The first batch of 2200 out of 6000 baboon-proof and locked containers is planned to be delivered to priority areas of the Cape Peninsula starting in mid-September 2026. Preparations are also underway for the installation of a new northern fence.
The Cape Peninsula Baboon Management Task Team (CPBMJTT), which includes SANParks, CapeNature, and the City of Cape Town, reported that the initial rollout will focus on areas where baboon activity and conflicts with residents have been most frequently recorded.
Residents in areas such as Plateau Road, Castle Rock, Heron Park, Murdoch Valley South, De Oude Weg, Da Gama, Capri, Welcome Glen, Scarborough, Tokai East, and Fir Grove will be the first to receive the new containers. Residents in these priority zones will exchange their existing containers for the new, lockable version. It is required that the resident or their representative signs documents acknowledging receipt of the new container, and residents have been advised to mark it with their street number.
CPBMJTT specified that other communities affected by baboon activity will receive containers as they become available. Simons Town has been excluded from the initial plan because the Seaforth and Waterfall patrols are intended for transfer to the planned Urban Wildlife Centre.
Work is also being carried out on constructing a northern fence that will run from Zwaanswyk south to Constantia Nek. According to CPBMJTT, this process should begin in late September after the completion of environmental checklists and obtaining administrative permits.
According to the task team, the goal of this fence is to prevent baboons from entering urban areas and agricultural lands on the northern part of the peninsula while ensuring habitat for approximately 250 baboons.
A memorandum of understanding was signed between seven vineyard landowners bordering Table Mountain National Park in the Constantia Valley, the Cape Baboon Partnership, and the City. This agreement outlines shared responsibilities for the construction, maintenance, and long-term operation of the fence.
The landowners and the Cape Baboon Partnership will share the costs of construction and upgrades, while the City has pledged a one-time contribution of 10 million rand. Future maintenance will also be joint and will include regular inspections, repairs, and the creation of firebreaks.
CPBMJTT forecasts that construction will take about six months if everything goes according to plan. After the fence is installed, rangers will direct CT1 and CT2 groups to the mountain slope and continue monitoring the groups and patrolling the fence.
The task team noted that the fence is part of the approved Cape Peninsula Baboon Management Strategic Plan and is intended to create a clearer boundary between Table Mountain National Park and adjacent agricultural and residential areas.
It is expected that the Seaforth and Waterfall groups in Simons Town will be relocated after the commissioning of the Urban Wildlife Centre and the completion of necessary procedures. This centre is being developed on land owned by the City on the Cape Peninsula.
The Cape Baboon Partnership has appointed an experienced reserve manager, and stakeholders, conservation groups, community representatives, and residents have visited the site over the past two months. According to CPBMJTT, feedback from these visits has been positive so far.
A University of Swansea research project concerning the Da Gama group concluded on August 21. The study used non-invasive methods based on olfactory, auditory, and visual signals to examine baboon reactions to simulated threats. The collars used during the study were designed to be self-releasing and have now been collected. Data analysis is currently underway, and results are expected to be published upon completion of the study.
The Cape Baboon Partnership continues to provide baboon ranger services, a baboon hotline, as well as public relations and education services. CPBMJTT emphasized that the long-term goal of the management plan is to maintain a healthy, sustainable population of free-ranging baboons with minimal human intervention and reduced human-baboon conflict.