Biodiversity

The Tygerberg Bird Club recently held its mid-week outing at Val de Vie, and we're delighted at the variety of bird species that they observed at the Estate. Near our cellars they saw a Spotted Flycatcher, Cape Batis, Fiscal Flycatcher as well as an African Harrier-Hawk (Gymnogene). Outside the Polo Pavilion they spotted African Pipits and a pair of Spotted Thick-knees, while along the Berg River they saw an African Paradise Flycatcher and a female Klaas’s Cuckoo.

The club managed to view 63 species in total, which is a fantastic indication of how indigenous wildlife is thriving on the Estate.

African Harrier-Hawk

Spotted Flycatcher

African Paradise Flycatcher

At Val de Vie we're proud of our efforts to reintroduce formerly indigenous game into the Berg River valley. The Estate is home to both Springbok and zebra, and as this photo shows, the animals have settled well into to their new home and delight both residents and visitors alike.

We're thrillled that the Estate is becoming a haven for our beautiful indigenous flora and fauna. It's another reason why Val de Vie is aptly called the Valley of Life!

We are proud to introduce our newest residents, two beautiful zebra! Their introduction to the estate forms part of our ongoing initiative to make Val de Vie a haven for indigenous flora and fauna, preserving our precious natural heritage.

Val de Vie is delighted that Black Bass have been spotted in the Berg River! In keeping with our efforts to encourage biodiversity, the Black Bass are an indication of how the estate is becoming an eco-haven in the Paarl-Franschhoek Valley.

Val de Vie is proud to be an example of how eco-friendly development can be achieved. The estate falls within the Cape Floral Kingdom which has been proclaimed a World Heritage Site and is committed to preserving the incredible biodiversity of this beautiful region.

As a result, Val de Vie is home to a wealth of indigenous flora, much of which have been re-introduced as part of the estate's development. This ensures environmental compliance and brings back some of the lost indigenous vegetation along the Berg River valley. The estate has also set aside a conservation area within Val de Vie to preserve rare plants. As part of the Cape Floral Kingdom, the smallest of six floral kingdoms world wide, Val de Vie has its fair share of indigenous and endemic flora.

The estate has a high natural water table, strong boreholes and water rights along the Berg River – all of which are being managed responsibly. Small mammals and birds, especially water birds, abound on the estate and the extensive landscaping, including four interlinking lakes and islands, has attracted even more birds to the area.

To ensure that the world class polo facilities use water as sparingly as possible, a state-of-the-art drainage, as well as an automated irrigation system has been installed – in keeping with the biodiversity plan.