Kenilworth Racecourse Conservation Area

21/08/2026

Don’t let those skinny stems fool you… restios are naturally tough! 🌾💪

Their wiry, fibrous culms (stems) are designed to take on the harsh Cape fynbos conditions, from drying summer heat to strong winds, while bending and flexing without easily snapping. This resilience also makes them an important part of the structure of our unique fynbos vegetation. 🌿

But their toughness isn’t just useful in the wild. For centuries, people have put these sturdy stems to work too! 🛖 Long before European settlement in the Cape, species such as Elegia tectorum and Thamnocortus insignis were used as building and thatching materials, while Wildenowia species were used to make brooms. 🌾🧹
While restios have a long history of being used by people, please enjoy them where they grow, look, don’t harvest! 💚🌾

Some traditional restio-thatch roofs were reportedly able to last more than 50 years before needing maintenance!
So, while they might look like delicate little grasses, they are actually built for survival.🌾

By Tania Snyders, KRCA Senior Field Ranger


Photos- rileybester: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/157554723, vesper: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/392630257, tonyrebelo: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/392623281

19/08/2026

🐜A Stinging Defence
Velvet ants use their sting as a primary defence mechanism. The female's stinger, which is a modified ovipositor (a tubular organ through which a female insect deposits eggs) delivers a peptide based venom that causes intense pain and swelling, effectively deterring predators. This painful sting serves to incapacitate attackers, making them less likely to pursue the velvet ant. The venom is designed to trigger pain receptors, which can debilitate small animals or humans, thus serving as a deterrent against threats.

By Duncan Baxter, KRCA volunteer
Photos: myrmecophil: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/331474288, koosretief: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/390809578, cecileroux: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/261345221, https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/246895341, https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/258559704

14/08/2026

🌿 Have you ever crushed a Pelargonium leaf and noticed its distinctive scent?

That fragrance might be pleasant to us but in fact is a natural defence strategy.

Pelargoniums produce aromatic essential oils that help deter herbivores from feeding on their leaves. By “weaponising” these fragrant oils, the plant reduces the chances of being eaten while thriving in the challenging conditions of the Cape Flats Sand Fynbos.

At KRCA, several Pelargonium species form part of this remarkable ecosystem, where every adaptation plays a role in survival. In a habitat shaped by nutrient-poor soils, seasonal drought, fire, and browsing animals, even a pleasant smell can become a powerful survival tool.

🌱 Did you know?
Many of the essential oils found in Pelargoniums are the reason some species are cultivated around the world for perfumes, cosmetics, and aromatherapy, but in nature, their primary purpose is defence.
By Patty Pan, KRCA volunteer



Photos: hhodgson: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/385664916, mashudu_phalanndwa: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/76521229

09/08/2026

Celebrating women shaping careers, communities and conservation

As South Africa marks Women's Day on 9 August and celebrates Women's Month, Nature Connect is recognising the women who are building careers, confidence and leadership opportunities through conservation training and environmental education during the organisation's 25th anniversary year. One example comes from Bokbaai on the West Coast, where Nature Connect hosted the first all-women Quemic Africa learner group to complete the final module of the accredited…...

As South Africa marks Women's Day on 9 August and celebrates Women's Month, Nature Connect is recognising the women who are building careers, confidence and leadership opportunities through conservation training and environmental education during the organisation's 25th anniversary year. One example...

05/08/2026

🐸 WETLAND WONDERS: Frog Walk 🌙

As the sun sets, the wetlands come alive with the chorus of frogs. Join us for a guided evening walk through the Kenilworth Racecourse Conservation Area and discover the fascinating frogs that call this unique ecosystem home.
Learn how to identify different species by their calls, uncover their remarkable adaptations, and experience the magic of the wetlands after dark.

📅 Dates: Wednesday, 19 August or Tuesday, 25 August 2026
🕕 Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
💚 Cost: Free, donations welcome
📍 Venue: Kenilworth Racecourse Conservation Area

Spaces are limited, so booking is essential.
[email protected]
Race Coast

05/08/2026

Weapons of the Wild | Baboon Spiders 🕷️

When it comes to survival, South Africa's baboon spiders come well equipped. Armed with large fangs, venom, speed, and incredible strength, they're formidable hunters of the bush.

Species such as the Common Black Baboon Spider (Harpactira atra) found here at KRCA use venom to quickly subdue insects and other small prey. Their venom isn't designed to harm people, it's a highly specialised hunting tool that immobilises prey, allowing the spider to feed safely. 🦗Meanwhile, the tiny sensory hairs covering their bodies pick up the slightest vibrations in the ground, alerting them to approaching prey or potential danger.

Many baboon spiders also rely on silk-lined burrows as both a fortress and an ambush point. Hidden just beneath the soil, they wait patiently before exploding into action when an unsuspecting meal wanders past. 💥

Sometimes, the most powerful weapons are the ones you never see coming. 👀



Photos- sihle_mbandezelo: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/312643535, cornerautenbach: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/241517731, lindalakeside: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/192334911, myrmecophil: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/332294402, damienxw: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/295475393, cliffdorse: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/246106082

31/07/2026

At first glance, you might think it's just a bird dropping... but look again! 👀

The juvenile Cape Boxing Mantis (Oxypilus capensis) uses one of nature's most unusual survival strategies: bird-dropping mimicry. Its mottled white, brown, and black colouring makes it look remarkably like bird poo, helping it avoid hungry predators that would rather search for a more appetising meal. 🐦

As it grows, the mantis sheds this disguise and develops the familiar leaf-like appearance of the adult, blending effortlessly into the surrounding fynbos. 🌿

Sometimes, the best way to stay alive isn't to hide… it's to convince everyone you're something they'd never want to eat.


Photos- bradleyraath: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/368300257, primogen: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/312122428, stuffinabox: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/265780087, lucasbart02: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/277242488

29/07/2026

🌿Nature’s architects: the bagworm’s portable home

One of nature’s most fascinating architects is the bagworm 🐛, also known as the bagmoth (family Psychidae). Its carefully constructed bag is far more than a shelter but also plays a vital role throughout almost the insect’s entire life cycle.

The larva builds its bag using whatever materials are available, depending on the species. These may include leaves, twigs, grass, bark, or lichens, all bound together with silk. As it grows, it enlarges and carries this portable home wherever it goes.

The bag provides camouflage and protection from predators and harsh weather, and later becomes the chamber where the larva transforms into a moth. In many species, the adult female never leaves the bag. A winged male mates with her through the opening, and she lays her eggs inside the same bag, where the next generation develops safely.

🐛🎒From shelter to nursery, camouflage to pupal chamber, mating site to cradle for the next generation, the bag is far more than a simple case. It is a lifelong home and a remarkable example of natural engineering.

Photos- wesleyfreese: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/196273284, jeltie2: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/140574194, hhodgson: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/263273966, sallyslak: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/146600486, andre_vm15: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/266514365

24/07/2026

🦎 If you've ever joined one of our night walks, you'll know the challenge of spotting these masters of disguise hidden among the shrubs.

Think you've found all 9 in our cover image? 👀 Well done! Now try finding them in the field...
The Cape Dwarf Chameleon (Bradypodion pumilum) is a true camouflage specialist. It can adjust a specialised layer of skin cells called iridophores, which contain microscopic crystals that reflect light. By changing the spacing between these crystals, the chameleon subtly shifts its colour to better match its surroundings.
Their appearance also varies depending on their habitat. Chameleons living in dense, evergreen vegetation tend to display brighter greens, while those in more open Cape Flats Sand Fynbos often have duller browns and greys that help them disappear into the landscape. Males are generally more brightly coloured than females, regardless of habitat.

Colour isn't their only trick. When moving through vegetation, Cape Dwarf Chameleons often sway gently from side to side, mimicking a leaf blowing in the wind, making them even harder for predators (and people!) to spot.

By Duncan Baxter, KRCA Volunteer

24/07/2026

💦🐸🌾
̇day 💚