- Wes-Kaap
- Nature's Valley
Nature's Valley, Wes-Kaap
- Inligting
- Gallery (21)
- Aktiwiteite & Vermaak (1)
Place of peace and serenity
Nature’s Valley is situated in the Western Cape, South Africa.
This small undiscovered village is possibly one of the most beautiful parts of the famous Garden Route coastline. Only 32 km from Plettenberg Bay it forms part of the Tsitsikamma Section of the Garden Route National Park, the only residential area in the country to be within the borders of a National Park. Its’ beach is the final pit stop of the popular Otter trail, one of South Africa’s flagship hikes.
The village was well named as it is encircled by the magnificent Tsitsikamma National Park and is within walking distance of pristine beaches, tranquil lagoons and enchanting indigenous forests. It is a place where the Otters play and the bushbuck and bushpigs roam between the houses. Nature doesn’t get more beautiful than this!
There are approximately 50 houses permanently occupied in this quaint village which lies virtually at the mouth of the Groot River. Residents have managed to minimize development and the tricky Groot River Pass road, with its multiple hairpins, could also explain why the village has such few visitors. This pleases both the residents and the tourists that come to enjoy the unspoilt beach for lazy days, quit walks and peaceful fishing.
There are plenty of walks and hikes through forests, along the beach and cliffs and through dry river beds. The lagoon is perfect for canoeing, paddling or fishing and if you not feeling energetic, the beach is just the perfect spot to sit and soak up the beauty and the sun.
Nature’s Valley has a few B & B’s, Guest Lodges and self-catering units available to visitors.
Places to Visit
Things to do and see
- Nature’s Valley Beach
- Bloukrans Bridge Bungy
- Tsitsikamma Section of the Garden Route National Park
- Storms River Suspension Bridge
- Bird watching
- Nature’s Valley Rest Camp
- Big Tree
- Waterfall Trail
- Otter Trail
Climate
Summer months, November to March, will have average temperatures of between 11˚C and 30˚C with the highest rainfall months being November and March.
Winter months, May to August, will have average temperatures of between 7˚C and 21˚C with high rain usually in August.
Transport
Chemair offers flights from Johannesburg and Cape Town directly to Plettenberg Bay. Other Commercial Airlines offer flights into George Airport or Port Elizabeth Airport. The N2 highway will take you to the Plettenberg Bay area. Car hire facilities are located at the Airports.
Festivals
August – Storms River Traverse: A 3-day bike ride through mountains, plantations and coastline alongside the Storms River Village
Nov / Dec - Plett Rage: This music festival is the longest running and possibly the largest student festival in the Southern Hemisphere. A few hundred students started visiting Plett in the 8o’s to celebrate the start of Summer Vacation and freedom. The festival has now grown to 10 days of partying at six festival venues filled with about 15 000 fellow students. Not for the “older” crowd!
History
The area was originally inhabited by old Stone Age and Paleolithic man before various glacial periods disrupted this coastal occupation. The San Hunter-gathers lived here about 10 000 years ago and then the Khoi herders.
For many years travel along this coastline was not possible and it was only when Thomas Bain began building his “Seven Passes Road” did access to the area become a reality. The Groot River Pass was completed in 1880 and the first person to settle in the area was Hendrik Barnardo, a foreman at Bain’s Groot River Construction, who acquired 69 hectares of land. He married three times and fathered 19 children and unfortunately known for his enthusiastic slaughter of wildlife in the area. It is said that it was a member of his family the last Tsitsikamma elephant in 1881.
He was pressured into eventually selling a portion of his land in 1941 and the remainder of his property was sold in 1943 by Baron Ulrich Behr. The Baron had the land proclaimed for development and in 1953 the township was declared and formally named “Nature’s Valley”.
Uit ons gallery
Binne Nature's Valley
Natures Valley
Natures Valley is a small, resort village along the Garden Route. It lies 29 kilometres from Plettenberg Bay, nestled between the Salt River, the foothills of the Tsitsikamma Mountains, the Indian Ocean and the Groot River Lagoon. Arguably the…
MeerGeskep: ; Laas opgedateer:
Gebruik die kort-skakel-URL hieronder om na hierdie bladsy van 'n ander webwerf of sosiale media te skakel. Nie net is dit korter nie, maar dit sal altyd werk as die bladsy naam verander.
Kopieer skakel na knipbord