The Western Cape has taken significant strides in environmental conservation with the official declaration of the Mount David Nature Reserve, a sanctuary that spans over 800 hectares and serves as a bastion for threatened ecosystems and endangered species, reports Cape {town} Etc.
On November 7, 2025, the province formally announced this landmark initiative, marking a vital addition to its network of protected areas.
The property, formerly known as Diepgat, was acquired by devoted conservationist Antony van Hoogstraten in 2008. For the past 17 years, Van Hoogstraten has committed himself to restoring the land, which was previously used for livestock and grain farming, to its natural state.
His efforts have included a rigorous programme of alien species removal, resulting in the emergence of thriving wetlands, seeps, and pristine fynbos, a unique and biodiverse shrubland endemic to the Cape Floristic Region.
In a remarkable find during post-wildfire surveys in 2010, a previously thought extinct species of Erica, classified as Critically Endangered, was discovered within the grounds of the reserve, further elevating its conservation significance.
‘The declaration of Mount David forms part of the Western Cape’s growing network of protected areas, helping to conserve biodiversity, restore degraded landscapes, and strengthen the province’s ecological services,’ noted Anton Bredell, the Western Cape minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning.
These services, essential for the wellbeing of the local community and economy, include clean water, healthy soils, climate regulation, and enhanced ecological corridors.
The legal framework for the establishment of Mount David has been facilitated by CapeNature under the National Environmental Management Protected Areas Act, with essential support from the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) and the conservation organisation Bionerds.
Bionerds played a crucial role in drafting the Protected Area Management Plan, which was formally approved in 2023.
In 2020, a dedicated team from Bionerds set out to survey the neighbouring Maanschynkop Nature Reserve in search of the elusive Moonlight Mountain Toadlet (Capensibufo selenophos), a species listed as Data Deficient due to its lack of records.
While no sighting was confirmed there, an unexpected exploration at Diepgat revealed a flourishing breeding population of the toadlet, underscoring the ecological richness of the site.
Alouise Lynch, director of Bionerds, expressed her contentment at the efforts taken to formally protect this vital area. ‘To have recorded a new breeding locality for the Moonlight Mountain Toadlet was a special addition to the ecological diversity of this property,’ she stated.
‘The commitment shown by landowners like the Van Hoogstraten family, who have dedicated themselves to restoring ecosystems to near-pristine conditions, is a significant achievement for conservationists working with threatened species and habitats.’
Mount David is home to a variety of wildlife, including leopard, klipspringer, grey rhebok, black harrier, Verreaux’s eagle, and blue cranes, making it a refuge for many vulnerable species.
Shortly after the discovery of the Moonlight Mountain Toadlet, representatives from Bionerds met with the Van Hoogstraten family to discuss formal protection for their conservation efforts, leading to the christening of the reserve as Mount David Nature Reserve.
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Picture: Supplied
