Cape Town is unique due to its high concentration of local flora and fauna species. The Blaauwberg Nature Reserve protects and conserves, one of the City’s- natural Areas with biodiversity and Heritage. The Blaauwberg Nature Reserve (BBNR) is a unique area of approximately 2 000 ha comprising a rich mosaic of natural, cultural and historical elements. It is within the growth corridor of the City and is therefore placed under extreme pressure from the direct threats of urban development.

The Blaauwberg Nature Reserve has a spectacular view down fynbos slopes from Blaauwberg Hill, across the city, to seven kilometres of rocky, sandy coastline, the ocean and beyond. Blaauwberg Hill, is one of the few viewpoints in the World from where you can see two proclaimed World Heritage Sites, namely Table Mountain and Robben Island. The Reserve also offers the; 'Montispectus' a self-catering unit, which you can hire out for a pleasant weekend getaway with family and friends.

The BBNR has been a concept since the 1980s. In 1996, conservation Area status was conferred on public-owned portions of land, as well as a section of private land comprising the site of the Battle of Blaauwberg, in terms of the National Monuments Act (Act 28 of 1969). A proposed boundary for the Reserve was also gazetted. In 2000, the Blaauwberg Conservation Area development and management plan and its recommendations were approved by the then Cape Metropolitan Council and Blaauwberg Municipality. One of the key programmes in the plan was the Land Consolidation Programme, which has resulted in three of the five private landholdings having been incorporated into BBNR in 2002, 2005 and 2010 respectively. The programme is ongoing. Of special note is the 462 km² that was donated to the Reserve by Garden Cities.

In 2006, the Western Cape Member of the Executive Council for Environmental Affairs and Development Planning granted approval for the establishment of the Blaauwberg Conservation Area local nature reserve in P.N. 345/2006 dated 27 Oct 2006. The provincially-owned portions of the reserve were proclaimed as Blaauwberg Provincial Nature Reserve by means of P.N. 06/2007 dated 2 Mar 2007. The City of Cape Town manages both its own and the provincially-owned land as a single entity called Blaauwberg Nature Reserve.
The official office of the BBNR is at Eerstesteen, on Otto du Plessis Rd between Bloubergstrand and Melkbosstrand.

The Town was established in 1910. Directly translated from Afrikaans; it would mean Steyn's Rest!
The beautiful sand stone Church was well placed at the end of Van Riebeek street, in the centre of this Historic Town. (This was needed for the Boer Folk to come worship.) The corner stone to this NG Church, was laid in 1911 and a new one built in 1928.

Two different Towns with the same name have over the Years developed in the Country of South Africa. One in Gauteng and the other in the Cape! Let us first begin with the town at the foot of the Suikerbosrand Mountain, in Gauteng. (50km, South-East of Johannesburg and close to the Mpumalanga border.) This Town is located along the N3 highway between Durban and Johannesburg. (It is a great refuelling point and rest stop, for tourists travelling between the two Cities.)
During the First War of Independence; Heidelberg served as capital of the Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek under the Triumvirate of Paul Kruger, PJ Joubert and MW Pretorius, from 1880 to 1883. Heidelberg began in 1862 as a trading station built by a German, HJ Uekermann. A Town was laid out around the store and named after Uekermann's Hometown; Heidelberg.
Today many of the old buildings have been persevered and can still be seen throughout the town. Monuments to the women and children who died during the Second Boer War can also be seen in the town.
In 1885 the Witwatersrand Gold Reef was discovered in the Heidelberg District and the office of the Mining Commissioner was established there. Heidelberg developed as a typical rural Victorian town. Many buildings dating back to the period between 1890 and 1910 have been preserved.
It is today, in a superb location! There is a general high quality of life with: 'safe clean environment and an excellent range of amenities, being offered!' This has attracted a significant base of major industries, but has resulted in an influx of residents who commute daily to their place of work outside Heidelberg. This has unfortunately increased the congestion on the Road!
Heidelberg also boasts one of the richest agricultural Districts in the Country, with a highly diversified agricultural base. The Town has excellent medical facilities and these days; caters for all religious denominations, has 5 Shopping Centres, and boasts an exceptional range of sporting and recreational facilities!

To the West of the Town is the Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve in which is Gauteng’s highest point, 2 000 meters above sea level. Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve is also in the Area of in the geological and Historical World famous VREDEFORT DOME, which has been declared a World Heritage Site!
The Area is mountainous, interesting and picturesque and the resort is situated in peaceful surroundings away from public roads and residential areas. You can hike, swim in a small pool, mountain bike or just relax in this unspoilt hilly landscape.

Then, there is another Town with the same name, in the Western Province, (located at co-ordinates: Latitude of 20.906 and a Longitude of -34.081.)
This is about half way between Cape Town and Knysna! It is just East of the Overberg region and is the start of the Garden Route.
It was developed in 1716, after Louis Fourie obtained grazing rights from Governor Van der Stel and he settled alongside the Duivenhoks River. This is where he later constructed the; 'Doornboom Farm'. This was registered in 1728. The Area was initially part of the greater Riversdale District, until the Riversdale Dutch Reformed Church Council, in 1855; bought a portion of the Farm Doornboom. A New Dutch Reformed Congregation was then created for the farmers between Swellendam and Riversdale. The Town then grew around the Church!
Heidelberg is part of the Hessequa Local Municipality. The first erven was sold in the Town, in November 1855 and in 1862 the first Town management board was inaugurated. Fourie House on Fourie Street is the oldest House in Heidelberg.
Dairy farming, cattle, ostrich feathers, tobacco and corn were the products that put the community on its feet and the opening of the Railway in 1903 provided that essential link with the outside World.
These days Heidelberg is a quiet place to experience peace and tranquillity, with many surrounding farmlands! Activities in and around Heidelberg are plentiful. This Area offers many trails for hikers, nature lovers and day drives for Outdoor enthusiasts! The Bushbuck and Grysbok Trails offer day walks varying from 2 km to 15 km, in the Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve. The Boosmansbos Wilderness Area offers over 64 km of paths to choose from and the circular two day route of 27 km is a popular option. Day drives include exciting drives through the Tradouw Pass, the Gymanshoek Pass and Garcia Pass.
The Bontebok National Park is a big attraction for game and bird viewing. The surrounding Mountain Areas are full of some of the most pristine Fynbos you can find in the Western Cape.

Twenty-five years ago, the informal settlement was once a piece of land with a few houses scattered around. Today over 30 000 people call Zandspruit home!

"People from all over South Africa and even neighbouring countries, live in Zandspruit, some mostly employed in Johannesburg. However, as was evident at 10am on a Thursday morning, with many residents roaming the streets, unemployment is one of the biggest issues facing by the community, along with a lack of electricity. In the March of 2016, residents went on a rampage after Eskom switched off the power grid due to illegal connections!"- Randburgsun

Diepsloot is a densely populated township in the North of Johannesburg, South Africa. Diepsloot, loosely translated as "deep ditch" from the Afrikaans, is one of Johannesburg's most densely populated townships. Established in 1994, by what was at the time known as: 'the Rand Provincial Administration'; for people who had initially been evicted from informal settlements in Honeydew, Sevenfontein, Zandspruit and Alexandra.
It is made up of fully government-subsidised housing, brick houses built by landowners, partially government subsidised houses as well as shacks. (These shacks are built on any piece of land with nothing already on it. Some landowners charge rent to others to stay in a shack on their land.)
There are an estimated 50 000 plus shacks alongside more than 8 000 formal housing units, such as RDP (RDP houses: a house that was built as part of a government-funded social housing project) houses, self-built houses on serviced sites, and a small number of bank-financed houses. The formal dwellings are mostly brick structures on separate stands, with access to electricity, tap water, flush or chemical toilets and refuse removal at least once a week. In less than 20 years, Diepsloot has grown into a bustling neighbourhood covering approximately 5 square kilometres with a population of more than 350,000. Statistics South Africa says Diepsloot has an employment rate of only; between 53% to 56 %. Despite its socio-economic challenges, Diepsloot is a vibrant neighbourhood with residents that are optimistic and determined to make better lives for themselves. There are a number of active community development organisations in Diepsloot including The Diepsloot Community Development Forum, Diepsloot Arts and Culture Network, WASSUP Diepsloot, Diepsloot Youth Projects etc.