NVT

16/10/2026

🌊 VOICES OF THE BAY IS BACK!

Join us on 4 November as Dr Chantel Elston and Jessica Morrison take us beneath the surface to uncover the fascinating lives of Knysna’s blue stingrays! 🐟

From mysterious seasonal gatherings to unique markings and mating behaviour, discover what researchers are learning about these incredible animals.

📅 4 November 2026
📍 66 Maplin Drive, Plett
🕕 6PM sharp
🎟️ R50 per person

All proceeds support the Plett Stranding Network. 💙

Come along for an evening of ocean science and discovery!

16/10/2026

🎓 Congratulations to Obakeng Mogale from the Wits - University of the Witwatersrand on receiving a Best Student Talk Commendation at the 8th Garden Route Interface and Networking (GRIN) Meeting, held in Brenton-on-Sea, Knysna.

🌿 Currently co-supervised by Dr Tumelo Mathe (Department of Geography, WITS) and Prof Hendri Coetzee, Obakeng's research explores how GIS and remote sensing can be used to geo-visualise medicinal plant knowledge and address plant blindness. Working with the Kurland and Covie communities, his research revealed important insights into how medicinal plant knowledge is influenced by factors such as proximity to healthcare facilities, age, education levels, and local plant density.

👏 This well-deserved recognition highlights the impact of innovative, community-based research in advancing social-ecological understanding and conservation.

🤝 A special thank you to -GardenRoute(Tsitsikamma,Knysna&Wilderness)NationalPark for hosting another insightful GRIN Symposium and for its continued commitment to building capacity and fostering collaboration in the social-ecological research space.

15/10/2026

🦦 Otterly important discoveries start with a sighting! 🌿

Have you spotted an otter along our rivers, estuaries or coastline? Your sighting could help us learn more about these fascinating mammals and protect the habitats they depend on.

🌍 Help the South African Otter Spotters map otter distribution!

The South African Otter Spotters, in collaboration with the Mammal Research Institute at the University of Pretoria, are collecting both historical and recent sightings to develop up-to-date distribution maps for South Africa’s two otter species. Every record counts, whether you’ve seen an otter yourself or spotted signs of their presence, such as tracks or droppings.

📍 Submit your sightings via the online platform: https://otter-spotters.web.app/

🌿 Meanwhile, NVT’s own otter monitoring continues in Nature’s Valley!

Through ongoing coastal surveys and community sightings, we’ve been building a growing record of local otter activity, with some really interesting discoveries along the way. From documenting sightings to recording signs of presence, this work helps us better understand how otters use our coastline and how we can support their conservation.

📸 Have a African clawless otter sighting, tracks or droppings to share from Nature’s Valley or the wider Plett area? We’d love to hear from you! Please send your observations and any photographs to [email protected] or here: https://nvt.org.za/report_an_otter/

Citizen science makes a difference. The more we learn about where otters occur, the better equipped we are to help conserve them. 💚

Please share and help spread the word!

The South African Otter Spotters would be otter-ly grateful if you could share your sightings! 🦦 🌍

Help to collect data on otter distribution in South Africa for a research project at the Mammal Research Institute of the University of Pretoria. Please share your (old and new) sightings the web-app (https://otter-spotters.web.app/). And please share the poster far and wide so more can be learnt about these adorable little critters!

You can contact the South African Otter Spotters directly with any information or media files that are too large to upload via the web-app using the official email address ([email protected]) or WhatsApp number (+27 71 933 2142).

15/10/2026

🐦 Discover the birds of Bitou at the Bitou Birding Festival! 🌿

Join this year’s Bitou Birding Festival for a celebration of incredible birdlife and the conservation work that helps protect it.

NVT will be assisting with bird-ringing sessions, as well as leading two bird walks at Hebron Private Nature Reserve at Nature's Way Farm Stall and along the Groot River Forest Boardwalk in Nature’s Valley.

With a fantastic programme of talks, workshops, guided walks and activities, there’s something for every bird enthusiast, from curious beginners to experienced birders!

📅 Explore the programme https://www.bitou.birdingfestival.co.za/2026-programme/ and book your tickets online via Quicket:
🔗 https://www.quicket.co.za/events/392725-bitou-birding-festival-2026-slow-down-look-up-reconnect/?ref=link-campaign&lc=website-direct #/

Come along, discover something new and celebrate the remarkable birdlife of Bitou!

14/10/2026

🐒 Nature’s Valley Baboon Project | September 2026 Report

September was another busy month for the NV resident baboon troop, with continued observations of their behaviour, feeding habits and interactions with a neighbouring group.

A few highlights from this month’s report:

🔎 17 days of behavioural observations were completed, including six days when our troop interacted with a neighbouring group. These encounters can be both aggressive and affiliative, with grooming and other behaviours helping to reinforce social bonds.

🍎 Native plants remain an important part of their diet. Popular foods recorded this month included star apple fruit, keurboom flowers, red pear fruit and black witch hazel leaves and fruit.

🏡 Village sightings: Baboons were reported in the village 44 times across six different days. Most reports involved baboons moving through an area, alongside a small number of reports involving decks, rubbish and one verified home entry.

📍 Your reports make a difference! Accurate sightings help researchers and monitors track the troop’s movements and better understand their behaviour. When reporting a sighting, please include the exact location, the number of baboons and what they were doing. If a baboon enters a home or accesses rubbish, please provide as much detail as possible.

💚 Resilience in the wild: Our September report also highlights the remarkable resilience of baboons. Despite a severe facial wound, the resident male had fully recovered just two weeks after the photograph was taken.

Thank you to everyone who contributes sightings and helps us better understand and manage human–baboon interactions in Nature’s Valley.

12/10/2026

🐣 𝐏𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫: Please respect the enclosures! 🐾

It is disheartening to see the number of human and dog tracks leading straight through plover enclosures on Nature's Valley. The enclosures are there to provide a layer of protection for these beach nesting birds, helping to reduce disturbance and give them a better chance of successfully hatching and raising their chicks. Walking through them defeats the very purpose they serve.

Nature’s Valley has already lost nests to people walking over them, as well as to the tides. We cannot control everything that happens in nature, but we 𝐜𝐚𝐧 control the unnecessary pressures we place on local wildlife.

𝐀 𝐟𝐞𝐰 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞:
- Please 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬. It only takes a few extra metres, and there are plenty of ways to enjoy the beach without disturbing these sensitive areas.
- If you are a local or have visitors staying at your property, 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐝𝐨𝐠 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 and beach zones.
- 𝐁𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤, where your dogs go, and the wildlife sharing these spaces with us.
- If you see someone disregarding an enclosure or other beach regulations, 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐮𝐩 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 and help make them aware of the impact their actions can have.

It is particularly disappointing when you have to ask someone why they have walked their dog straight through an enclosure, only to be told, “Oh, I didn’t know,” despite having consciously crossed the enclosure line.

We all have a responsibility to do better. Being able to enjoy Nature’s Valley and its beautiful beaches comes with a responsibility to respect the wildlife that depends on them.

𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡. 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐬. 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬.

Let's be and with everyone — including the wildlife that calls this place home. Please be mindful, be considerate, and help us give our nesting birds the space and protection they need. 🌿💚

10/10/2026

Lookout Beach Clean Up with Knysna Toyota !

Today, the Knysna Toyota team joined 20 children from the KuCoNa Create and Connect Centre NatureCredits Club for a beach clean-up at Lookout Beach in Plettenberg Bay.

Walking all the way to the river mouth and back, the team and children discovered that although the beach appeared clean at first glance, a closer look revealed numerous pieces of polystyrene, microplastics and other litter scattered along the shore.

Some of the collected materials will be taken back to the KuCoNa Create & Connect Centre for upcycling, giving suitable waste a second life.

Through the NatureCredits Programme, children earn credits for participating in beach and village clean-ups, encouraging environmental responsibility through practical action.

A heartfelt thank you to Knysna Toyota for supporting this outing and joining our young environmental champions in making a difference!

We are incredibly proud of the children for their commitment to protecting our natural environment, and grateful to the Knysna Toyota team for getting involved and leading by example.

10/10/2026

Celebrating our NatureCredit Champions!

At KuCoNa Create and Connect Centre, we are incredibly proud of the children participating in our NatureCredits Programme, who are making a real difference through their commitment to protecting our environment!

Through participating in beach clean-ups and village clean-up activities, the children earn NatureCredits for every clean-up they take part in. These credits recognise their efforts, encourage environmental responsibility and reward them for taking action to keep our communities and natural spaces clean.

On 10 October, Knysna Toyota celebrated and rewarded the children who had earned credits through their dedication to these clean-up activities.

The children were congratulated and commended for their efforts to protect our environment and for showing that even small actions can make a meaningful difference.

Knysna Toyota also generously handed over a donation in support of the NatureCredits Programme, helping us continue to encourage children to become active environmental stewards in their communities.

A heartfelt thank you to Knysna Toyota for believing in our children, supporting the NatureCredits Programme and helping us nurture the next generation of environmental champions!

We are so proud of every child who has rolled up their sleeves, picked up litter and taken responsibility for the places they call home.

Every clean-up counts, every credit matters, and every child can make a difference!

09/10/2026

A week of WESSA awards and celebrations!

NVT is incredibly proud of our achievements and grateful for the recognition received at this year’s WESSA awards! These acknowledgements celebrate the ongoing commitment of our team, partners and local community to protecting our beautiful coastline and promoting responsible, sustainable tourism.

Green Coast: 5 Years of Recognition
Nature’s Valley has been recognised for completing five years as a Green Coast site, as well as receiving Recognition of Excellence! This milestone celebrates continued commitment to coastal conservation, environmental education, community participation and responsible tourism.

Blue Flag 2026–2027
We also celebrate the Blue Flag status awarded to several of local beaches in the Bitou Municipality:
The Dunes, The Waves, Singing Kettle, Nature’s Valley and Lookout Beach.

Congratulations to and all those involved in maintaining these high standards, as well as Robberg V for its Blue Flag pilot status and Offshore Adventures for the recognition of its tourism boats, Robberg Express and Oceanic.

This year’s celebrations are particularly special as WESSA marks 100 years of environmental stewardship and 25 years of the Blue Flag programme in South Africa.

A heartfelt congratulations to all the award recipients, especially those recognised for 10, 15 and 25 years of continued commitment. These achievements reflect years of dedication, collaboration and care for our natural heritage.

Thank you to WESSA Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa and , our partners, local community and everyone who plays a part in keeping our coastline healthy, thriving and accessible for future generations. Here’s to many more years of working together for nature! 💚

07/10/2026

🌿 2027 NVT CALENDAR — NOW AVAILABLE TO ORDER! 📅

The final selection is in! 🎉

A huge thank you to everyone who entered photographs and to everyone who voted. We received an incredible number of votes, and the final choices were very close!

The 2027 calendar brings together a wonderful range of photographers and perspectives, capturing the many different ways we experience and appreciate the landscapes, wildlife and everyday life around us. 🌿📸

👉 𝐎𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScVAsC_hxPojlAZDvXOaoKWuCE8rDYPoqqCD7KICeKtkoIisw/viewform?usp=header

𝐋𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞, so order yours soon! Calendars will be ready for local delivery before Christmas, making a beautiful gift for family, friends or a little something special for your own home. 🎁

📸 R300 per calendar
📐 A3 size — plenty of space for your notes and plans while showcasing beautiful local photographs.

⚠️ 𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦 so that we have one central record and can make sure every order is captured correctly.

📖 𝐎𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐚: Add the latest 𝑁𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒’𝑠 𝐿𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠 journal for R200 and discover more of the conservation, research and community work taking place in and around Nature’s Valley.

Limited calendars available — don’t miss out!🌿💚