Biosphere Reserve

Rooiels falls within the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve which is the heart of the smallest of the world’s floral kingdoms (the Cape Floral Kingdom). This reserve of around 100 000 hectares has the highest density of different plant species in the world (the South American rain-forest is second). There are over 1800 indigenous plant species and of those, 77 are endemic i.e. occur nowhere else in the world.

Kogelberg was the first of the UNESCO world-wide biosphere reserves to be recognized in Southern Africa (in 1998). The Biosphere reserves incorporate a range of different levels of conservation and have been described as “living experiments in sustainability, tasked with the role of showing the world how to survive.” They help to meet one of the most challenging issues facing our planet – to preserve biodiversity. Genetic conservation is essential to our survival and to meeting the future needs of ever increasing populations.

Fynbos and Alien Vegetation

Fynbos is the generic term used to describe the group of plant families growing naturally in our area. These include proteas, ericas, restios, bulbs, perlagoniums, daisies and many other species. They are adapted to the wind and the acidic and nutrient-poor soil of the area. Invasive alien vegetation takes its toll on our indigenous fynbos and eventually “crowds it out”. These alien plants also create a serious fire hazard. The most common problem plants are rooikrans (Acacia cyclops) and fountain grasses (Pennisetum setaceum and Pennisetum clandestinum (kikuyu)).
The Rooiels Conservancy are proactive and a monthly hack group spends the first Saturday morning of each month cutting down alien vegetation in the village. Please remove them from your gardens and join us on the Hack.

Guide to Rooiels Indigenous Plants. Dave de Klerk has recorded many of the Rooiels plants in a unique guide which is flower colour coded and easy to use. If you identify additional species growing naturally on your erf – or anywhere else in Rooiels, please photograph, record the location, and contact Dave or send it to rooielsweb@gmail.com.

The Road reserves – the natural fynbos that grows along the roadsides – are an important repository of indigenous flora seed. *Please try to leave the area along the road edges natural*. It is municipal land and not part of your gardens. It also enhances the natural ambiance of Rooiels which increases the values of your properties!

We bought into this natural environment for what it is. We shouldn’t try to “tame” it or change it to something we left behind in the city.

Local Birds

Rooiels is well known for sightings of the Cape Rockjumper which is endemic to the Cape mountain fynbos. We also have several pairs of breeding Black Oystercatchers and in some years Verreaux’s (Black) Eagles nest on Klein Hangklip. There a Rooiels list of “All Time Sightings” compiled by Alison Ayre and Helen Jones (our local bird experts). Keep up to date with Tweet – the Flora & Fauna Community Sightings.

Marine Animals

Southern Right Whales can often be seen off our coast between July/August and November/December. Bryde’s whales, dolphins and seals can be seen throughout the year.
Rooiels is a popular crayfishing spot. Please note that there is a limited season and permits are required. Mussels can be collected from the rocks all year and permits are available from any post office. Angling is also popular. Galjoen, Red Roman, Blacktail, White Steenbras, Musselcracker, Geelbek, Kob, Red Stumpnose and Hottentot occur in our waters. You need a permit and restrictions may apply e.g. Galjoen has a closed season.
PLEASE REPORT POACHING

Baboons

Single males, family groups, or the troop of around 20 can be seen moving around the village. Watching them is fascinating – especially the youngsters frolicking around or the babies clinging to their mothers’ bellies and riding on their father’s back. But they are also a nuisance and given the slightest opportunity they will enter homes in search of food. Most homeowners have experienced invasions and know they can leave an awful mess!
Baboons are not naturally aggressive towards humans or their pets. They are essentially focused on your food. For the sake of both the baboons and your sanity – remove all food opportunities. If confronted by a baboon drop the food you are carrying and they lose all interest in you. Dont give them a fright when they are in your house or they void their bowels – be sure you are not blocking their exit and calmly insist they take what they have grabbed and leave. Feeding, shooting or harming baboons is unlawful.
Go to the baboon pages link above for information on protecting your home and reducing conflict.

Other Animals

Rooiels has some seldom-seen animals including otters and leopards and the community supports cameras so that we can get a glimpse of their lives – see Nature’s Candid Camera and the Leopard Blog or the Otter Blog. There are many other animals which we only rarely glimpse including rooikat (caracal), genet and klipspringer. Then there are those we see more often including mongoose, tortoise, dassies and baboons.

Light Pollution

Because Rooiels is so “close to nature” we want to avoid light pollution. With no street lights and relatively few homes, the village is peaceful at night and the stars shine brightly. There is a municipal bylaw which limits external lights and property owners are asked to comply with the spirit as well as the letter of this bylaw. Reduce your light footprint by installing sensor lights for security and closing blinds – particularly from the upper level of double story homes.

Keep Rooiels and our beaches clean

We need to all work together to clean up the environment. As you go for a walk please keep your eye out for litter, pick it up and put it in the bins. There are no municipal workers to do it here. We love to feel that we live in unspoilt natural surroundings but there is only us to keep it that way!
And then our beaches ………. unfortunately all sorts of plastic and rubbish washes up onto our beaches. Even the small pieces are harmful to marine life and we ask everyone to pick some up and to encourage their children to join in. Each piece removed does help, even if the task seems overwhelming. To learn more about the impact of plastic in our seas click here.

Dogs and other Pets

Rooiels, like many other communities, advocates a policy of “good-neighbourliness”. As far as pets are concerned this includes respect for others’ rights and wishes. Please remove all dog mess from beaches, roads and paths (remove it in plastic bags, or scoop it deep into the bushes). Ensure that your dog is under your control at all times, that it does not chase birds or wildlife, and does not frighten pedestrians. Any person with a dog which bites a person is liable to prosecution. Click to go to the Overstrand Municipal Bylaws to see the latest laws which restrict dogs on beaches (especially during the holiday season) between 0800 and 1800 and which require dogs to be on leashes.

Drones

Under legislation introduced in July 2015, it is illegal to fly drones within 50 m of any person who is not under your control – nor is it legal to fly within 50m of any building without the permission of the owner of the building, nor within 50m of a public road, and not within 10km of an airport, helipad or airstrip. They must be flown in daylight in clear weather conditions and must be less than 7 kg. The drones can only be flown within Restricted Visual Line-of-sight of the operator. You can access the legislation from the RERA page or go direct

Firewise

Rooiels is considered an extremely high fire risk area. Reducing the risk of fire is everyone’s responsibility. Please note that it is illegal to make a fire anywhere in Rooiels other than in fireplaces and braais on your own property. This includes burning garden refuse outside your home. Do not throw any old braai or fire coals or cigarette butts into the fynbos – these should be buried or removed with your garbage. Find details on the Firewise page with guidelines and contacts and the evacuation plan.

Roads and Road Reserves

The roads in Rooiels are narrow, unpaved and without sidewalks – children, dogs, baboons, francolins and tortoises walk in our roads – please drive really slowly. For traffic violations in Rooiels phone 028 3138165. The roadside areas (road reserves) are municipal land and are kept wild. They are very important as a natural seed repository, they provide habitat for our wildlife and enhance the natural aesthetic value of Rooiels.

Sand dunes

Sand dunes are our defence against the encroachment of wind and sea and should be kept in their natural state. The beach frontal dunes form a barrier protecting inland areas, retaining sand in the winter months and returning it to the beaches in summer. Dune vegetation is very sensitive and tramping on it can do serious damage. Please keep to pathways and other demarcated areas at all times.

Building Construction in Rooiels

In addition to the National Building Regulations there are certain local requirements in Rooiels. Some of these exist because the township is in a registered Biosphere Reserve. If the plot falls within a natural wetland or is within 100 meters of the sea high water mark, additional restrictions may apply. In the spirit of Rooiels we ask owners to limit the impact on their fynbos, to remove special plants before building, and to avoid the use of fences and walls which restrict wildlife movement and reduce the aesthetic value of the village. Find useful tips and guidelines on the REC page here.

Fences and Walls

The ideal for a natural environment like that of Rooiels is that no properties be fenced or walled. This would allow for the free flow of wildlife and also provides escape routes, should these animals be threatened by dogs. If you need a fence for your dog, erect a small fenced compound that is well within the boundary of the erf to ensure we keep Rooiels natural and maintain its aesthetic value. Electrified boundary fences and walls are not recommended. Baboons can jump up on a 2 metre wall. They have proven to be ineffectual in keeping the baboons out, but result in injuries to wildlife.

Electricity and Water

Eskom supplies our electricity and all homes have “pay-as-you-go” meters. Units can be bought at various shops in the area. Water is supplied from a dam on the Buffels River and its quality is controlled and monitored by the municipality. Water restrictions are sometimes imposed in summer. All owners are urged to plant indigenous “water wise” gardens.

Refuse

All domestic waste should be placed in refuse bags that in turn must be placed in your own baboon-proof bins. Collection takes place on Mondays. Please do not use the communal bins which are for litter from day visitors’ and are vulnerable to baboons. Alternatively take it home, or to the Kleinmond waste station. There is a monthly charge for “Refuse” whether you make use of the collection service or not. Overstrand recycles and you are asked to put your wet waste in a black rubbish bag and recyclable material into a clear plastic bag (bottles, paper, clean plastic, tins and cans). All garden cuttings must be taken to the “green” dump between Pringle Bay and Betty’s Bay