Be sure to save the date, Sunday 2 November, to attend the FynbosLIFE Fair, taking place at Zandvlei Lookout in Muizenberg.
This year’s theme focuses on fire — a vital, natural part of fynbos ecology that requires careful management. The event will feature speakers from the SPCA Wildlife Unit, Working With Fire, Cape Town Fire Department, Volunteer Wildfire Services and others, sharing insights into fire’s role in maintaining healthy ecosystems and strategies for wildfire prevention, controlled burns, and response.
Attendees will enjoy engaging demonstrations and talks that highlight how responsible fire management helps conserve this unique landscape. Dr. Glynis Humphrey, Ph.D. in Fire Ecology, will share her extensive experience across Africa and beyond, emphasizing fire’s ecological importance and the need for careful stewardship to protect fynbos biodiversity.
“Cape Town is considered both the biodiversity and extinction capital of the world, within a buzzing Cape Floristic Region (CFR) biodiversity hotspot. Found only in the CFR, the Fynbos Biome is globally renowned for its exceptional plant species richness and endemicity. We want to showcase this and all things fynbos at the FynbosLIFE Fair,” says Dr Caitlin von Witt, botanical ecologist and director of FynbosLIFE.
With the changing weather conditions the world is experiencing we can no longer ignore the need to reassess what is best ecologically suited in terms of what our future gardens look like, and locally indigenous fynbos most certainly makes sense. The FynbosLIFE Fair puts the spotlight on fynbos in all its forms — including fire-adapted landscapes and the importance of fire management in conservation.
“FynbosLIFE Fair, run on a volunteer basis, with a well-curated selection of fynbos and nature conservation organisations and fabulous fynbos artisans, aims to give fynbos its place in the sun by showcasing its beauty, conservation value, versatility, and diversity of fynbos products,” says von Witt.
- FynbosLIFE team members will speak about fynbos propagation and restoration, and give insight on FynbosLIFE projects KURUfynbos, BoSSIES, FUNDAfynbos, LIFE Gardens and Cape Flats Fynbos Nursery as well as the FynbosLIFE Veld Circles.
- Visitors can also enjoy a fanfare of fynbos-inspired artwork, ceramics, fabrics, and homeware; fynbos-distilled or -infused gin, beer and rum, honey, food featuring fynbos, and much more,” says FynbosLIFE Fair organiser Genie Vittu.
- Kids can explore the FUNbos play area for a range of environmentally themed activities, including fire safety demonstrations, with contributions from Sharkspotters, Dale Snyder's Reptile Show, and many more. On display will also be a local Lego designer SuperstofBricks, aiming to turn one of his creations into an official set. His ‘Fynbos Flowers’ set features plants from the Cape Floral Kingdom. The project gained over 10,000 supporters on Lego Ideas, mainly from South Africa. The Lego Group is now reviewing the design for potential commercial release.
- New to the fair will be various Friends of Groups, the Lepidopterists' Society of Africa, Entomological Society of Southern Africa, Cape Leopard Trust, Endangered Wildlife Trust and not forgetting loads of fynbos plants for sale, whilst local Kola Aka Vinyl Destination from The Commons and MC Mark Mwaba, both from Muizenberg, will provide vibey tunes for the day!
FynbosLIFE Veld Circles
FynbosLIFE has created eight Veld Circles in and around Cape Town which highlight the variety of fynbos vegetation types specific to these areas.
- Grootboschkloof Granite Fynbos Circle is located along the Grootboschkloof Walk in Constantia Hills and contains Peninsula Granite Fynbos (PGF).
- In Muizenberg, you'll find the Zandvlei Strandveld Circle, featuring Cape Flats Dune Strandveld (CFDS) plants.
- Newlands has the Papenboom Forest Circle is abundant with understorey plants from the Southern Afrotemperate Forest (SAF).
- The Doordrift Wetland Circle in Plumstead’s Doordrift Walk showcases Cape Lowland Freshwater Wetland (CLFW) species.
- Meadowridge Sand Fynbos Circle nestled in the Meadowridge Common features Cape Flats Sand Fynbos (CFSF).
- Cape Town city suburb Tamboerskloof features Peninsula Share Renosterveld (PSR) at the hidden gem of St Michael's Road Park Circle.
- Created in Sun Valley is the Hangklip Sand Fynbos Circle (HSF).
- Featuring Swartland Shale Renosterveld (SSR), the Door De Kraal Veld Circle, the eighth circle was created in July, a first in the northern suburbs.
“Discover the wonder of our fynbos. Join the growing number of fervent fynbos fans at the FynbosLIFE Fair!” says Dr von Witt.
WHAT: FynbosLIFE Fair
WHERE: Zandvlei Lookout, Promenade Rd, Muizenberg, Cape Town, 7950
WHEN: Sunday 2 November 2025 | 10:00 to 16:00
INFO: FynbosLIFE | See also MapMyWay
