Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve is a nature reserve

Nature reserve

A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...

and recreational area located in Cape Town

Cape Town

Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...

, South Africa

South Africa

The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...

.

Entering the ocean in the suburb of Muizenberg

Muizenberg

Muizenberg is a beach-side suburb of Cape Town, South Africa. It is situated where the shore of the Cape Peninsula curves round to the east on the False Bay coast...

, Zandvlei is the only functioning estuary on Cape Town’s False Bay

False Bay

False Bay is a body of water defined by Cape Hangklip and the Cape Peninsula in the extreme South-West of South Africa.- Description and location :...

coast. It is also one of the most important estuaries for fish spawning on the coastline.

The surrounding wetland

Cape Lowland Freshwater Wetland

Cape Lowland Freshwater Wetland is a critically endangered vegetation type of the Western Cape, South Africa.-Environment:This type of riparian vegetation and its accompanying ecosystem is found in the Western Cape, South Africa, on freshwater floodplains, along the lower stretches of rivers and...

is an important habitat for birds and is home to over 150 species. It is also a vital habitat for amphibians and about 20 species of reptile such as the Angulate tortoise, Marsh terrapin, Mole snake

Mole snake

The mole snake is a species of snake in the family Pseudaspididae. It is native to much of southern Africa, and is the only member of the genus Pseudaspis. A study showed that P. cana are caught and consumed by the honey badger, among other species...

and Brown Water Snake

Brown Water Snake

The brown water snake is a large species of Natricine snake found in the southeast United States.Lycodonomorphus rufulus is sometimes also called the brown water snake, but L...

. Porcupine

Porcupine

Porcupines are rodents with a coat of sharp spines, or quills, that defend or camouflage them from predators. They are indigenous to the Americas, southern Asia, and Africa. Porcupines are the third largest of the rodents, behind the capybara and the beaver. Most porcupines are about long, with...

s, Otter

Otter

The Otters are twelve species of semi-aquatic mammals which feed on fish and shellfish, and also other invertebrates, amphibians, birds and small mammals....

s and Mongoose

Mongoose

Mongoose are a family of 33 living species of small carnivorans from southern Eurasia and mainland Africa. Four additional species from Madagascar in the subfamily Galidiinae, which were previously classified in this family, are also referred to as "mongooses" or "mongoose-like"...

can also occasionally be spotted.
The plant life is typical of Cape Flats Dune Strandveld

Cape Flats Dune Strandveld

Cape Flats Dune Strandveld is an endangered vegetation type. This is a unique type of Cape Strandveld that is endemic to the coastal areas in Cape Town, including the Cape Flats district. -Habitat:Strandveld means “beach scrub” in the Afrikaans language...

and Cape Wetland

Cape Lowland Freshwater Wetland

vegetation. Rare or interesting plants include Gladiolus angustus
Gladiolus angustus
Gladiolus angustus is a species of gladiolus known by the common name long-tubed painted lady.This flower is an herb growing from a papery corm and reaching 30 to 60 centimeters in height. It has basal sword-shaped leaves with prominent midveins. Each scape has two or three flowers with...

and Salvia africana-lutea
Salvia africana-lutea
Salvia africana-lutea is a shrubby evergreen perennial native to coastal sand dunes and hills on the coast of the Cape Province in South Africa. It has numerous woody stems growing to more than 1 m in height and width, with sparse grey-green leaves...

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The estuary was neglected in the past, and suffered from farming, urban development, dredging and the introduction of alien invasive species. The original vegetation has been partly restored through local government and volunteer efforts.
There is now an Environmental Education Centre and the reserve is home to the Imperial Yacht Club and Peninsula Canoe Club. Fishing is popular but a permit is required.

See also