Whether you always find yourself snapping photos of natural wonders for fun or consider yourself something of a citizen scientist, the City Nature Challenge can’t wait to see the species you’ll find as part of the world’s favourite natural treasure hunt. Here’s how to take part:
South Africa (23 April 2025) — With yesterday being Earth Day, there are few better way to celebrate than by encouraging each other to spotlight the treasures of our planet that happen to call South Africa home. The City Nature Challenge is just around the corner, and with it comes an open invitation for residents of participating ‘cities’ to get out and about, snap some photos of species green, feathered and everything in between and show the world just how much biodiversity South Africa has!
For those who are unfamiliar, the City Nature Challenge is a global event that’s all about documenting the wildlife in different cities. It began as a healthy competition between cities and natural science lovers on a mission to discover urban bio-diversity, and has since grown to become a movement that connects people around the world through a love of observing fauna and flora.
You don’t need to be an experienced photographer or conservationist. All you need is the ability to observe the natural world and the right tools to snap and share what you see!
How to Take Part in the 2025 City Nature Challenge
- Check if your City is participating—you can find the 2025 participants here.
- Make sure you have a smartphone or camera to take your photos and an internet connection. Importantly, you will need to have a device that can connect to a computer with internet access to upload your snaps to iNaturalist—the platform where all citizen scientists will upload the goods.
- Download iNaturalist via the Play Store or App Store, and check the app for any updates related to the challenge.
- Head out, snap away and upload—there is no limit to the number of observations you can submit! In fact, you’re encouraged to record as many wild plants and/or animals as you can.
In good news for Capetonians, access to the City’s nature reserves will be free from 25 April to 28 April for those up to the challenge. You can find out more about where to find these natural pockets, here.
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