The City of Cape Town has called on all nature lovers, adventure seekers, and selfie-with-a-squirrel takers to take part in the 2025 City Nature Challenge.
From Friday 25 April to Monday 28 April, Capetonians and visitors alike are invited to grab their smartphones or cameras and snap pics of every plant, bird, bug, or beast they can find — from the tiniest ant to the tallest tree.
Then, simply upload those nature shots to the iNaturalist app and be part of a global movement to celebrate biodiversity.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the City Nature Challenge, with the exciting theme: “Bring the Globe Together for Biodiversity.”
Over 2,000 cities around the world are joining in — and Cape Town plans to lead the charge!
Here’s how to join the fun:
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Use a smartphone with GPS on (or a camera and computer with internet access).
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Download the FREE iNaturalist app from the Play Store or App Store.
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Sign up here: City Nature Challenge 2025 – Cape Town.
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Get outside and snap away — whether it’s in a nature reserve, your garden, a schoolyard, or local park.
No observation is too small. If it walks, flies, crawls, grows, or glows — we want to see it!
And here’s the cherry on top: Access to Cape Town’s beautiful nature reserves will be FREE for all challenge participants from 25–28 April!
“This is a great chance for everyone to become a citizen scientist,” says Alderman Eddie Andrews, Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment. “In 2024, Capetonians logged over 42,000 observations. Let’s smash that record this year and showcase our incredible biodiversity to the world!”
Schools, universities, and community groups — this is a golden opportunity to turn outdoor learning into a wild adventure. Let your students discover the wonders of the natural world just outside the classroom!
For details on the City’s reserves, click here: bit.ly/3fbddE2
Please note: Free entry covers general access only. Permit-required activities (like sandboarding or 4x4ing) still have applicable fees.
So come on, Cape Town — let’s get outside, get curious, and get snapping! The world is watching — let’s give them something wild to see.
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