Hebron Private Nature Reserve at Nature's Way Farm Stall

31/08/2026

Species of the month for September 2026 is...🥁🥁🥁🥁

Zosterius tsitsikamma (Tsitsikamma longhorn beetle)!
The Tsitsikamma longhorn beetle belongs to the family Cerambycidae (longhorn beetle family). The genus name, Zosterius, features a highly distinct appearance among its group. The species name, tsitsikamma, honours the ancient Tsitsikamma forests along South Africa’s southern coastline where this species is an endemic. This is where the beetle was first discovered and described by scientists as recently as 2015. It is an elusive beetle, incredibly small and a rare resident of the forest canopy. Males reach only 9.3mm in length.

As an exceptionally rare find, it was only formally described by science in 2015 by the entomologist Anders Bjørnstad. The biological type specimen was safely collected in the pristine coastal environment of Stormsriver. It has been bred from unbarked logs of white alder, candlewood and stinkwood. It is highly likely that this species also occurs in Hebron Private Nature Reserve.

Read the article here:https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Anders-Bjornstad-3/publication/316546486_Studies_in_Afrotropical_Cleomenini_Coleoptera_Cerambycidae_Cerambycinae_VII_Revision_of_the_genus_Zosterius_Thomson_1864_with_description_of_a_new_species/links/61d1889fb8305f7c4b19bd21/Studies-in-Afrotropical-Cleomenini-Coleoptera-Cerambycidae-Cerambycinae-VII-Revision-of-the-genus-Zosterius-Thomson-1864-with-description-of-a-new-species.pdf

Photo credit: Anders Bjørnstad

31/08/2026

One beautiful bushbuck ram strolling through Hebron

19/08/2026

With spring around the corner, a visit to our new Afromontane Forest Arboretum is a lovely morning outing idea! The birdlife today was something special. Grab a warm cup of coffee at Nature's Way Farm Stall, while viewing the full suite of southern Cape forest tree species along a wheelchair friendly boardwalk.

03/08/2026

Species of the month for August 2026 is...🥁🥁🥁🥁

Nuxia floribunda (Forest Elder / Bosvlier)!

Forest Elder is in the Buddlejaceae family (sagewood family). The genus, Nuxia, honours an 18th century French botanist, M. de la Nux. Floribunda, the species name, means to ‘flower in abundance’. Forest Elder is one of a handful of truly winter flowering species; they produce large, showy sprays of small, creamy white and fragrant flowers. These are produced in mass and can clearly be spotted in the canopy from a distance. Many insects are attracted to these flowers, which also attracts insectivorous birds.

The fruit is a smooth, straw-coloured capsule enclosed in the old flower heads. The seeds are very fine and small, and probably disperse through gravity and wind.

The Khoi-khoi people used parts of the tree as a purgative, according to whether branches were cut with an upward- or downward stroke. The wood of Forest Elder is pale yellowish, hard and heavy.

15/07/2026

https://youtu.be/A-3fW350AxA?si=_HzNo_e-J3ApZ-N8

Our magnificent forests, through the eyes of Leon Kluge.

Giants of the forest

15/07/2026

A truly special spot in the reserve, that can be accessed along our Red and Blue routes. Visit Hebron for some tranquility and peace of mind.

15/07/2026

Some beautiful fungi on dead branches after the recent storm. Hebron Private Nature Reserve

09/07/2026

01/07/2026

Species of the month for July 2026 is...🥁🥁🥁🥁

Potamochoerus larvatus (Bushpig)!

Bushpigs, in the family Suidae, are widespread across the African continent, from Ethiopia in the north, southwards towards the southern Cape of South Africa. They require dense cover and tend to avoid open savanna or grassland habitats. In the southern Cape, apart from elephants, these are the largest forest dwellers.

Their home range in the Knysna region is ca. 720 hectares. Bushpigs occur in social groups of up to 12 members, but are typically less than five. These groups consist of a dominant male and female, with the rest of the group made up of other females and juveniles. Solitary males can also be found, as well as smaller bachelor groups. Bushpigs mate during autumn and winter, and litters consist of ca. 3 young. After six months, the dominant female will chase away young males, and after 1-2 years, chase away some of the beta sows.

Bushpigs are nocturnal and will grunt loudly when alarmed or when foraging. They are omnivores, and consume roots, insects, small reptiles, eggs, carrion, fruit and fungi.

17/06/2026

Lovely to see our Forest stream flowing again after more than two years.