About

Mattaponi is a privately owned, privately managed, Fynbos preserve situated in the heart of the Cape Fynbos region. The owners, Kate and Lindsay Birch and their family, have always appreciated the importance of this area of land for the diversity of it's natural Fynbos vegetation and the rich wildlife it supports, and in recent years have worked hard to preserve and enrich what exists.

Situated on the eastern edge of the holiday community of Betty's Bay, Mattaponi encompasses nearly two hectares of South West-facing coastal Fynbos between Clarence Drive and the pounding ocean. The richness of the flora and fauna is thanks to a number of natural features which provide a good variety of habitats. Several wetland areas fed by a year-round stream support Restios, Sedges, a variety of bulbs and Sundews. A man-made pool which is kept full throughout the year by the stream attracts a wide variety of birds and rare sightings of the elusive Cape Clawless Otters that come to feed on the large numbers of frogs who thrive in the pool's amber depths.
Huge boulders, some as big as houses, scattered across the area provide shelter from the prevailing south easterly wind and a habitat for a good variety of shade loving plants, as well as home to a family of Rock Hyrax or 'Dassies'.
The gently sloping land above and below the house supports species of the main Fynbos families of Proteas, Ericas and Restios whilst on the costal margin an interesting variety of salt adapted plants flourish.

Kate and Lindsay devote a good deal of their time to managing the area on a regular basis. This initially involved the removal of non indigenous trees and shrubs which were planted many years ago, mainly to provide shade and wind protection, and has subsequently involved the continual control of self-seeded alien plant species and re-generation of the existing Fynbos.