NVT

23/10/2026

A Whale of a Time at KuCoNa Nature Club!

Yesterday, our KuCoNa Nature Club members continued exploring this month’s exciting theme: Whales!

Even though it was a rainy day, that didn’t stop us from having fun and learning all about these incredible ocean giants!

The children watched fascinating whale footage, explored the ocean food chain to discover how different marine species are connected, and took part in some fun games to bring their learning to life.

It was a wonderful day helping our young nature champions deepen their understanding of whales and the amazing marine ecosystems they call home.

At KuCoNa Nature Club, learning about nature is always an adventure!

21/10/2026

🐣 We have our first three White-fronted Plover chicks of the season on Nature's Valley beach! All three were successfully ringed (by a trained researcher) this morning, and we’re hoping they thrive in the days ahead.

These little ones have already beaten the odds. Their nest was washed over by high tides twice, but the eggs survived, thanks in part to their dedicated parents, who are now guiding them through this even more vulnerable stage of life.

Plover chicks are tiny and beautifully camouflaged. They often crouch motionless in the sand if alerted by their parents, making them incredibly easy to miss and accidentally step on. Along with natural predators, they face additional threats from many beachgoers over this time of year through the summer months and dogs.

💚 Please help us protect them:
- Stick to the waterline and avoid walking through dunes and driftwood/debris areas.
- Respect all nesting signs and other designated areas (dog zones).
- Remember that Entrance 1 to Blue Rocks is a NO-DOG ZONE. Please respect this restriction.
- Keep dogs leashed in permitted areas.
- Never pick up or handle a plover chick. Simply move away; its parents are likely nearby.

These tiny chicks have already overcome so much. Let’s give them the space and protection they need to grow up safely. Please help us and make this nesting season a success across the beach!

21/10/2026

Yesterday, KuCoNa NatureCredits Club members rolled up their sleeves for a village clean-up in Kurland!

The children collected waste and took recyclable materials to the Kurland Village Waste Facility, learning the importance of keeping their community clean and caring for the environment.

A big thank you to Dalene Thys, the KuCoNa NatureCredits Lead, a passionate environmental champion and an inspiration to the children of Kurland! 💚

Every action counts! Each child who took part in the clean up earned a NatureCredit for their efforts. As they collect credits, they work towards earning a reward when they reach 10 credits!

Through NatureCredits, children are learning responsibility, teamwork and that small actions can make a big difference.

We are proud of these young environmental champions who are helping build a cleaner, more sustainable community!

18/10/2026

Grade 7s from Crags Primary School enjoying some active fun as part of the Mission Blue Rocky Shores Programme in Natures Valley! 💙

18/10/2026

🐋💙 🐋 Celebrating Whales at KuCoNa Nature Club! 💙

With whales and their calves visiting Plettenberg Bay, we’re celebrating these magnificent marine creatures at KuCoNa Create and Connect Centre this month!

This week, our young Nature Club members got creative by transforming waste toilet rolls into whales through upcycling! A fun, hands-on way to explore marine life while discovering how everyday waste can be given a new purpose.

Learning about nature is even more fun when we get creative!

18/10/2026

Connecting Young People with Our Ocean: Rocky Shores Programme

Grade 7 learners from Crags Primary School recently joined us at Nature’s Valley Beach for an exciting day of exploration, discovery and learning!

Through beach games and hands-on exploration of the rocky shore, learners discovered the fascinating marine creatures that inhabit these unique coastal ecosystems.

Each learner also received a rocky shore booklet to deepen their understanding of marine biodiversity and the importance of protecting our ocean.

Thank you to our NVT interns and KuCoNa Create and Connect Centre Youth Ambassadors for leading the activities

A special thank you to Blue Rocks Cafe and Grille for generously providing ice creams for the children at every Rocky Shores Programme. Your continued support helps make these experiences even more memorable, and we truly appreciate your partnership!

This programme forms part of the Mission Blue initiative in Nature’s Valley, within the Plettenberg Bay Hope Spot, supporting ocean awareness and marine conservation through education and meaningful experiences in nature.

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!