• Socio-Economic Development

    Balancing conservation and the needs of all our communities

    A tour in the Crocodile River Reserve

What is Biodiversity?

The variety of life on Earth in all its forms is commonly referred to as biodiversity.

The number of species of plants, animals, and microorganisms, the different ecosystems on the planet, such as grasslands, deserts, rainforests and coral reefs are all part of a biologically diverse planet.

Almost all cultures have their roots in our biological diversity in some shape or form as these ecosystems provide humans with oxygen, clean air and water, pollination of plants, pest control and wastewater treatment.

It is for these reasons that declining biodiversity is a massive concern for all on the planet.

The Crocodile River Reserve covers a large area in the Tshwane Metro. It is positioned between Johannesburg, Tshwane and Mogale City. It is surrounded by high density urbanisation, small industry and formal and informal settlements.

The programmes envisioned by the Reserve takes into consideration that being on the urban edge there are a myriad of opportunities in identifying and working with established community leaders and organised groups in large areas where the population is diverse and highly fragmented.

Socio-Economic Programmes Coming Soon

Land Care

Alien Invasive Plant Clearing and Removal

Infrastructure Maintenance

Local Entrepreneurship Development

  • Grass
  • Wood
  • Crafts
  • Environmental Nursery
  • Eco-Tourism
  • Environmental Training

Your suggestions and ideas  for these programmes are welcome. Click here to share them with us.

Browse through our articles below

All 9 /Amphibians 0 /Articles 1 /Birds 1 /Cycling 0 /Education 9 /Events 0 /Fire Management 0 /General 0 /Grasses 0 /Invaders 0 /Mammals 1 /Plants 0 /Reptiles 0 /Spiders, Scorpions & Insects 0 /Talks 1 /The Wild Crew 7 /Trees & Shrubs 0 /Walks 0

Living with Baboons & Monkeys in the Crocodile River Reserve

One of the great privileges of living in the Crocodile River Reserve is sharing your space with free-roaming wildlife. But when baboons and monkeys start helping themselves to your kitchen, what can you actually do about it?
September 2, 2026/by admin

Birds of the Crocodile River Reserve Talk

Justin guided us through a carefully curated selection from the CRR's impressive bird list — and while covering all 255 recorded species in one morning was never going to be possible, he chose beautifully. The majestic Brown Snake Eagle, the charismatic Arrow-marked Babbler, the humble Dove, the mystical Grass Owl and the very special Orange River Francolin were among the stars of the show. The presentation was, however, occasionally — and hilariously — interrupted by a group of Hadeda Ibis who clearly felt they deserved a mention too.
August 31, 2026/by admin

The Wild Crew – Seeds – March 2026

The weekend of the 14th and 15th was very busy for the School Programme team, with a Wild Crew outing on the Eastern side and another one on the Western side on the Sunday. The theme was seeds - those tiny little things that seem so insignificant but feed the world!
April 1, 2026/by Susan Long

The Wild Crew – Wetlands & Water – February 2026

Testing the water and finding healthy results reinforced the importance of wetlands as natural filters in our water systems, and highlighted what can be achieved when a natural environment is properly cared for.

With so many hands-on activities, we did not even have time to examine our finds under the microscope, but there was no doubt that the children appreciated the vast biodiversity we discovered in such a small section of the wetlands. We made sure they understood the functions of wetlands and the important role they play in the lives of so many species, including our own.
February 17, 2026/by Susan Long

The Wild Crew – Bugs – Nov 2025

Before we’d even reached the veld, everyone had already caught their first bug, causing great excitement! Once in the long grass, each child had a turn using the sweep nets, and on our return to our ‘base’ at The Sheds, we identified the insects, observed them under a microscope, and then, of course, released them back into their habitat.
November 20, 2025/by Susan Long

The Wild Crew – Birds – Oct 2025

We started by exploring how birds are adapted to what they eat and where they live. From sharp beaks to clever claws, every feathered friend has its own design for survival. Our walk took us through five different habitats, each alive with birdsong and movement.
October 17, 2025/by Susan Long

The Wild Crew – Trees & Grass Plant Ecology – September 2025

On our recent Wild Crew outing, we took full advantage of the warm weather and spent almost the entire day outdoors on our nature walk. It took some time to reach our planned destination - a ridge on the Egoli Granite Grasslands - because there was simply so much to see and explain.
September 24, 2025/by Susan Long

The Wild Crew – Seeds – September 2025

Looking back on what the CRR School Programme has achieved so far in 2025, and seeing the little veld flowers popping up in the Egoli Granite Grasslands even before the first rains, I am reminded just how important our lessons on seeds have been. This topic may not seem quite as exciting as water, history, or geology, but without seeds—where would we be?
September 4, 2025/by Susan Long

The Wild Crew – Rocks – August 2025

Clearly, rocks do rock, if the number of children and parents who turned up for this event was anything to go by. Everyone enjoyed the walk to Koppie Alleen, and the climb to the top was a real adventure! Understanding the vital role rocks have played in the forming of the planet, and their contribution to the environment in the past and now, gave everyone pause for thought.
August 15, 2025/by Susan Long
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