Life After Ashes | Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy

26,380

hectares

Total Conservancy

10,378

hectares

Area Burned

4,000

hectares

Alien Clearing Needed

50+

members

Conservancy Members

Latest Discoveries

Recent sightings and observations from conservancy members

Fauna

Post-Fire Visitors: The Antlion

In the recently burnt fynbos, a beautiful Palpares speciosus antlion was spotted among the recovering vegetation. These intricate antlions are usually active at night, their delicate wings catching the light as they flit through mountain fynbos habitats. While the adults are graceful and harmless, their larvae are formidable predators, hiding under sand at the base […]

Unknown9 March 2026

Fauna

Grysbok Grazing on Fresh Growth

In a recently burnt area of fynbos, a grysbok (Raphicerus melanotis) was observed feeding on the first shoots emerging from the ash. Fires clear older vegetation and stimulate new plant growth, creating fresh food sources that herbivores rely on. Watching the grysbok nibble on these tender shoots highlights the important role post-fire growth plays in […]

Unknown9 March 2026

Landscape Recovery

Strike Early: Stinkbean Removal Post Fire

Although the fire removed dense stands of mature invasives, it also created ideal conditions for rapid germination. Many invasive species, like stink bean (Parkia speciosa) are strongly fire-stimulated, and large flushes of seedlings are now emerging across the landscape. This post-fire window offers a valuable opportunity for cost-effective management, as young seedlings can still be […]

Unknown9 March 2026

Fauna

Forest Refuge after the Flames

Within the recently burnt veld, isolated forest pockets continue to support wildlife. Camera traps have captured bushbuck, grysbok and porcupine moving quietly through these patches, highlighting the vital role they play in post-fire survival. Unlike the surrounding fynbos, forest pockets are far more sensitive to fire, but they often endure thanks to natural defenses. Milkwood […]

Unknown9 March 2026

Flora

A Sea of Crimson after the Flames

Across the stark, blackened flats and low-lying areas of Grootbos, thousands of crimson Candelabra lilies, Brunsvigia orientalis, have burst into spectacular bloom in the wake of the recent fires. For years, most of these plants lay hidden beneath dense fynbos, producing broad, strap-like leaves through winter and spring while steadily building reserves in their underground […]

Unknown9 March 2026

Flora

Shaking Out Life: Seeds of the Broad-leaf Featherbush

Aulax umbellata (Broad-leaf Featherbush) has mastered the art of fire. This serotinous plant stores its seeds in tough, woody female cones, keeping them protected for years until the right moment arrives: a fire. In the video above, a burnt Aulax umbellata is gently shaken, releasing thousands of seeds that have been patiently waiting. After a […]

Unknown6 March 2026

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