The Residents Association of Dana Bay Conservancy We care about our environment

A Short History of Dana Bay

In 1821 the farm 'Oude Duinigt', which included the present Dana Bay, was allocated to Hendrik Petrus Pienaar for grazing. In 1972 'Sentraalwes Personeel Ondernemings' bought the farm Droogfontein to develop the area as a beach and retirement village for farmers. Aerial photographs were used for the planning of the 2000 plots and connecting roads.

Two reasons are given for the selection "DANABAAI" as the name of the urban area:

1.  named after Daan Serfontein, Chairman of Sentraalwes Kooperasie

2.  "Voorbaai" (before Mossel Bay), then Mossel Bay then possibly "Daar-na-Baai" (after Mossel Bay).

Conservation was always a high priority.  Street names have botanical significance with indigenous Fynbos prefixes eg. "P".. Proteas, "A".. Aloes and "E".. Ericas.  Roads were scraped perpendicular to natural water gradient flow of the ravines, thus minimizing erosion.  Green belt zones and interlinking corridors facilitate the migration of animals and dispersion of Fynbos seed.   

In 1992 a group of enthusiastic nature lovers heard about the concept of Natal Conservancies.  They applied for conservation status for Dana Bay.  It was such a novel idea that only on 27 May 1998 was Dana Bay recognized and awarded our Conservancy certificate by CapeNature and the Mossel Bay Municipality.  (We were the first Urban Conservancy in the Western Cape).

CapeNature serves as facilitator but the Dana Bay community is in charge of the Conservancy.  The purpose of the Dana Bay Conservancy, as declared in our Constitution, is to promote the conservation of endemic plants and animals, to provide a clean and healthy environment, to liaise with relevant authorities and plan fundraising events to promote awareness of this beautiful urban conservancy.

Conservation has always been a priority in Dana Bay.  Planning of the suburb was carefully construed to facilitate the movement of animals and the dispersion of Fynbos seeds.  We request all individuals, residents and visitors alike, to be aware of this.  Do not destroy or harm anything related to our natural environment. Bear in mind that our wild animals are protected in our Conservancy, take care not to maim or kill them when driving.

 Animals have right of way at all times.