ZNR #2: Fauna & Estuarine Function
The second cache, a small tablet pot, is hidden on a small headland near an inlet from the lake used by a local yacht club. From here there are great 360o views, east across to Park Island, south up the lake towards Muizenberg and west to the eastern Silvermine mountains.
To Find the Cache: clicking on the image above will access a jigsaw, completion of which will reveal the cache coordinates – and a useful hint!
Please note that the cache description contains the above external link to a jigsaw. Although it is from a well-known source, it has 'not been checked by Groundspeak nor by the reviewer for possible malicious content, and access to the site is therefore at your own risk'.
The fauna of Zandvlei is remarkably diverse, particularly given its relatively small size and proximity to urban areas.
- Birds: The wetland and estuarine habitat support both those that live here all year and those that migrate from Europe, Asia and other parts of Africa. At least 166 species have been recorded in the reserve including great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus), African fish eagles (Haliaeetus vocifer), Caspian terns (Sterna caspia), ducks, coots, herons, ibises, pelicans, kingfishers, swallows and weavers. Among these, six (or more) are listed in the Red Data list, including the Eastern White Pelican, Little Bittern, Greater Flamingo, African Marsh Harrier, Peregrine Falcon and Caspian Tern.
Fish Eagle
Caspian Tern
Purple Heron
Great Crested Grebe
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Fish: Zandvlei functions as a nursery for marine and estuarine fish and over 30 species have been recorded, including the Southern mullet or Harder (Liza richardsonii), leervis (also known as garrick or leerfish; Lichia amia), the critically endangered white steenbras (also known as pignose grunter; Lithognathus lithognathus), white stumpnose (Rhabdosargus globiceps), Cape galaxias (Galaxias zebratus) and elf (Pomatomus saltatrix) (see Gallery).
Anglers are encouraged to remove alien invasive fish species, such as common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and barbel (also known as sharptooth catfish; Clarias gariepinus).
Huge Leervis caught in the lagoon
Southern Mullet
Sharpnose Catfish (alien)
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Amphibians & Reptiles: Among amphibians, the endangered Western Leopard Toad (Amietophrynus pantherinus) breeds in the reserve. Reptiles recorded at the north end of the vlei include some 20+ species such as angulate tortoise (Chersina angulata) marsh terrapin (Pelomedusa subrufa), mole snake (Pseudaspis cana), and brown water snake (Lycodonomorphus rufulus).
Brown Water Snake
Marsh Terrapin
Mole Snake
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Mammals: 23 species have been recorded (including aliens). These include the Cape clawless otter (Aonyx capensis), porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis), small grey and water mongoose (Galerella pulverulenta and Atilax paludinosus), Cape dune mole rat (Bathyergus suillus), Cape grysbok (Raphicerus melanotis) and even occasional caracal (Caracal caracal).
Cape Dune Mole Rat
Cape Grey Mongoose
Together, this biodiversity makes Zandvlei a remarkable urban-nature interface, providing an essential ecological refuge in a heavily developed area.
Estuarine Function
A key reason for Zandvlei’s importance is its estuarine function. The freshwater inflows from streams and canals, combined with a channel to the sea, allow life cycles of fish and other marine species to complete. Juvenile marine fish use the vlei as a nursery environment where they can grow safely before being released out to sea.
The estuary mouth needs to be open for at least a part of the year to maintain the required salinity and connectivity with the sea, enabling young fish to enter the estuary and older fish to return to the ocean. It is opened artificially by the City of Cape Town’s Catchment Management Department when a high spring tide is expected (see here). In a 2008 study, it was ranked 46th of 250 estuaries for viability on the False Bay coast.
