Helderberg Nature Reserve to reopen after rampant wildfire forced closure

Helderberg Nature Reserve in Cape Town is expected to reopen on 1 August. The reserve was closed over the last month after a fire that raged for days in the mountain spread into the reserve and destroyed approximately 280 hectares in June.

HELDERBERG NATURE RESERVE TO OPEN IN AUGUST

The City of Cape Town’s MayCo Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Eddie Andrews, said he believes certain sections of the Helderberg Nature Reserve will be safe for the public by 1 August thanks to various clean-up and restoration activities.

Post-fire clean-ups continue and the burnt hiking trails are still being rebuilt, however, a number of routes will be accessible to visitors immediately.

These routes, which have been cleared of debris, will be marked by temporary trail markers.

“We urge visitors to only walk the trails identified for use and not wander on to old exposed trails into the veld. Keeping off popular trails that will still be closed when the reserve reopens will allow our teams to continue to work on these routes uninterrupted so that they can be available for everyone to enjoy safely once ready,” said Andrews.

At one point during the City’s firefighting efforts more than 100 fire and rescue teams were deployed to Helderberg Mountain. Homes in Silverboomkloof Road were destroyed and at least two firefighters were hospitalised.

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