Discover the wonders of the Cape Kelp Forest Trail

A new immersive coastal experience is inviting locals and visitors to see the Cape Peninsula shoreline in a completely different light.

The Cape Kelp Forest Trail, located along the Peninsula within the waters of the Table Mountain Marine Protected Area, has been created to showcase the extraordinary biodiversity thriving where land and sea meet.

The Trail will officially launch on Friday, March 6, with explorers able to complete the experience over several days.

The initiative brings together a network of partner organisations offering kelp forest-inspired activities ranging from snorkelling, scuba diving and kayaking to art, music, ceramics, puppet shows, conservation initiatives and citizen science.

Cultural history is woven together with natural heritage, while some stops include kelp-inspired dining and world-renowned kelp products.

At the heart of the project, however, is a powerful conservation message.

Sally Sivewright, a marine biologist, nature conservationist and member of the Cape Kelp Forest Trail team, said the Trail was born out of a desire to shift perceptions about sandy beaches and the kelp often dismissed as waste.

Ms Sivewright is also the founder of Guardians of the Deep, a local, community-driven organisation that combines environmental education, art and conservation to empower students and connect them with nature.

“The Cape Kelp Forest Trail was first devised as a result of educational focus being fixed on the clearly defined and easily described rocky shores, creating the illusion that sandy beaches are not as important and that the beach-cast kelp collecting on them is just a stinky nuisance to be removed,” she said.

“We wanted to change that narrative and highlight the importance and wonder of all coastal zones and the foundational role played by the dislodged kelp washed into this ecosystem.”

She explained that “dislodged” kelp forms the basis of two intricate food webs.

The kelp forest ecosystem is a critical nursery area for juvenile fish and species such as abalone and alikreukel, and it provides breeding and feeding refuge for a wide range of marine life.

It is also vital to human survival. Ocean algae produce more than half of the oxygen we breathe and act as a powerful carbon sink, removing large amounts of carbon dioxide from the ocean and helping to mitigate climate change.

“We also benefit from the presence of these vast kelp forests because they create a buffer zone, dampening wave energy before it hits the shore, reducing damage and erosion of key coastal areas,” Ms Sivewright said.

Described as the only giant sea bamboo forest on the planet, the Cape’s kelp forest also protects endangered nesting coastal birds and, when washed ashore, continues to nourish life by providing nutrients and shelter along the coastline.

Explorers purchase a trail ticket kit that includes a passport - available in both adult and junior versions.

The Junior Explorer Passport is an activity book filled with information and activities, along with a sticker-collection page. Once young explorers collect stickers from each stop, they receive a gift.

The Adult Explorer Passport includes detailed information on each stop and explains the ecological role of kelp within the wider ecosystem. Adults also collect stickers, earning a gift upon completion.

The Trail has been designed to be completed over several days, allowing participants to fully immerse themselves in the experiences rather than rushing through.

Looking ahead, plans include touring options with transport, accommodation, and guides bookable through a central system, as well as an annual Cape Kelp Forest Festival that brings partners together for special experiences and celebrations.

“Our aim is for explorers to leave the trail with a deeper understanding and appreciation for this unique ecosystem,” Ms Sivewright said, “and to increase the environmental advocacy being voiced from the public.”

For anyone who has ever walked past a stretch of seaweed-strewn beach without a second thought, the Cape Kelp Forest Trail offers a compelling reason to stop, look again - and discover the life hidden beneath the tide.

Bookings open following the official launch on Friday, March 6. For more information and to book your trail experience, visit www.capekelpforesttrail.co.za.

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