Mamre Nature Garden is a nature reserve

Nature reserve

A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...

 in Cape Town

Cape Town

Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...

, South Africa

South Africa

The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...

, located on the city’s northern outskirts. The reserve has a high degree of biodiversity

Biodiversity

Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...

 and preserving the endangered Atlantis Sand Fynbos

Atlantis Sand Fynbos

Atlantis Sand Fynbos is a critically endangered Fynbos vegetation type that occurs to the north of Cape Town, in the Western Cape, South Africa.It is listed as critically endangered as it is home to a great many threatened Red List species.-See also:...

 vegetation type and the plants and animals that live in it. In addition, the reserve has an important cultural history.

Biodiversity

The 254 ha area of Mamre Nature Garden protects a rare and valuable piece of the endangered Atlantis Sand Fynbos

Atlantis Sand Fynbos

Atlantis Sand Fynbos is a critically endangered Fynbos vegetation type that occurs to the north of Cape Town, in the Western Cape, South Africa.It is listed as critically endangered as it is home to a great many threatened Red List species.-See also:...

 vegetation type. Among the many plants to be found here are Protea repens, Gladiolus gracilis (“bloupypie”), Salvia lanceolata

Salvia lanceolata

Salvia lanceolata is a perennial shrub native to a small area of coast on the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. It is typically found growing in sandy ground at sea level, and on dry hills and flat ground up to 1000 feet elevation. Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, a pioneer in evolutionary theory, first...

, Erica decora. A variety of animals can also be found at this reserve.

Cultural History

This area used to be called “Geelvlei” (Yellow vlei) because of the masses of small yellow flowers that covered the area. Unfortunately much of the wetland area and floral richness is now gone. A settlement was established here in 1701 by the Cape governor, and it was home to a Moravian mission at Louwskloof – now a National Heritage Site

National Heritage Site

A National Heritage Site is a location/site that regards a building, monument, archeological, geographical,natural or topological feature having a large value that has been registered by a governmental agency of a particular country...

. The September Spring Flower Festival used to be held here, due to this spot’s impressive annual display of indigenous wildflowers. The festival now takes place nearby at Mamre.