Edith Stephens Wetland Park, Nature reserve in Lansdowne, Cape Town, South Africa.
Edith Stephens Wetland Park is a nature reserve with seasonal wetlands covering about 39 hectares, surrounded by Cape Flats Sand Fynbos and dune vegetation systems. The landscape shifts between open water areas and denser plant growth depending on the season.
The area was founded in 1955 when botanist Edith Stephens donated land to protect a rare plant species native to the region. This donation became the starting point for what is now the reserve.
The visitor center here offers environmental education programs that explain how local ecosystems work, and it partners with nearby community groups to build support for nature conservation. You can see directly how the place connects people with the landscape around them.
You can reach the park on weekdays from 7:30 to 16:00 via Govan Mbeki Road in Philippi, but weekend visits need to be arranged in advance. Plan your visit according to these opening times.
The wetland shelters seven threatened plant species and about 95 bird species, with herons nesting on islands within a detention pond. This bird population becomes especially visible during breeding season.
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