About NJSA Community
We are a nature journaling community in South Africa.
Nature journaling is our tool to learn about and deepen our connection with nature.
It feeds our creativity and our stewardship.
We slow down to observe nature.
We stop long enough to hand record on paper our observations, thoughts and feelings.
In March 2020, due to the COVID pandemic, we stopped group outings. We continue our lively and supportive connections via the internet in various forms. We look forward to outdoor group activities when it is safe.
We all have something to learn from each other
We encourage each other. Our community enriches our individual nature journaling experiences. We share across communities, languages, interests and disciplines. Our community is diverse in many ways. We are people of all identities, all histories, and from all contexts. We are committed to values of respect; fairness; equity; generosity of spirit, skills and knowledge; and justice.
We follow the Nature Journalers' code of conduct, putting our respect for the environment and other people into practice. These questions guide us:
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Who am I in this place?
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How do I know that I am putting into practice my respect for:
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wildlife? wildness?
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other people?
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my NJ experience?
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spaces and places including its history, environments and habitats?
Read the Nature Journalers' Code of Conduct here.
Join our community of nature journalers in South Africa here, or contact us here.
Create a local community with nature journal buddies, friends, family, or as part of other nature focused or outdoor group.
 View of Table Mountain, Cape Town, South Africa from Rondebosch Commons |  Close-up of head and front left leg of Cape Dwarf Chameleon |  Sign about protection of chameleons at Keurboom Park, Cape Town. |
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 Selfie of mixed walking and NJ group on outing at Cecilia Forest |  Three people sitting on ground of pine plantation (Cecilia Pine Plantation, Cape Town) recording in journals. |  Thokozani showing his notes on nature journaling process at Somkhanda, northern KwaZulu-Natal |
 Tracy and Bongani on Outing - Umhlanga Lagoon Nature Reserve |  Thokozani nature journaling at Somkhanda, northern KwaZulu-Natal |  Tanya, Cati, Bongani, Yousuf and Lisa on NJSA Outing at Japanese Gardens, Durban North, KwaZulu-Natal |
 NJSA members: Nolwazi, Cati, Lee and Yousuf, at Durban Botanic Gardens for skills building session |  Nolwazi with Umgeni Estuary Eco-Champs on ouing at New Germany Nature Reserve |  Nature journal outing with Cati, Marianne and Yousuf at Krantzkloof Nature Reserve |
 Tracy, Cati and Marianne on NJSA Outing to bird hide at Mzomambo Lake, KwaDukuza |  NJSA Outing to New Germany Nature Reserve, nature journaling stop at bird hide |  NJSA Outing to Bluff Nature Reserve, nature journaling stop at bird hide |
 Giba Gorge, a favourite place for outings. |  Yousuf on nature journaling walk, Umgeni Valley Nature Reserve |  Outing to Krantzkloof Nature Reserve, view of gorge from along trail. |
 Krantzokoof Nature Reserve view from top of gorge |  Krantzkloof Nature Reserve part of waterfall at start of gorge |  Mbaxeni gorge, Eastern Cape "The caves seen on the other side of the gorge are full of shell middens as they were once occupied for thousands of years by people." |
 Mbaxeni River cascades, Eastern Cape |  View of birds on strip viewed from bird hide, KwaDukuza, KwaZulu-Natal |  Bluff Nature Reserve |
 |  |  Female Tree Agama in suburban garden, Durban |
 |  Euphobia flanaganii found around Mbaxeni river. |  Ochna natalia in bloom at Krantzkloof Nature |
 Ostrich family with 12 chicks and parents |  Snooks' nature journal compilation from early lockdown observations from member in southern KZN |