The City of Cape Town is offering nature lovers and citizen scientists free entry to all city-managed nature reserves from Friday, 24 October to Monday, 27 October 2025. This initiative forms a key part of the Great Southern Bioblitz 2025, a friendly, global competition among cities across the southern hemisphere to document and celebrate local biodiversity.

Over four days, both residents and visitors can explore Cape Town’s breathtaking natural spaces at no cost, contributing directly to global conservation science. Whether your passion lies in botany, birdwatching, entomology, or marine life, this event offers a rare opportunity to engage with the city’s diverse ecosystems and play a vital role in preserving them.

The Great Southern Bioblitz is far more than just a fun challenge, it is a collaborative scientific effort. Participants are encouraged to record sightings of local species and upload them to the iNaturalist platform. Each observation automatically contributes to the Cape Town Bioblitz project, creating a valuable, community-driven dataset that supports scientists and conservationists in understanding and protecting the region’s biodiversity.

Alderman Eddie Andrews, Cape Town’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, expressed enthusiasm for the initiative:

“Each year, cities across the southern hemisphere go head-to-head to see who can capture the widest range of plant and animal species, and Cape Town is always in the running to lead the way. Once again, we’re opening our nature reserves to residents, free of charge, so that everyone can join in the fun of discovering and recording our city’s incredible biodiversity.”

While entry fees are waived during the Bioblitz, visitors should note that other paid activities or services within the reserves will continue to carry their usual costs.

The event is open to all, regardless of experience. From seasoned birders and nature photographers to curious beginners, families, and school groups, everyone is welcome to participate. To join, participants simply need to download the iNaturalist app or visit the website, join the Cape Town Bioblitz project page, and upload their observations between October 24 and 27.

More than a competition, the Great Southern Bioblitz represents a shared mission of education, engagement, and environmental stewardship. Each contribution helps map species distributions, monitor ecosystem health, and inform critical conservation policies reinforcing Cape Town’s position as a world leader in urban biodiversity management.

As African cities continue to expand, events like this highlight the crucial role of public participation in scientific discovery and the importance of accessible green spaces. For the tourism industry, it also presents an opportunity: hotels, tour operators, and guides can promote the Bioblitz to visitors as a chance to experience Cape Town’s wild side responsibly and meaningfully.

This October, Capetonians and visitors are encouraged to step outside, explore, and help document the city’s remarkable natural life. With free entry to its nature reserves and the chance to contribute to global biodiversity research, Cape Town’s Great Southern Bioblitz 2025 is set to inspire and unite the community in celebrating the beauty and importance of the natural world.