Conservation in Action
The West Coast Private Game reserve is located on a sensitive and ecologically important zone between the Atlantic Ocean, the West Coast National Park and the town of Yzerfontein. Coastal areas like these along the West Coast are under significant pressure of urbinization, especially in areas near existing towns. We are proud to rewild and conserve an important ecological corridor between West Coast National Park around the urban development of Yzerfontein.
WHAT MAKES US SPECIAL
The West Coast Private Game Reserve is a rare ecological treasure where large African wildlife roams freely alongside one of the world’s most botanically rich floral regions. Here, critically endangered Sand Fynbos and Strandveld vegetation thrive, transforming the landscape into a kaleidoscope of wildflowers each spring. Seasonal salt pans shimmer on the plains, drawing flocks of flamingos and other birdlife, while the presence of roaming game such as eland, zebra, and hartebeest makes this a true convergence of big game and botanical wonder.
OUR MISSION
To restore and maintain a conservation buffer zone between the West Coast National Park and Yzerfontein, while protecting endangered coastal eco-zones threatened by development along the West Coast.
Wildlife
IN THE BUSH
Among the thickets of Strandveld and Fynbos, our browsing species play an essential ecological role. Eland, Kudu, Impala and the Giraffe are not just iconic sightings—they’re nature’s land managers, helping to control invasive vegetation and encouraging the regeneration of native flora. These browsers move quietly through the bush, shaping the landscape in ways that support biodiversity and long-term ecosystem health.
ON THE VELD
Out on the open plains, herds of grazers bring the reserve to life. Zebra, Red Hartebeest, Springbok, Waterbuck and Wildebeest roam the veld in seasonal rhythm, keeping the grasslands trimmed and supporting the dynamic balance between flora and fauna. Their presence helps maintain the integrity of our fragile West Coast grassland biomes, allowing space for wildflowers and endemic plant species to flourish in spring.
RARELY SEEN, MOST ADMIRED
For those with a patient eye and a bit of luck, the reserve offers a chance to encounter some of its more secretive inhabitants. Nocturnal Porcupines rustle through undergrowth at dusk, while Duiker and Steenbok dart between shrubs in the early morning light. Tracks in the sand might hint at the presence of a solitary Caracal or even the rare and elusive Cape Leopard, a quiet sentinel of this untamed corner of the West Coast.
Plant life
RARETY AT EVERY FOOTSTEP
The West Coast Private Game Reserve is home to two of South Africa’s critically endangered vegetation types: Hopefield Sand Fynbos and Saldanha Flats Strandveld. These ecosystems form part of the Cape Floristic Region, one of the world’s six floral kingdoms—and the smallest yet most diverse per square kilometre. With hundreds of plant species packed into each hectare, many of them endemic or threatened, the reserve is not just beautiful—it’s ecologically vital. These biomes are increasingly rare due to urban expansion, agriculture, and invasive species, making their conservation here a quiet but powerful triumph of stewardship.
A WILDFLOWER SPECTACLE
Every year between August and October, the reserve is transformed by the West Coast’s legendary flower season. After the winter rains, the veld bursts into bloom with a dazzling array of daisies, succulents, bulbs and groundcovers in every imaginable colour. Walking or driving through the reserve during this time is like moving through a living artwork – vivid, surprising, and ever-changing. It’s a brief but breath-taking moment in nature’s calendar, best experienced with camera in hand and time on your side.
TASTE AND FEEL THE FYNBOS
The botanical experience doesn’t end on the trails. Throughout your stay, you’ll find touches of edible and aromatic fynbos woven into daily life. Each house is stocked with locally blended herbal teas, soaps made from wild botanicals, and a selection of herbs that grow naturally on the reserve. Learn about the culinary and medicinal uses of plants like wild rosemary, buchu, and silverbush, once traditional knowledge, now a renewed connection to the land. Small luxuries that awaken the senses and deepen your understanding of this remarkable floral kingdom.
Blogs on Conservation Projects with pics
Our guests have shared wonderful experiences, check out their stories!
