Build a Garden Wildlife Oasis with Water

Help local garden visitors thrive by making water the heart of your garden & enjoy nature right outside your door!

Why invite wildlife into your garden?

Our urban gardens play an increasingly important role in supporting biodiversity. As natural habitats shrink, small outdoor spaces become safe stopovers where animals can drink, cool down and find shelter.

Beyond helping nature, wildlife adds daily enjoyment - birdsong in the morning, butterflies drifting past and the quiet appearance of frogs at dusk. By adding water in thoughtful ways, you can attract local species while creating a calm, living environment that changes with the seasons.

A refreshing stop for garden birds

A shallow birdbath or low water bowl is one of the fastest ways to attract birds. Keep the water depth shallow (5–8 cm) with a gently sloping edge so smaller birds feel safe. 

Placing the bath near shrubs or trees allows birds to quickly retreat if they feel threatened, encouraging regular visits. Slight movement in the water, such as a slow drip or gentle ripple, often catches birds’ attention and helps them locate the water source more easily.

Wildlife to look forward to: Cape white-eyes, southern double-collared sunbirds, Cape sparrows, Cape robin-chats and red-winged starlings are common visitors in the Western Cape and Garden Route gardens.

Extra garden idea: Plant indigenous shrubs like Cape Honeysuckle, Carissa macrocarpa, Searsia crenata, Buddleja saligna and Dodonaea viscosa nearby to provide shelter and nesting cover close to the water source.

Creating a cool refuge for frogs & toads

A small pond or even a half-barrel water garden can invite frogs into your space. Frogs need still, chemical-free water with easy access in and out, so include stones or plants that allow them to climb safely.

Shallow edges are especially important, as they warm quickly in the sun and provide ideal breeding areas. Once frogs settle in, their evening calls and natural insect control quickly become one of the most rewarding parts of a wildlife garden.

Wildlife to look forward to: Western leopard toads (seasonally in some areas), clicking stream frogs, arum reed frogs and Cape river frogs may appear once conditions suit them.

Extra garden idea: Add indigenous water plants such as Arum lilies (Zantedeschia) along pond edges to create hiding places and shaded areas where frogs feel secure.

Attracting dragonflies with water

Dragonflies are among the most beneficial visitors to a wildlife garden, as both adults and their aquatic young feed on mosquitoes and other small insects. They are attracted to open water with sunny patches and emergent plants where they can rest and breed. Even a small pond with varied depths and natural planting can quickly become a hunting and breeding ground.

Wildlife to look forward to: Common pondhawks, red-veined dropwings, and wandering gliders are frequently seen around garden ponds and wetlands throughout the Western Cape and Garden Route.

Extra garden idea: Include upright water plants such as rushes (Juncus species), restios, or sedges along pond edges to provide perching spots where dragonflies can rest and dry their wings.

Attracting chameleons with water droplets

Chameleons rarely drink from standing pools; instead, they lap droplets from leaves. Gentle misting of plants or drip irrigation helps recreate natural drinking conditions.

Early morning watering works particularly well, mimicking dew that forms naturally in coastal environments. Dense planting around these damp areas also attracts insects, providing an important food source alongside drinking opportunities.

Wildlife to look forward to: The Cape dwarf chameleon (Bradypodion pumilum) is a special sight in many Western Cape gardens, especially where dense vegetation exists.

Extra garden idea: Plant layered indigenous vegetation such as spekboom (Portulacaria afra) and bushy shrubs to create connected pathways through the garden, allowing chameleons to move safely between feeding and drinking areas.

Supporting pollinators, like bees, with safe drinking spots

Bees need water for cooling their hives and diluting nectar. A bee drinking station can be as simple as a shallow dish filled with pebbles, cork pieces, or marbles so bees can land without drowning.

Position the station in a sunny, sheltered spot where the water warms quickly, as bees prefer warmer water sources. Keeping the station consistently filled helps bees learn that your garden is a reliable stop.

Wildlife to look forward to: Cape honeybees, carpenter bees and a variety of small solitary bees common throughout the Western Cape.

Extra garden idea: Plant nectar-rich indigenous flowers such as felicia, pelargoniums, osteospermum, agapanthus or aloes to provide food sources close to the water station.

Moist resting places for visiting butterflies

Butterflies prefer shallow moisture rather than open water. A damp sand patch or “puddling station” made from wet soil enriched with a little compost provides minerals they need.

Place this area in a sunny, wind-protected corner, as butterflies are most active when warm. Keeping the soil slightly moist rather than wet encourages repeated visits without creating standing water.

Wildlife to look forward to: African monarchs, citrus swallowtails, painted ladies and common meadow blues frequently visit gardens in Cape Town and along the Garden Route.

Extra garden idea: Include larval host plants such as wild dagga (Leonotis leonurus) or citrus trees so butterflies can complete their full life cycle in your garden.

Keeping water healthy & clear

• Refresh birdbath & bee station water every few days.

• Avoid chemicals, chlorine or treated water where possible.

• Add stones or ramps so small animals can climb out easily.

• Place water partly in shade to slow algae growth.

• Remove fallen leaves regularly to prevent decay.

• In ponds, include oxygenating plants to maintain balance naturally.

• Encourage natural predators like dragonflies to help control mosquitoes instead of using pesticides.

Additional tips for a wildlife-friendly water garden

• Provide different water heights - ground level, shrub level, and raised baths - to suit different species.

• Keep some areas quiet & undisturbed so wildlife feels safe returning.

• Use indigenous plants whenever possible; local wildlife recognises and relies on them.

• Avoid pesticides and insecticides, which reduce the insects many species depend on for food.

• Start small - even one water feature can make a noticeable difference within weeks.

A few thoughtful water sources can bring your garden alive with movement and sound!

Explore Cape Garden's range of ponds, birdbaths an indigenous plants designed for local wildlife & start your wildlife oasis this year! Remember that even a simple bowl of water can begin the journey.