NVT

01/06/2026

Love seeing how our different programmes are connecting and complementing one another! 🌿

This is a wonderful example of the KuCoNa Create and Connect Centre Nature Club and NVT's Behavioural Change Programme working alongside the Hebron Private Nature Reserve at Nature's Way Farm Stall and NVT Forest Programme to create meaningful nature-based learning experiences for local youth.

By connecting young people with the forests on their doorstep, we're helping to build curiosity, environmental awareness, and a deeper appreciation for the natural world. Great collaboration and an inspiring day out in the forest! 🌳💚

01/06/2026

🐍🦎 A remarkable moment from right here in the Southern Cape!
NVT Forest Programme Manager, Rudi Swart, captured this incredible interaction between a Boomslang and a chameleon in the forest. Despite being caught, the chameleon somehow managed to escape and scramble up the tree to safety — a rare and intense glimpse into the realities of life in the wild.

Nature is unpredictable, dramatic, and endlessly fascinating, and moments like these remind us just how important it is to protect these ecosystems and the creatures that call them home.

🎥 Video credit: Rudi Swart

Taken in Saasveld Forest, 8 June 2021 by Dr RC Swart

29/05/2026

🌿 After the storm, the forest breathes again.

Following the recent severe weather and damage across the region, it’s encouraging to see signs of calm returning to our natural spaces. Life in the forest continues, resilient as ever, and nature quietly carries on.

Captured on camera trap footage shared by Hebron Private Nature Reserve at Nature's Way Farm Stall, this beautiful caracal moving through the forest is a reminder that even after disruption, wild spaces continue to thrive.

Moments like these highlight both the fragility and resilience of our ecosystems — and why protecting them matters so deeply.

28/05/2026

This 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐚𝐲 (16 June 2026), young environmental ambassadors will come together to celebrate, learn about, and connect with our ocean heritage 🌊💙

The “𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐎𝐜𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞” 𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥, led by UbuMama Outdoor Education in partnership with SANParks, will bring together children, families, conservationists, educators, and creatives for a day filled with environmental education, storytelling, art, theatre, and inspiring conversations around protecting our natural world.

The event aims to support children from surrounding communities in attending and participating in hands-on activities that encourage positive environmental action and stewardship for the future.

We are also proud that two NVT staff members will be presenting on the day alongside a range of passionate conservation speakers and facilitators from across the Garden Route.

The team is currently fundraising to help cover transport, meals, refreshments, and learning experiences for the children attending. 𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞, 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰:

🌍 https://thundafund.africa/campaign/5C4CC8FB4B97FFBECA05

28/05/2026

🦅🌿💚 Junior Bird Club also takes place on Wednesday afternoons, where young birders are learning to slow down, observe, listen, and connect with the incredible birdlife and biodiversity found right here on our doorstep. From learning bird calls to using binoculars and exploring local habitats, the Junior Bird Club is creating such an inspiring space for curiosity, learning, and nature connection.

It’s wonderful to see young people being encouraged to explore the natural world and grow into future environmental stewards, guides, and conservationists ✨

Please give KuCoNa Create and Connect Centre a follow and reach out if you’d like to get involved — there are some truly incredible initiatives happening within the community.

28/05/2026

This is what Wednesday afternoons look like at KuCoNa Create and Connect Centre 🌿🦋💚

A space where young explorers can connect with nature, get curious, learn through play, and discover the wonder that exists all around them — from the smallest insects to the plants growing right outside their doors.

It’s so inspiring to see initiatives like this helping children build confidence, curiosity, creativity, and a lifelong appreciation for the natural world 🌱✨

Please give KuCoNa Create & Connect Centre a follow and reach out if you’d like to get involved — they are doing incredible work within the community.

28/05/2026

This is what Thursday mornings look like at KuCoNa Create and Connect Centre 🌿☕💚

A space filled with creativity, conversation, laughter, connection, and community spirit. It’s wonderful to see such a welcoming environment where people can come together, relax, and enjoy meaningful time with one another.

Please give the page a follow and reach out if you’d like to get involved — there are some amazing opportunities and initiatives creating real positive impact in the community ✨

27/05/2026

🌊🦦 Happy ! How could we not celebrate our local legend and these incredible creatures in general?

At NVT, we’ve been working hard to learn more and more about the — their expressive personalities, movements, behaviors, and all the little quirks that make them so fascinating. It has been such a privilege learning from others and growing citizen science records in and around Nature’s Valley.

Meet our current nonchalant 'resident' male otter of Nature’s Valley — and we absolutely adore him. Quick, stealthy, full of character and a bit of a show-off, he loves his nom noms and is an excellent hunter. After spending countless hours during fieldwork just watching him, we’re still completely captivated.

He happily lets everyone witness his famous sand baths and signature “poop dance” moments too! We’re constantly in awe. And while he definitely gives off main-character energy, we know there are more otters around the area and we’re excited to keep learning about them too.

𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐎𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐮𝐬! Have you had an otter encounter or snapped a photo of an otter friend? 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰 — we’d love to see and hear them! 🦦💚

Photo credit: and 📸

26/05/2026

Upcoming Talk Reminder

📍 Blue Rocks Café, Nature's Valley
📅 Friday, 29 May
🕙 10:00am

Curious about the hidden interactions unfolding in our local fynbos? Join us for an engaging talk by Ruby Davies on Friday, 29 May at 10:00am at Blue Rocks Cafe and Grill, Nature's Valley!
The fynbos is one of the world’s most unique and diverse ecosystems, right here on our doorstep, filled with remarkable plants and the animals that interact with them. Join Ruby as she presents her Master’s research on the surprising world of nectar robbing bees in a bird pollinated Erica flowers found in the Garden Route. Some bees “steal” nectar instead of pollinating - but are they really just cheaters?
Discover how these small rule-breakers may still play an important role in plant reproduction, and what this means for our understanding of fynbos ecosystems.
✨ No background knowledge needed — just bring your curiosity!

We hope to see you there! 🌸🐦🐝

🌿🐝 Curious about the hidden interactions unfolding in our local fynbos? Join us for an engaging talk by Ruby Davies on Friday, 29 May at 10:00am at Blue Rocks Cafe and Grill, Nature's Valley!

The fynbos is one of the world’s most unique and diverse ecosystems, right here on our doorstep, filled with remarkable plants and the animals that interact with them. Join Ruby as she presents her Master’s research on the surprising world of nectar robbing bees in a bird pollinated Erica flowers found in the Garden Route. Some bees “steal” nectar instead of pollinating - but are they really just cheaters?

Discover how these small rule-breakers may still play an important role in plant reproduction, and what this means for our understanding of fynbos ecosystems.

✨ No background knowledge needed — just bring your curiosity!

📍 Blue Rocks Café, Nature's Valley
📅 Friday, 29 May
🕙 10:00am

We hope to see you there! 🌸🐦🐝

22/05/2026

Weekday mornings at KuCoNa are all about connection, creativity, inclusion, and community 💛🌿 Welcome to a Tuesday morning at KuCoNa Create and Connect Centre

It’s wonderful to see spaces where people can come together, stay active, share skills, and support one another.

Give thee page a follow and reach out if you’d like to get involved — there are some amazing initiatives creating real impact.

KuCoNa Create and Connect Centre