Kenilworth Racecourse

About Kenilworth Racecourse

The spectacular Kenilworth Racecourse is found in the midst of the suburb of the same name, which is brimming with industry, office blocks and residential properties. This part of Cape Town, the capital city of the Western Cape, is centrally situated, making it a veritable hub of activity. However, the Kenilworth Racecourse is known for other factors, not least of all its being an important conservation area.

Did you know? The Kenilworth Racecourse is South Africa's oldest racecourse and enjoys a special place in the history of horseracing in the country.

The Kenilworth Racecourse Conservation Area (KRCA), established in 1985, is a seasonal wetland that spans some 52 hectares in the centre of the racecourse's borders.

This nature reserve is special and has been hailed as one of the most precious pieces of Cape Flats sand fynbos, which is endemic to this region alone, and provides an absolutely gorgeous array of vegetation; some scrubby, some delicate.

In total, the KRCA boasts 310 different plant species, of which more than 34 are threatened. Two species are enlisted as being extinct in the wild, but have been reintroduced in the KRCA.

This exquisite terrain is home to a number of different animal species, which includes small mammals and reptiles, as well as a huge variety of bird life.

Because of its prime positioning, the Kenilworth Racecourse also has major cultural significance, and is an integral part of the Western Cape heritage. The many visitors that descend on South Africa from all corners of the globe every year are invited to participate in some of the educational programmes of the Kenilworth Racecourse, or simply to visit it and be a part of its natural beauty.

The Cape Winelands are all around, and can take between 10 and 45 minutes to access from Kenilworth, depending on their exact location. The racecourse is only a 20-minute drive from the City Bowl with its many popular attractions. These include the Company Gardens, V&A Waterfront, Table Mountain and the ferries to Robben Island.