The Rondevlei Wild Bird Sanctuary was established in 1952 because bird lovers were worried that the number of water birds was decreasing in Cape Town. In 1986 Rondevlei became a Nature Reserve managed by the City of Cape Town.

The nature reserve is 290 hectares in size. It consists of a permanent wetland (vlei) of 50 hectares surrounded by a narrow strip of land in the north and sand dunes and seasonal wetlands in the south.

On the northern end of Rondevlei the vegetation is Sand Fynbos, while the southern section close to False Bay is Strandveld. The pH of the soil in the reserve varies from 5,7 to 9,2.

About 236 different species of indigenous plants grow at Rondevlei.

Two plant species, the Cape Flats Conebush (Leucadendron levisanus) and Rondevlei Spiderhead (Serruria aemula ssp foeniculacea) are Critically Endangered. The Cape Flats Erica (Erica verticillata) became Extinct in the Wild and only five plants survived in gardens in different parts of the world. People have rescued this plant and it is now being replanted at Rondevlei.

Rondevlei is home to a large number of animals:

• 21 mammal species, e.g. Hippos (Hippopotamus amphibius), Cape Grysbok (Raphicerus melanotis), Porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis), Cape Dune Mole Rat (Bathyergus suillus), Cape Clawless Otter (Aonyx capensis), Small Spotted Genet (Genetta genetta), Four Striped Mouse (Rhabdomys pumilio).

• 236 bird species, e.g. ducks, herons, ibises, pelicans and weavers.

• 29 reptile species, e.g. Angulate Tortoise (Chersina angulata), Common Padloper Tortoise (Homopus areolatus), Marsh Terrapin (Pelomedusa subrufra), Cape Cobra (Naja nivea), Mole Snake (Pseudaspis cana), Cape Dwarf Chameleon (Bradypodion pumilium)

• 9 amphibian species, e.g. Common Platanna (Xenopus laevis), Clicking Stream Frog (Strongylopus grayii) and Arum Lily Reed Frog (Hyperolius horstockii)

• 8 fish species, most of which are aliens, e.g. Common Carp (Cyprinus caprio), Banded Tilapia (Tilapia sparmanii), Sharp Toothed Catfish (Clarius gariepinus); the only indigenous fish is the Cape Galaxias (Galaxias zebratus).

Threatened animal species include:

• Birds (6): the Critically Endangered Little Bittern (Ixobrychus minutus); Near Threatened species such as the Great White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus), Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus), Lesser Flamingo (Phoenicopterus minor), Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia) and Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)

• Reptiles (1): Cape Sand Snake (Psammophis leightoni leightoni) - Critically Endangered.

• Amphibians (2): Western Leopard Toad (Bufo pantherinus) -Endangered; Cape Rain Frog (Breviceps gibbosus) - Vulnerable

Rondevlei’s environmental education centre, museum and live animal collection are popular with school groups. Learners of all ages visit the reserve to learn about wetland ecology, local plants, and the birds and other animals of Rondevlei.

Visitors enjoy many activities at Rondevlei, including walks, picnics, bird watching from the bird hides and towers, boat trips, carp fishing and camping on an island in the vlei. You can hire the education centre and boma for meetings and functions.

Rondevlei needs the local community to help protect the reserve, its natural ecosystems, plants and animals. Good neighbours don’t damage fences, enter the nature reserve illegally, remove plants, trap animals or cause fires.