Come on, put on some comfy shoes, grab your sun hat and explore the area – there’s much more to Durbanville than meets the eye!
Durbanville Nature Reserve
Racecourse Road
If you love pretty plants and bird-watching brings you joy, this incredible six-hectare reserve is a joy to behold. Merging critically endangered Swartland shale renosterveld and Cape Flats sand fynbos, this is where you’ll find some 241 plant species, several animal species (including mammals, reptiles, and amphibians) as well as feathered friends like the Cape sugarbird, lesser double-collared sunbird and Cape spurfowl. Other interesting creatures found here include the small grey mongoose, angulate tortoise and the endemic and vulnerable Cape rain frog. There are various facilities on offer, including walking trails, wheelchair-friendly pathways and picnic sites. What’s more, environmental education activities are available for schools too (but be sure to book these with the reserve’s management.) Entrance is free.
Onze Molen Wind Mill
Onze Molen Road
It’s just a quick pitstop, but definitely one worth making, and this two hundred year old windmill is one of the only two antique windmills still standing in the Western Cape. It’s a fascinating landmark in the area that’s a reminder of the history of the area and was built by one Johannes Jacobus Uys on a piece of land that he bought in 1908. Over the decades, Onze Molen has gone through times of neglect and disrepair, but thankfully, it has been restored and now lives up to its former glory again.
Magik Forest
Those in the know will tell you that there is hardly a more magical way to spend some time outdoors than in the Majik Forest, which is literally just a minute or two from the Tyger Valley Shopping Centre, And whether it’s for a quick run or part of a family day out, you simply cannot go wrong here. With excellent running trails and MTB tracks, built and maintained by the Tygerberg MTB club, as well as beautiful fynbos, vineyards, a Pine forest, a dam and a stream – you’re in for a treat. For the actively inclined, the trail is pretty challenging with enough to get your heart rate pumping. Distances vary and you can take your pick from anything from 2-15km. All the trails are clearly marked, there is no entrance fee and it’s a dog-friendly zone.
WHERE TO PARK:
* In the yellow lines near the robot intersection of Van Riebeeckshof Road and Jip de Jager (as you come off the M16).
* At the Van Riebeeckshof Spar.
* At the Tygervalley Virgin Active if you want to turn your run into a 20km long run by adding a bit of tar.
Words: Riekie Human | Images: Supplied
