𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐭𝐨 #𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 #𝐒𝐀𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤!
2024-09-09 08:00 - 2024-09-15 17:00 (Africa/Johannesburg) | Western Cape
The 19th Annual South African National Parks Week provides South Africans with the opportunity to explore their local national parks at absolutely no cost. SANParks invites you to visit join in during this year’s SA National Parks Week between 9 -15 September 2024, at one of the Cape Regional Parks including Agulhas, Bontebok, Table Mountain, Tankwa Karoo, and West Coast National Park.
Come and access your natural heritage during South African National Parks Week for FREE!
Please note that the free entry does not apply to Boulders Penguin Colony and the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway.
West Coast National Park will only partake in #SANationalParksWeek between 9 -13 September 2024 and will not extend to 15 September 2024. Bring along your SA ID or SA driver’s license to gain free entry.
For more information, please view the flyers below:

World Water Monitoring Day
2024-09-18 08:00 - 17:00 | Western Cape
Fellow water enthusiasts!
What are you for World Water Monitoring Day? Join the global community in monitoring this month, and especially on 18 September!
Here are some ideas:

Grab your boots, tray, and net and head down to your local river to do a biomonitoring assessment (miniSASS) to determine the ecological condition of the river at that point.

Click here for more info and training videos on the miniSASS technique.

Have a look at the low-cost net our team made of curtain net (R12 from a second-hand store), plastic piping (R35 from a hardware store), and an old mop handle (free from the local recycling centre). Total spend = R47
Contact WaterCAN to receive a free water testing kit and use this kit to determine the safety of your water resources including the levels of nitrate, nitrite, and phosphates, the presence of E.coli and coliforms in the water, and more! Click here for more info and here to order your kits.
If you have already been using the techniques above, carve out some time on World Water Monitoring Day to submit your data on the respective platforms for miniSASS and WaterCAN testing if you have printed datasheets accumulating on your desk or in your field kit!

*Please note that this event is ongoing and not limited to 18 September 2024.

Kenilworth Racecourse Conservation Area: Spring Walk 2024
2024-10-05 10:00 - 2024-10-12 12:00 | Kenilworth Racecourse Conservation Area, Rosmead Ave, Kenilworth, Cape Town, Western Cape, 7745, South Africa
It’s that time of the year we’ve all been patiently awaiting. Fynbos Spring Flower Season is here! Join us to explore the blooming beauties at Kenilworth Racecourse Conservation Area.
Dates: Saturday’s 5th & 12th October 2024
Time: 10:00 – 12:00
Fee: Free, donations towards conservation are welcome
Who: Anyone and everyone
Where: Hollywoodbets Kenilworth (Kenilworth Racecourse Conservation Area)
Bookings are essential
RSVP: Kenilworthc1@caperacing.co.za

Pinelands High School Academic Lecture Series
2025-03-25 17:30 - 18:30 | The Reeler Centre, Pinelands High School, Forest Dr Service Rd, Pinelands, Cape Town, Western Cape, 7405, South Africa
Pinelands High School invites you to the first lecture of the 2025 Pinelands High School Academic Lecture Series.
The lecture will be given by Professor Annie Chimphango, Full Professor of Chemical Engineering at Stellenbosch University. She will be speaking about her research on converting agricultural waste into high-value bioproducts, such as functional foods, advanced biomaterials, and biofuels. She will be presenting a lecture titled Chemical Engineering for Advancing Sustainable Development.
The lecture will take place on Tuesday 25th March from 5:30-6:30pm at Pinelands High School.
Click here to register this event.
You can view the poster to the event below:
Prof-Chimphango-Poster

National Teachers Onboarding Workshop 2
2025-04-16 12:00 - 13:00 | Western Cape
We will be hosting our second National Onboarding Workshop on the 16th of April. This virtual workshop is intended to help registered schools and teachers learn how to use the Sustainable Schools Hub as well as answer some of the most frequently asked questions.
The Workshop will include:

Connecting you with your School Coordinator

Learning about your dashboard

How to find and use resources

Learning how to access and submit your School Environmental Management Plan (SEMP)

Showing you where to find partners and other schools

Posting on your timeline

…And more!
Who is this for?
All Registered and paid,  Sustainable Schools
Please invite as many teachers from your school as you would like. This session is available to all of our registered schools, nationally.

City Nature Challenge 2025
2025-04-26 09:00 - 11:00 | Kenilworth Racecourse Conservation Area, Rosmead Ave, Kenilworth, Cape Town, Western Cape, 7745, South Africa
The City Nature Challenge is back for another year and we at Bracken Nature Reserve are hosting a fun-filled day of observing wildlife and taking photos of all the plants and animals that live there. We post all our photos of that day on iNaturalist and see how the city of Cape Town competes with the rest of the cities in the world in terms of observations.
Join the City Nature Challenge at Kenilworth Racecourse Conservation Area!
The City Nature Challenge is a global event where people come together to document urban wildlife using the iNaturalist app. It’s a fun, hands-on way to explore nature, contribute to real science, and connect with your local environment.
Be a citizen scientist and help record the incredible biodiversity at Kenilworth Racecourse Conservation Area. Every observation counts—let’s put our local nature on the map!
Participating in the City Nature Challenge:
Download the iNaturalist App from the Google Play store/Apple store and create an account
*Find Wildlife- It can be any plant, animal, or any evidence of life found in your city.
*Take picture- Take a picture of what you find. Be sure to note the location of the critter or plant.
*Share- Share your observations through iNaturalist.
📅: Saturday the 26th of April 2025
🕧: 09:00 – 11:00
📍: Hollwoodbets Kenilworth
RSVP: KenilworthC1@caperacing.co.za OR fill in the form City Nature Challenge 2025
Free entry, Donations towards conservation efforts welcome
For more information view the flyer below:

The Big Biodiversity Challenge 2025
2025-05-15 - 2025-07-31 | Western Cape
Theme: Harmony with Nature and Sustainable Development
The Big Biodiversity Challenge returns for 2025 with a call to action: how can we live in harmony with nature while meeting the needs of people and communities? This year’s theme asks Grade 6–9 learners across the Western Cape to explore the balance between ecological health and human development, from food systems to energy use, waste, water and urban living.
Organised by the Western Cape Environmental Education Friends (WCEEF) in partnership with CapeNature, SANBI, SANParks, Nature Connect, Working on Fire (WoF), Two Oceans Aquarium, the Western Cape Government’s DEA&DP, and the Western Cape Education Department, the challenge encourages learners to think critically and creatively about real-world environmental issues.
What to Submit:
Learners may enter as individuals or in groups and are invited to submit projects in any of the following formats:

Essays (up to 1,000 words)

Presentations (Google Slides, PowerPoint, etc.)

Eco app or tech concepts (mock-ups, feature lists or demo videos)

Social action projects (e.g. a recycling drive, school garden, or clean-up campaign, documented in photos, reports or video)

Creative works (poetry, performance, visual art, or music, with an explanation of how it links to the theme)

All submissions should clearly link back to this year’s focus: how can we design solutions that respect biodiversity while supporting the wellbeing of people and planet alike?
Participants may enter here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSctcCstU8vOBzTLCViJPtif7pNazvxjGLooOYFbFqv61BJVMg/viewform

Past Inspiration

Last year, learners impressed judges with innovative and heartfelt entries. Grade 6 learners Benjamin Banda and Polite Masango from Orangekloof Primary used a powerful combination of visual art, poetry, and live performance to raise awareness about water pollution and the human behaviours driving it. Their entry called for change through both emotional storytelling and practical action.
Instagram video of Benjamin and Polite: https://youtu.be/QeSqSPRuuRw
Benjamin Draper from Pinelands North Primary earned second place with his ecosystem restoration concept for the Elsies River canal. His plan to rewild the urban waterway (using reeds to reduce pollution and restore habitat), captured the essence of sustainable development by offering a nature-based solution within a human-altered space.
Instagram video of Benjamin: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DBGeCo1qL5Y/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
From the tech side, Yameen Jeebhay of Westerford High developed an idea for a Conservationist Badge App, a tool that rewards users for taking part in real-world environmental activities. His idea showed how technology can support behavioural change and build a culture of sustainability.
Instagram video of Yameen: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DBGyBPZKPgZ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Trash Bash beach cleanup with Two Oceans Aquarium
2025-07-19 09:00 - 11:00 | Sunset Beach, Milnerton, Milnerton,Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape, 7441, South Africa
Join the Two Oceans Aquarium for a Beach Cleanup on Saturday 19 July 2025. 🌊
Once a piece of plastic is produced, it becomes part of our environment forever – it cannot break down, biodegrade, or become part of the natural system again without human intervention bad news for our marine life.🪸
We all want to enjoy the ocean and its abundance for years to come, so let’s protect the ocean’s future (and ours) while we have the chance.
Time: 09h00 to 11h00
Location: Sunset Beach
What to bring: Weather-appropriate clothing, bucket for collecting trash, water (in a reusable bottle), reusable gloves (like the ones you’d use for gardening or doing dishes), and a smile!
As always, there will be plenty of fun, spot prizes and fun to be had while cleaning up this stretch of our coast, and it’s always a pleasure meeting up with our growing ocean community at Sunset Beach. 🏝
Learn more: https://www.aquarium.co.za/events/trash-bash

Sustainable Schools Rally: Limpopo
2025-07-25 - 2025-07-27 | Lapalala Wilderness School, D1756, Waterberg District Municipality, Limpopo, South Africa
Join us for our upcoming Sustainable Schools Rally, designed to help you confidently navigate our online hub and make the most of the tools and resources available.
This session will place a special focus on helping you access and submit your School Environmental Management Plan (SEMP) – a key component of your school’s participation. We’ll walk you through each step to ensure you feel fully supported in completing and submitting your plan.
This session is ideal for all teachers new to the platform or those needing a refresher. We’re here to support you every step of the way.
Don’t miss this opportunity to get the most out of your school’s involvement in the programme!
RSVP by 23 July 2025 below to secure your spot!
*Please note:

This event is only for schools based in Limpopo
Only 2 teachers per school to attend

Please see the flyer below for more details:

Seal Public Information Evening
2025-07-25 18:30 - 20:00 | Two Oceans Aquarium, Dock Rd, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront,, Cape Town, Western Cape, 8002, South Africa
Join us for Two Oceans Aquarium for a critical public information session addressing the marine conservation issues that have dominated Cape Town’s headlines, from elephant seals disrupting traffic flow to concerning rabies outbreaks amongst local fur seals, these incidents highlight the complex relationship between urban development and marine wildlife.
This expert-led session will provide the latest scientific updates on these conservation challenges and examine their broader public impact on our coastal communities.
Featured Speakers
Our panel includes:
Gregg Oelofse – City of Cape Town Marine and Coastal Management
Dr Brett Gardner – Research Veterinarian, University of Melbourne
Yinhla Shihlomule – SAPRI Predator Specialist
What to Expect
Expert presentations on current seal-related incidents
Scientific analysis of rabies outbreaks in fur seal populations
Discussion of human-wildlife
When: Friday, 25 July 2025
Time: 18:30
Venue: Two Oceans Aquarium
Tickets: Free – bookings are essential on Quicket. Please click here

SAEP Presents: Essay Competition 2025
2025-09-05 | Western Cape
Theme: “Our Environment, Our Responsibility: Addressing Local Environmental Challenges”
Calling All Young Changemakers! Do you see pollution, waste, water shortages, or other environmental issues in your area? Do you have solutions? Your voice matters!
Write an Essay:
✅ Identify an environmental problem in your community
✅ Explain its causes and effects
✅ Suggest practical solutions
✅ Show how YOU can make a difference!
Word Count: 300–500 words (Please attach picture of the environmental issues you are tackling as well as a mind map of how you planned the structure of your essay.)
Prizes to be Won!
1st Place – R1000 + Certificate
2nd Place – R700 + Certificate
3rd Place – R500 + Certificate
Top 10 entries will be published in our Youth Environmental Voices booklet!
Deadline: 5 September 2025
Submit your essay to: govan@saep.org

Beach Clean-Ups Coming Up! 🌊
2025-09-06 - 2025-12-20 | Western Cape
Our coastlines and rivers need your help! So many exciting clean-ups are lined up to help protect and restore our beautiful coastlines. Every effort makes a big difference in saving marine life and keeping our beaches clean for everyone to enjoy.
📅 Upcoming Clean-Up Dates

6 Sept – Milnerton Beach | 9:30
17 Sept – KZN River (King’s Baton Relay)
20 Sept – Milnerton Beach | 9:00
27 Sept – Milnerton Lagoon | 9:30
4 Oct – Milnerton Beach | 9:30
11 Oct – Milnerton Lagoon | 9:30
17 Oct – Gqeberha Clean-Up
18 Oct – Milnerton Beach | 9:30
1 Nov – Milnerton Lagoon | 9:30
8 Nov – Milnerton Beach | 9:30
15 Nov – Milnerton Beach | 9:30
22 Nov – Milnerton Beach | 9:30
29 Nov – Small Bay, Blouberg | 9:30
13 Dec – Milnerton Lagoon | 9:30
20 Dec – Milnerton Beach | 9:30 🎅

💡 Want to do even more?
You can also sponsor a clean-up and play a direct role in supporting this important work!
📩 Email us at info@saveafishie.co.za if you’d like to sponsor or find out more.
Let’s come together to save our seas—one clean-up at a time!

Events in celebration of International Coastal Cleanup Day
2025-09-20 | Western Cape

International Coastal Cleanup – Beach Clean Up Event
2025-09-20 09:00 - 12:00 | Western Cape
Join us in making a real difference this Saturday, 20 September 2025 at Umbogintwini Beach for our annual Beach Clean Up, as part of the International Coastal Cleanup initiative!
🗓 Date: Saturday, 20 September 2025🕘 Time: 09:00 – 12:00📍 Venue: Umbogintwini Beach, Amanzimtoti Country Club, 1 Golf Course Road, Athlone Park
Let’s unite to protect our oceans and coastlines from plastic pollution and marine debris!
What to Bring:

Gloves
Sunscreen
Hat
Shoes
Water
Family & Friends!

Refuse bags will be supplied.
This event is powered by the Clean Surf Project in collaboration with Plastics SA and supported by amazing community partners. 💙
Contact details:083 733 6468 | 082 802 3353
cleansurfproject@gmail.com

Community in Action for World Cleanup Day!
2025-09-20 10:00 - 13:00 | Western Cape
Join us as we come together to take care of our environment and make a real difference this World Cleanup Day. Let’s create cleaner, healthier spaces for everyone! 💚
📅 Date: 20 September 2025
🕙 Time: 10:00 – 13:00
📍 Location: Ipesika Street, Greenville, Cape Town
✨ Why Participate?

Help reduce pollution
Meet new people
Create a cleaner & healthier environment

🙌 Bring your gloves, bring your friends, and be part of the change. Together, we can make an impact—one cleanup at a time!

Waddle for the African Penguin – Cape Town
2025-10-11 08:30 | Western Cape
The African penguin is facing extinction, and we need to take action now to ensure its survival!🐧
Join the annual Waddle for the African Penguin — a fun, meaningful walk that raises awareness and calls on policy-makers to protect this endangered species. Together, we can help #SaveTheAfricanPenguin and make sure it doesn’t disappear on our watch.
Meeting Point: Long Beach, Simon’s TownTime: 08:30 AMDistance: 4 kmEnd Point: Seaforth Beach, near the Boulders Penguin Colony
Wear black and white to show your support, and stand a chance to win exciting spot prizes!
Let’s walk for a purpose — to give the African penguin a future.
