The Nature’s Valley Trust is a small community-driven NPO working at the cutting edge of integrated conservation in South Africa. Nestled in the magnificent Garden Route, and situated in the world-renowned Nature’s Valley, we are a passionate group of conservationists...
by Ben Wilson The 29th of February 2020 not only adds a whole extra day to our calendar year, but it also celebrates a leap day for frogs! The Endangered Wildlife Trust initiative aims to raise much-needed awareness of the plight of our froggy friends and serves as a...
by Ben Wilson RENT A CANOE OR KAYAK An all-time favourite activity in the valley is paddling out on a kayak or canoe (rented from the De Vasselot camps site) and taking in the serenity of Nature’s Valley. There is an opportunity for everyone to enjoy the lagoon,...
by Anna Kilmova Spotlight: The African Penguin Photo: Ben Wilson When you think of penguins, you probably imagine them being surrounded by ice and frigid water with a dash of howling winds thrown in. But there’s a species of penguin that is just at home on a tropical...
by Caitlin Judge Today is the last day of National Marine Week. However, the month of October is still “National Marine Month”, as well as we - the global population - should try making small changes that will help ease the pressure on the marine and coastal...
by Lauren Moriarty National Marine Week is very effective in community and school outreach programmes. Environmental organizations all over the country hold several exhibits; educational programs and activities to engage with the younger generation on issues that face...
by Brittany Arendse What are winters in Nature’s Valley if not the perfect time to comb the coastline, at sunrise, for the most delicate paper nautilus shells? Argonauta argo or the ‘paper nautilus’, so called for its thin shell and similarity to the true nautilus are...
by Caitlin Kensett Smith Humpback Whale Photo credit: Dr Gwen Penry Did you know, the largest animal to ever live on earth is the Blue Whale? It is so massive that their tongue alone can weigh as much as an elephant, and their heart can weigh as much as a car! With...
by Jackson Werts With the approach of January 20th, the conservation community is celebrating Penguin Awareness Day. Before I get into penguin awareness, I would like to just explain the importance of all Awareness. Awareness is the knowledge or perception of a...
by Liezl Retief At first, I hear it only in the distance, but the footsteps get louder and louder as they pass right by my bedroom window. I open my city-accustomed eyes, marvelling again at the quiet, pitch darkness that engulfs the Valley at night. I suppress the...
by Aidan Henri “I am a piece of marine debris, that found a way into the sea, Over the waves and into the bay, I have travelled a long way. But on the beach I do not belong, I get eaten by shore birds that scurry along, So why don’t you show some care, and pick me up...
by Liezl Retief She was well known by our researchers. Her light colouration meant she stood out from the rest. Pearl was a White-fronted Plover never to be forgotten. She lived happily on the Nature’s Valley beach, spending her time with the likes of some beautiful...
by Amber Hatch The #ShareTheShores Plover team to kick the season off! From left to right we have Brittany, Andrea, Carissa, Amber, Christina and Selena. So it’s Spring here in South Africa and with that, we welcome four new interns at NVT for a new season of...
by Brittany Arendse September saw our third White-fronted Plover breeding season take flight as part of our Coastal Impact Programme. The previous season’s stats painted quite a dreary picture, with less than 10% of the breeding attempts actually yielding successful...