
Swellendam mountains
Western Cape, South Africa
Marloth is the CapeNature reserve on the Langeberg directly above Swellendam, protecting mountain fynbos and forested kloofs and a component of the Cape Floral Region World Heritage Site. It is a walking reserve: day trails from the town's edge to waterfalls and viewpoints, and the multi-day Swellendam hiking trail with overnight huts on the mountain. Sugarbirds and sunbirds work the proteas, and the views run south across the Overberg to the sea. Swellendam's Cape Dutch guesthouses are the natural base, and the reserve is malaria-free.
Read the guide: Sleeping in the Fynbos: The CapeNature Guide
Things to do: Hiking · Camping · Rock climbing · Bird watching
Where you can stay: Camping · Chalets · Nearby B&Bs
What people record most across Western Cape. Past sightings, never a guarantee.
From iNaturalist records across Western Cape, not confirmed sightings inside this reserve.
Inside-park stays and nearby lodges, sorted by distance.
No stays are linked to Marloth Nature Reserve yet. These are the closest ones we have, by straight-line distance from the park, so check the drive before you book.
33.9486° S, 20.4362° E50 km from Cape TownOpen in Maps
Why book here
Wild places survive when the communities around them earn more from protecting wildlife than from anything that would replace it. Every stay you book through Spekboom carries a conservation contribution built into the price, never added on top, so choosing where you sleep becomes a way to fund the people and projects keeping this landscape intact.
Marloth Nature Reserve is in Western Cape, South Africa.
Yes. Marloth Nature Reserve is in an area recorded as malaria-free, which is why it is a common choice for families with young children and for a first safari. Malaria risk can shift with the season and the year, so confirm current advice with a travel clinic before you go.
In Western Cape, commonly recorded species include animals such as Cape Dwarf Chameleon, Cape Fur Seal, Southern Right Whale, Great White Shark and birds including Agulhas Long-billed Lark, Cape Spurfowl, Orange-breasted Sunbird, based on iNaturalist occurrence data. These reflect the wider province, not confirmed sightings inside the reserve.
Day visitors need a permit for most CapeNature reserves, and CapeNature encourages booking permits online in advance to avoid disappointment at the gate. If you are staying overnight, your accommodation booking covers your stay, but check your confirmation for any extra permit requirements such as hiking trails.
Request CapeNature cottages and campsites on Spekboom. We confirm with CapeNature, then you pay on Spekboom. South African residents aged 60 and over qualify for a discount on CapeNature self-catering and camping accommodation.
The best time to visit Marloth Nature Reserve is Sep-Apr (flowers Aug-Oct).
Popular activities at Marloth Nature Reserve include hiking, camping, rock climbing, bird watching.
Other parks and reserves that share something with Marloth Nature Reserve.
Malaria-free parks and game reservesNational parks and reserves in South AfricaNature reserves and parks in the Western CapeAll protected areas