Woody Cape

Fauna and Flora

The Woody Cape section encompasses the Alexandria dunefield, the largest dunefield in the southern hemisphere stretching over 50km of coastline and over 15 000 hectares.

The dunefield and unspoilt coastline of mainly sandy beaches is flanked by Southern Coastal Forest with species such as coast coral trees, real yellowwoods, white stinkwoods and knobthorns in abundance.

Wildlife which occurs in the forest includes bushbuck, bushpig, the rare nocturnal tree dassie, vervet monkeys and blue duiker. Signs of leopard and brown hyena have been recorded in the forest and on forest margins but sightings of these elusive predators are few. Many bird species occur in the forest, including the trumpeter hornbill and Knysna turaco. There have been sightings of the gorund hornbill in grassland pastures adjacent to the forest.

The marine section in Algoa Bay encompasses the Bird Island and the St Croix Island chain. These islands are vitally important for marine bird breeding colonies. Bird Island is home to the largest Cape Gannet breeding colony (some 160 000 birds) in the world while St. Croix houses the largest breeding colony of African Penguins. Endangered birds, such as the Roseate Tern, also breed on the islands.

Subscribe to Newsletter