About Conservancies

Conservancies represent a vital model of collaborative conservation, where private landowners voluntarily unite to manage their properties in ways that sustain and protect biodiversity, ecosystems, and natural heritage. Many Conservancies function as a non-profit conservation community, fostering collective action and shared responsibility for the environment. These partnerships form an important part of South Africa’s conservation network, complementing the efforts of formally protected areas.

Within the Western Cape, more than 80 registered conservancies operate under the Conservation at Work network, each contributing to habitat preservation, sustainable land use, and community awareness. The Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve (CWBR), is home to several of these conservancies. Among them are two within the Stellenbosch area — the Bottelary Hills Renosterveld Conservancy and the Greater Simonsberg Conservancy.

Established in 1992, the Bottelary Hills Renosterveld Conservancy safeguards 1,500 hectares of critically endangered Renosterveld within the heart of the world’s smallest and most diverse floral kingdom. Home to over 8,600 plant species—many found nowhere else on Earth—the Conservancy offers a sanctuary of natural beauty and biodiversity. Visitors can explore 130 km of mountain bike trails, scenic hiking routes, and immersive wine experiences across 55 member farms, making it an essential destination for nature and adventure enthusiasts visiting the Stellenbosch area.

The Greater Simonsberg Conservancy (GSC), established in 2004 near Stellenbosch in the Cape Winelands, covers nearly 5,000 hectares of farmland, with about 1,562 hectares dedicated to conservation. It protects critically endangered vegetation, including Swartland Shale Renosterveld and Boland Granite Fynbos, and features a 300-year-old yellowwood forest on Klapmutskop. The GSC manages alien vegetation, fire planning, and environmental education, and offers hiking and mountain-biking trails.

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