The mountain range forms a barrier between the Cape Town metropolitan area and the southern Overberg coast.

This area and the other ranges to the south are considered the hub of the Cape floristic region with the most biodiversity in the entire fynbos biome.

The surrounding lowlands have rich alluvial soils supporting viticulture and other deciduous fruit farms.

[2] The reserve functions as a conservation area for mountain fynbos, with about 1300 plant species, of which some are rare and endemic.

An additional 7000 hectares of state and privale land adjacent to the reserve is co-managed by the Theewaterskloof Conservancy, which includes CapeNature and private landowners.