Nuwejaars Wetlands SMA

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In the Nuwejaars Wetlands Special Management Area (SMA), 25 landowners and local communities protect this Overberg biodiversity hotspot. www.nuwejaars.com

The Nuwejaars Wetlands Special Management Area (SMA) consists of 25 landowners, including the Elim community, living in the Overberg region in South Africa. Together we've taken private land, bordering on the Agulhas National Park, and committed it to conservation, fighting climate change, farming sustainably and uplifting all who live here. The Nuwejaars Wetlands Special Management Area operates through its Section 21 Not-For-Profit company, the Nuwejaars River Nature Reserve. Our vision is: To create a sustainable ecology, which ensures the protection of the Nuwejaars Wetlands Ecosystem, enhances the heritage and culture of the sub-region, generates benefit for all stakeholders, helps meet social and environmental requirements, and encourages community lifestyles compatible with environmental sustainability.

30/10/2026

🦛 | 𝐀 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐖𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐫𝐚𝐚𝐥𝐯𝐥𝐞𝐢

We've followed the Nuwejaars River all the way to the sea. But what about the wetlands connected to this river system along the way?

Our first stop is Waskraalvlei, a reed-covered wetland and lake that's home to hippos reintroduced to the Nuwejaars landscape in 2010. It’s also the site where our Nuwejaars Wildlife Guided Tours take place.

Come along as we explore Waskraalvlei and the important role it plays in our wetland system.

Then next time: A flyover a major lake called Voëlvlei.

30/10/2026

Learners at Elim Primary School and Mispah School for LSEN now have a new way to explore the natural world – thanks to microscopes donated to both schools during our Nuwejaars Wetlands Environmental Education Week.

These microscopes will help learners discover the nature’s smaller details even after our visit has ended.

And there was plenty of excitement during the visits too! It was a packed environmental education week, with the children experiencing life in our soils, finding out about the role of fire in our landscapes, and becoming animal detectives as they identified animals and found out about food webs.

To top it all, Gerrie Heyns from joined us to show the learners how to stay safe if they encounter a snake, helping to protect both people and wildlife.

📸 Take a look at some of the highlights from our school visits.

Our sincere thanks to WWF South Africa, and for supporting this important programme.

21/10/2026

For Nuwejaars Wetlands SMA member Conrad Vlok, winemaker at Strandveld Vineyards and former Diners Club Winemaker of the Year, life in the wetlands brings joy, but sometimes also sadness.

From an enjoyable evening watching the sunset over the wetlands, but also seeing an otter that died in the wetlands, Conrad shows the beauty, but also that there is heartache in the wetlands.

Thank you, Conrad, for sharing these glimpses of the .

17/10/2026

“𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬, 𝐰𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞.”

For our Environmental Monitor, David Newman, it's a worrying reality. At one monitoring site, the team previously found plenty of redfins. But when they returned, almost all had disappeared.

🎥 Hear from David as he shares what it's like searching for one of our most threatened indigenous fish – and why the race to save the Agulhas redfin is becoming increasingly urgent.

16/10/2026

The invasive alien plants have been cleared and heavy rocks packed to stabilise the landscape. Now the next stage of wetland restoration is underway, led by Gerty Holtzhauzen and her team.

This important corridor leading into the Nuwejaars Wetlands was severely damaged by the floods of 2023 and 2024.

Now the team is carefully planting indigenous wetland species grown in our aquaponics system and wetlands nursery. Hessian is being used to help secure the plants, which are positioned where they can help stabilise the riverbanks and support the wetland's recovery.

It's another important step towards restoring this connection into the wetlands.

This work is supported by WWF South Africa, with co-funding from the Hans Hoheisen Charitable Trust, Mapula Trust and the Rolf-Stephan Nussbaum Foundation.

13/10/2026

For Denver Engel, no two days are the same.

From maintaining fences to helping move animals to responding to fires and everything in between, Denver and his team have their hands full caring for the Nuwejaars landscape.

But that's exactly what our Ecosystem Services Team Leader loves about his job.

🎥 Get to know Denver here.

Our sincere thanks to the Hans Hoheisen Charitable Trust, whose support has helped make the work of Denver and his team possible.

10/10/2026

Some bird calls are unmistakable signs that spring has arrived in the Overberg.

This get to know some of the cuckoos that visit our Nuwejaars Wetlands Special Management Area. Some travel across Africa, others journey from Europe and Asia.

You might hear them before you see them. And while some are familiar summer visitors, others are much more elusive.

Swipe to meet 5 cuckoos recorded in our landscape – and listen out for their distinctive calls.

This year's World Migratory Bird Day theme is Every Bird Counts – Your Observations Matter! So remember to record your sightings on BirdLasser or iNaturalist.org. Your observations can help build our understanding of migratory birds.

08/10/2026

🥾🌿 We’re open again!

After a brief closure, the African Marsh Harrier Trail in the Nuwejaars Wetlands is once again open to walkers.

Come and enjoy around 4 km of wetlands, fresh air, a secretive bird hide – and hopefully a few great bird sightings along the way. 🦅

A quick reminder before you head out: access to the trail is through Zoetendal Vineyards and River Estate so please check their trading hours before your visit to make sure you'll be able to access the trail.

👉 Find out more about the trail and plan your visit here: https://nuwejaars.com/hike-bike/

08/10/2026

🐦 Calling all bird ringers to join the 2026 Ringers' Symposium!

We're looking forward to welcoming bird ringers from across South Africa and beyond to the Nuwejaars Wetlands Special Management Area this November.

Organised by the Biodiversity and Development Institute (BDI), the symposium runs from 6-12 November 2026. And there'll be plenty of opportunities to get out into the field for some bird ringing too!

Our CEO Ross Kettles and Conservation Manager Erica Brink will both be presenting, sharing insights from our conservation work on the Agulhas Plain.

Interested in joining? Email Susan Gie at [email protected] to register.

Find out more: https://thebdi.org/2026/09/28/ringers-symposium-6-to-12-november-with-8-to-10-november-as-core-dates/

Image credit: Les Underhill

BDI Citizen Science

06/10/2026

🐟🌸 A glorious combo of fynbos and fish…

We loved joining our friends and partners at the Elim Blommefees this weekend, held under the theme Uit die as groei nuwe lewe – from the ashes, new life grows.

Gerty Holtzhauzen, Breyton Murtz and team were there to introduce residents and visitors to some of the special indigenous fish living in our rivers – and why species such as the Endangered Agulhas redfin (𝘗𝘴𝘦𝘶𝘥𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘣𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘨𝘶𝘭𝘩𝘢𝘴) need our help.

For the younger visitors, that meant getting hands-on with our fishy game: trying to catch the toy alien fish while learning why invasive fish pose such a threat to the indigenous species that belong in these waters.

It was also simply a wonderful celebration of the natural world around Elim – a member of the Nuwejaars Wetlands Special Management Area.

Thank you, Elim, for having us! 💚

📸 Gerty Holtzhauzen

Address

Bredasdorp

Telephone

+27768336341

Website

https://www.nuwejaars.com/

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