Tamboerskloof climbs steeply up the slopes of Lion's Head and Signal Hill above Kloof Street.
Mosquitoes in Tamboerskloof's sheltered gardens
Tamboerskloof is sheltered from some of the wind, so mosquitoes can linger on warm evenings. They breed in garden water features, blocked gutters, pot saucers and courtyard drains, and the shady terraced gardens give them resting spots during the day.
We find and treat breeding water and resting spots around your home. Clearing gutters, keeping fish in ponds and tipping out saucers weekly in summer makes a big difference. Courtyards behind high walls often have a water feature or a blocked drain that nobody sees, and that is usually the main source.
Victorian and Edwardian homes with wooden floors, sash windows and pressed-ceiling interiors sit beside newer apartment blocks and converted guest houses. Kloof Street's restaurants and shops add a busy commercial layer at the bottom of the suburb.
A note from the field
When our technician arrives, the first thing they check is the gutters. Blocked gutters full of leaves hold water for weeks after rain and are one of the most overlooked breeding sites in Cape Town homes.
Restaurants and guest houses with outdoor areas lose evening trade when mosquitoes get bad. Treating resting areas and keeping water features maintained should be part of the summer routine.
How to tell you have a problem
Tick every sign you have noticed. It takes ten seconds.
Why it matters: In the Western Cape, mosquitoes are mainly a nuisance and are not a malaria risk, but the bites can cause swelling and itching that is worse in children and some adults. Scratched bites can become infected, and constant night-time biting leads to poor sleep for the whole household. For hospitality businesses, restaurants with outdoor seating and wedding venues, mosquitoes in the evening can directly affect guest comfort and reviews.
What happens when we come out
Source reduction always comes first: we walk the property and find every place water collects, from gutters and drains to ponds, water features, plant saucers and covered pools, and tell you which ones to empty, fix or cover. Water that cannot be removed, such as ponds and drains, can be treated with a larvicide or insect growth regulator that stops larvae becoming adults. Adult mosquitoes rest in cool, shaded places during the day, so we apply a residual spray to the undersides of shrubs, hedges, eaves, patio ceilings and other resting areas. For events or heavy problems, ULV fogging can knock down adult numbers quickly, but it only works properly when combined with dealing with the breeding sites.
- Property walk
We check gutters, drains, ponds, pools, water features and containers for larvae.
- Remove or fix breeding sites
We show you what to empty, cover or repair, and clear what we can on the day.
- Treat remaining water
Ponds, drains and sumps that cannot be emptied are treated with a larvicide or growth regulator.
- Treat resting areas
A residual spray goes onto shaded foliage, eaves and patio areas where adults rest.
- Fogging if needed
ULV fogging is used for events or severe cases to reduce adult numbers quickly.
- Follow-up plan
We leave a report and agree whether follow-up visits through summer make sense.
Stopping a repeat visit
- Stock ornamental ponds with small fish that eat larvae, and keep water features running.
- Empty pot-plant saucers, buckets, bird baths and pet water bowls at least once a week, because larvae develop into adults in about a week in hot weather.
- Store old tyres, tins and containers under cover or throw them away.
- Fit mosquito screens to bedroom windows and use a net over cots in summer.
- Clean gutters after winter so they do not hold water through summer.
What affects the price
Cost depends on the size of the property, how many breeding sites there are and whether larger water bodies such as ponds or drains need treating. A once-off treatment is priced differently from a programme of visits through the summer season. Fogging for an event is quoted on the size of the area, and the quote itself is free.
Most mosquito problems on a normal suburban property can be cut dramatically by the owner just by emptying standing water every week. Plug-in repellents and sprays help you sleep, but they do nothing about where the mosquitoes come from. Call a professional when the breeding site is something you cannot fix yourself, like a large pond, a blocked drain or a neighbouring property, or when you need numbers down for an event.
Mosquito Control questions from Tamboerskloof
Is there a malaria risk in Cape Town?
No, the Western Cape is not a malaria area. Mosquitoes here are a nuisance and cause itchy bites, but the main concern is comfort and sleep.
Why are there so many mosquitoes this summer?
Usually because a wet winter left more standing water, or a breeding site has developed close by, such as a blocked gutter or an untreated pond.
How far do mosquitoes fly?
Most household mosquitoes do not fly far from where they bred, so the source is usually on your property or a neighbour's.
Are the treatments safe for fish in my pond?
We choose larvicides suitable for the situation and will tell you if a product is not appropriate for a fish pond. In many cases, fish themselves are the best control.
Why are mosquitoes bad in my Tamboerskloof garden?
The sheltered gardens hold still air and water features. Treating breeding water and resting spots helps.
Can you treat before a wedding or function?
Yes. We usually inspect beforehand, deal with breeding sites and then fog or spray resting areas shortly before the event.
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