Hikers, walkers, and nature lovers can look forward to a new trail currently in the works at Princess Vlei Park—a hotspot for breathtaking views and rare natural species in the Western Cape.
Cape Town, South Africa (31 March 2025) — A new trail is on its way, and nature enthusiasts are counting down the days until they can explore Princess Vlei Park more than ever before.
A hotspot for breathtaking views and rare species, Princess Vlei is a breeding site for the Endangered Western Leopard Toad and contains remnants of the critically endangered Cape Flats Sand Fynbos as well as other fynbos species and the Strawberry Spiderhead.
The new trail will allow hikers, walkers and nature lovers to explore more of the area than ever before.
“At the moment many areas are inaccessible and once the new trail circling the vlei is completed, it will create more space for residents and visitors to walk and run, while also engaging with the natural environment. The trail will provide a respite from the urban environment and give visitors an opportunity to unwind, engage with nature, exercise and socialise.” – Councillor Francine Hingahm, Mayco Member for Community Services and Health
The trail construction is set to be done in collaboration with the Princess Vlei Forum and the City of Cape Town, expressing that the rehabilitation of sensitive vegetation will also be completed as part of the process.
Walking, hiking, running and a degree of cycling are encouraged once the trail is complete. However, cyclists will only be able to adventure along certain sections while off-road four-wheelers and night cycling won’t be permitted due to the hazards posed to natural vegetation and the Western Leopard Toad.
The trail will take visitors through unique parts of South Africa’s heritage and to intersections of the community. The regular Saturday market on the Eastern Shore of Vlei and Trail for one poses a great place for meeting new people, while those looking for moments of solitude might enjoy the seating areas or bridges near the water’s edge that are also part of the new trail’s makeover.
“This project has been years in the making and I am thrilled to see it take shape,” Ward Councillor Kevin Southgate says. “Princess Vlei holds deep cultural and ecological significance, and this trail will create more opportunities for the community to connect with and appreciate the space.”
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Additionally, interpretive signage will help provide extra nuggets of information about the area’s history and ecology for the curious adventurer.
Construction of the new trail is set to be completed by December this year, but 12 months of maintenance for the rehabilitation efforts project will be completed in full, with the final completion in December 2026.
Meanwhile, in good news for the Western Leopard Toads, an anonymous donor has bought a crucial breeding habitat in the heart of Noordhoek!
Sources: City of Cape Town
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