White Pelican, African Marsh Harrier, Lanner and Greater Painted-snipe.

Three endemic, highly localised and threatened reptiles occur on the floodplain of the Berg River: the west coast endemic Gronovi’s dwarf burrowing skink Scelotes gronovii, Kasner’s dwarf burrowing skink S. kasneri and large-scaled girdled lizard Cordylus macropholis. A fourth threatened reptile, Cape sand snake Psammophis leightoni, is also found on the floodplain. The South African endemic sand toad Bufo angusticeps and Namaqua dwarf chameleon Bradypodion occidentale occur along the fringes of the wetland

The Estuary also boasts a total of 145 plant species was identified in a vegetation survey of the lower estuary and floodplain and 35 fish species of which 17 (48 %) can be regarded as either partially or completely dependent on the estuary for their survival. The lower floodplain in particular is a vital as a nursery area for thousands of juvenile fish, many species of which form the basis of employment for hundreds of families living on the west coast.. Taking into account the degree to which these fish are dependent on estuaries, the nursery value of the Berg Estuary is estimated to be some R9 million per year.

Piketberg MTB Circuit Video

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Bergrivier Tourism · P.O. Box 170 · Velddrif, Wc 7365 · South Africa