From delicate fynbos blooms to intricate insects, students at the University of the Western Cape captured stunning shots of the Cape Flats Nature Reserve in this year’s Nature Photography Competition – celebrating a beauty that isn’t showcased enough.
Cape Town, South Africa (02 October 2026) – While the Cape Flats is widely known for its rich history, cultural resilience, and socio-economic challenges, it also holds a hidden gem that doesn’t always make the headlines: the Cape Flats Nature Reserve.
Recognised as a Provincial Heritage Site, this reserve protects two threatened vegetation types: the Endangered Cape Flats Dune Strandveld and the Critically Endangered Cape Flats Sand Fynbos.
As one of the remaining fragments of the Cape Flats’ original landscape, the reserve represents an important part of the region’s natural heritage.
Recently, students at the University of the Western Cape were invited to pause and truly look at the magnificent biodiversity right on their doorstep. Through the second annual Nature Photography Competition, students explored the reserve with fresh eyes, capturing everything from intricate insects and vibrant plant life to the play of light and texture across the fynbos.
The response from the UWC student community was exceptional. With 196 photograph entries across the Camera and Cellphone categories, the competition not only celebrated the extraordinary biodiversity surrounding UWC, but also showcased the unique ways its students connect with and interpret the beauty around them.
External judges Monique Heystek, Carmen Lorainne and Christiaan Cloete generously contributed their time and expertise, reviewing all 196 submissions and participating in Photowalks with students.
The competition culminated in the “Discovering Our Natural Heritage” exhibition, launched in the UWC Library on 22 September, fittingly during Heritage Month.
Out of all the incredible submissions, twenty-four standout photographs were selected for the exhibition. Winners were announced in both categories, alongside a Crowd Favourite chosen through public voting.
The talented photographers who took home top honours were:
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1st: Daegan Stegmann
2nd: Danelle Vass
3rd: Alyx du Toit
Cellphone Category
1st: Aqeel Booley
2nd: Thabiso Makhaye
3rd: Ahmed Arendse
Crowd Favourite
Taariq Taliep
The exhibition will remain on display at the UWC Library until the end of October, and the UWC Nature Reserve Unit hopes the competition will continue to grow, inspiring even more members of the University student community to look closer, connect with nature, and discover the remarkable natural heritage right on UWC’s doorstep.
Sources: University of the Western Cape
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