The Grootbos Foundation (GF) at Grootbos Private Nature Reserve (GPNR) was set up in 2003 by the reserve owners – the Lutzeyer family – as a non-profit organisation with a vision of conserving the Cape Floral Kingdom and uplifting the surrounding communities. 

The Foundation’s mission is to empower others through their ecotourism, enterprise development, sports development, and education projects – all of which are replicable and scalable, with many generating their own income or becoming partially self-sustaining. From coaching soccer and computer training to clearing alien vegetation, each programme has been carefully considered to build a brighter future for the people who live in the area, as well as for the environment. This link between conservation and social development at Grootbos has made them a world leader in terms of sustainable and responsible ecotourism.

GF funds their projects through the use of generous donations from corporate donors and governmental organisations as well as Grootbos Lodge guests and other private individuals. These donations are supplemented by income generated from various projects such as their on-site nursery and landscaping businesses. 

Green Futures Education

The Green Futures programme at GF consists of learning initiatives with a core conservation focus. These include nationally accredited training courses offered through their Green Futures Horticulture and Life Skills College (see the front page), their Green Futures indigenous nursery, alien clearing, and indigenous tree planting projects.

Conservation Research Unit

Green Futures Conservation relates to the Foundation’s conservation research programmes. These include award-winning ecological research projects, biodiversity surveys, and management of human-wildlife conflict within a protected environment. Their focus is to create a Protected Environment within the Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy by conducting floral and faunal surveys to determine high priority conservation areas of greatest biodiversity. GF also strives to eradicate alien invasive species in this area to protect indigenous diversity, natural water sources and rivers, to manage wildfire risk and to provide employment. 

Sports Development

GF’s Sports Development Programme was established with the dual aims of achieving greater social integration in the Gansbaai region and educating and empowering youth, using sports as a vehicle for change. The programme launched in 2008 with the construction of a multipurpose sports facility which includes a full-size FIFA standard artificial soccer pitch sponsored by the English Premier League. The Football Foundation runs football, netball, hockey, and athletics training sessions in Gansbaai, Stanford and Hermanus, which engage approximately 2 000 youths each week. In addition to these sessions, GF also runs programmes centred on HIV education, female empowerment, environmental education, proper nutrition, enterprise development, and integration. 

Enterprise Development

The Foundation also offers employment and enterprise development programmes including career guidance for youth, workplace experience, and mentorship for small business owners. South Africa has a high youth unemployment rate and through their Enterprise Development programme GF aims to give young people the skills, confidence and tools to find work or to build a successful business.

Arts and Culture for Youth

GF’s art programme for children uses visual art, drama, games and music to engage children at the Grootbos Masakhane Hub and get them excited about conservation through the medium of art. In their pilot of this project, they have partnered with Creative Skills Factory, a local NPO that uses art to identify barriers to learning among five to seven-year-olds. The Grootbos Florilegium and its use of botanical art to activate conservation is the cherry on top of the Foundation’s cultural programme, and all profits from the sale of Florilegium prints, books and tours go towards GF to be split equally between their conservation and cultural programmes.

To learn more, or to donate or fund a student visit www.grootbosfoundation.org 

Cool runnings with Raceday 

Running is a popular form of exercise for all ages and comes with numerous health benefits. It requires nothing more than a good pair of shoes, determination, and the open road ahead. 

There are a variety of running clubs and events in the Overstrand including Raceday, which organises runs throughout the Overberg on the beautiful surrounding farms and vineyards, giving runners access to areas they would not normally be able to enjoy. 

Raceday was started in 2020 by Japie Swanepoel when he moved from Cape Town to Kleinmond in 2020. “I love to run, and I love to get people running,” he says, “Throw in beautiful vineyards and it is a recipe for success!”

Japie held his first Raceday event at Honingklip Farm during Covid called ‘Arrive and Run’, where people entered online and had two weeks to complete a run at the farm and upload their results to the Raceday Facebook page. Medals and prizes were then delivered once the event was over, based on the uploaded results.

Raceday has continued to grow in popularity and now organises several runs a year at vineyards and farms in the Overberg. This will also be the third year that Raceday organises the 10 km fun run at the Hermanus Whale Festival.

“Without the vineyards and farms, we would not be able to have any events,” says Japie, “These places provide the venues for the runs and in return we bring the people. The majority of our participants come from the Cape Peninsula and haven’t experienced many of the wines that are produced in the Overstrand, so it is good exposure for the wine estates.” Each Raceday event offers free wine tasting for participants as well as a discount on wines.

Running a Raceday event requires the assistance of volunteers, which usually include family, members of Hangklip Athletics Club, and staff from the vineyards and farms. As the events start early in the morning, Japie has also made sure that each event has a pop-up barista for those who need their caffeine fix, and a DJ is present to provide an upbeat atmosphere before, during, and after the race. There is also food available for participants who are hungry after their run.

Japie’s current goal for Raceday is to explore new wineries or ones that have never hosted runs, and to make their events even better. Everyone is welcome at the events including runners of all levels or those just wanting to walk the route.

Any brands interested in collaborating with Raceday are welcome to contact Japie on japie@raceday.co.za. Follow Raceday on Facebook for photos and updates.

Upcoming Events (to enter click here )

Freedom Day Run | 27 April | Cheverells Farm, Elgin

Raceday is back for the third time at Cheverells Farm which produces an assortment of quality apple and pear cultivars for export as well as the local market. It is also home to a newly refurbished farm shed with a country café and gift shop, wellness studio, and a glass greenhouse nursery. The entire run will be through various cultivars of apple orchards on two farms with a 5 km or 12 km option. Breakfast rolls and barista brewed coffees will be on sale at the outside garden. Alternatively, you can reserve a table for breakfast in the shed by emailing cheverellsfarm@gmail.com. A portion of the entry fee will go towards TUFCAT, a feral cat organisation based at UWC in Cape Town with a ‘Home for Life’ cat sanctuary situated in Grabouw. 

Workers’ Day Run | 1 May | Bouchard Finlayson Winery, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley

This will be the very first run at the beautiful Bouchard Finlayson Winery, widely acclaimed as one of South Africa’s leading boutique wine cellars famous for producing award-winning Pinot Noir, elegant Chardonnay, and terroir-driven Sauvignon Blanc. The trail is a 5 km single track into the mountain, running through fynbos with majestic views of the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. The run will feature all the elements that have become the hallmarks of a Raceday event: free wine tasting, category prize winners, lucky draws, and customised medals. Coffee will be sold on the day. Enjoy a steak roll or wors from the braai after your run. 5 km or 10 km categories available.

Women’s Day Run | 9 August | Esc Wines, Karwyderskraal

This is the second trail run on this beautiful property. Esc Wines is adorned by proteas, growing on the sandbanks of the river adjacent to the vineyards. Expertly farmed, this national flower, known for its large and diverse family, symbolises the diverse local culture which Esc Wines celebrate in their brand. Look forward to free wine tasting, category prize winners, lucky draws and customised medals. Coffee as well as exciting breakfast options will be sold on the day. The 5 km and 10 km routes will be separate.

Spring Run | 7 September | Gabriëlskloof Wine Estate, Bot River

2024 marks the fourth year of hosting this 13 km run at Gabriëlskloof just outside Bot River. Beautiful views and varied terrain is what you can look forward to at this run. Raceday has also added a 5 km route this year – run it or walk it and be part of the spring vibe. Entry includes a bacon and egg roll and a cappuccino. All finishers will receive a medal and there are prizes in the men’s and ladies’ categories for the top runners. Enjoy free wine tasting and a discount on all Gabriëlskloof wines. There is also a Farro restaurant voucher up for grabs.

A winter celebration of the arts

The 12th FynArts Festival from 7 – 17 June will again bring a burst of creative energy to Hermanus with a diverse programme that promises to uplift, inspire, and entertain. 

The town will play host to festival goers and participants from far and wide, including some of South Africa’s top artists, musicians, authors, journalists, chefs, and winemakers. The second weekend of the festival coincides with the start of the winter school holidays and is a long weekend, as Youth Day falls on Sunday 16 June, with the Monday being a public holiday.

Ticket sales for the general public opened on 16 March and are selling at a brisk pace. The programme booklet is available from art galleries, Hermanus Tourism, Hermanus Library, the FynArts Gallery and selected outlets in town and further afield. Bookings can be made at Early Bird prices until 14 April. 

As has come to be expected from this unique fusion of an arts festival and winter school, festivalgoers can look forward to a stimulating and entertaining arts and culture programme that encompasses a range of visual arts exhibitions, a series of talks and presentations on arts-related and actuality topics, a variety of workshops, food and wine events, and a culinary series that includes both chef’s demonstrations and culinary workshops.

Exhibitions

As always, the festival kicks off with the installation of the 2024 outdoor group exhibition, Sculpture on the Cliffs, sponsored by Pioneer Freight. This year’s exhibition, curated by Jaco Sieberhagen, will feature works by 11 artists, including five who have participated in previous years as well as a few new names. Gracing the coastline around Gearing’s Point, these sculptures not only enhance the public landscape but also a sense of well-being among both residents and visitors to Hermanus. 

All previous participants in Sculpture on the Cliffs are invited annually to exhibit a number of smaller works at an indoor venue. Previously known as Art in the Auditorium, the Indoor Sculptures exhibition will be on display this year in The Marine Hotel, which is also the venue for a Bonsai Exhibition by the Overstrand’s Kujira Kai. 

The Municipal Auditorium, which previously hosted the smaller sculpture exhibition, will be utilised as a Festival Hub this year – a place where festival goers can sit back and relax between events, or meet up with friends and enjoy light refreshments.

The annual ceramics group exhibition hosted at the Windsor Hotel, is again curated by Liz Coates but has a slightly different format this year, with only twelve contemporary artists featuring a larger collection of their works. Titled Chromatic Clay, the focus of this exhibition is on colourful, fun, quirky, different.

The 2024 FynArts Festival Artist is Mikhael Subotzky. A collection of his photographic works as well as more recent related collages and works on canvas will be on display at the FynArts Gallery. Additional exhibitions specially curated for the festival will be hosted by the many other art galleries and open studios in and around Hermanus. 

Performances

While the emphasis remains on music, this year’s series of performances also includes two theatre productions and a dance performance. The music series offers something for everyone – from intimate recitals and small ensembles to large orchestras – and will appeal to both serious music aficionados and general music enthusiasts. The diverse genres and styles include classical music, opera, jazz, crossover, choral and African music.  

Talks and Presentations

The Opening Speaker of the Strauss & Co Series of Talks & Presentations is the internationally acclaimed South African artist, William Kentridge. He will present his talk directly after receiving the 2024 FynArts Legacy Award, which is presented annually at the discretion of the FynArts Advisory Board in honour of a longstanding and distinctive contribution to the arts in South Africa and beyond.

A number of presentations, interviews and panel discussions on a wide variety of fascinating topics ranging from art, music, history and literature to science and topical issues will be presented daily in the Municipal Auditorium, along with a series of Breakfast Talks hosted at the Hermanus Golf Club. The Book Talks at the Windsor Hotel will include novels, memoirs, short stories and even an award-winning cookbook. 

Workshops

For those interested in learning something new or perfecting their craft there is a variety of informative and fun workshops to choose from, ranging from ceramics, painting, and crafting, to writing, photography, botany, birdwatching, cooking, bonsai and flower arranging. These events include refreshments for the half-day workshops, as well as a light lunch for the full-day workshops. Numbers are limited and tickets sell out fast, so do not delay. 

Food and Wine

In addition to a number of culinary workshops on everything from poke bowls, sushi and vegan cooking to decadent desserts and pasta making, ten chefs will be back in the FynArts pop-up demo kitchen in the United Church Hall to inspire and delight foodies with a series of one-hour culinary demonstrations. Also on the festival menu is a number of special food and wine pairings, lunches, dinners and a morning tea hosted at scenic venues by some of Hermanus’s top chefs, wine producers and restaurateurs.

For wine enthusiasts there will be no less than six wine tastings, presented this year in a new venue at the Spencer Art Gallery in Harbour Road. In the Wines of Note series, curated by Melvyn Minnaar, three wine personalities – winemaker Tertius Boshoff, wine writer Tim James, and wine judge Winnie Bowman – will present today’s finest and most interesting South African wines in their view. JP Rossouw’s series of three sessions will explore the theme, Music in Wine, with three musicians who have ventured into the world of winemaking. 

The full programme for this year’s festival can be viewed here, or on the FynArts website. Bookings can be made online at Webtickets or via the website, at Pick n Pay stores countrywide, or in Hermanus at the FynArts Gallery or Hermanus Tourism Bureau. For enquiries, contact 060 957 5371 or admin@hermanusfynarts.co.za.

The sky’s the limit  

Owner of Forestry Drones (FD), Dwayne Marx, has had a long career in forestry. From studying forestry after school to most recently being the CEO of the South African Forestry Contractors Association (SAFCA), his wealth of knowledge of agriculture, operations and management assessment made a venture into drones a natural next step. Added to this is his drive for efficiency and the desire to offer easier, safer, and more affordable solutions to customers.

Dwayne’s drone journey began when he yet again watched a Cessna (a 'spotter plane' used by the local Fire Protection Association) takeoff to do an aerial inspection of an area potentially threatened by fire. Considering the manpower and expense required to do the aerial inspection by plane, Dwayne decided to explore the potential of drones and purchased his first drone, a DJI Phantom 4 Pro.

Dwayne set about obtaining the legally required commercial operator’s license (ROC) and enlisted the help of a consultant. Two years later, in 2021, FD received its license. Of paramount importance to Dwayne is ensuring that FD is always fully compliant with all regulations governing drone operations in South Africa. This includes everything from successfully complying to the annual CAA audit in order to retain the commercial operator’s license to annual pilot medical licenses, all overseen and regulated by the South African Civil Aviation Authority.

Dwayne’s first contract was with an international company who employed his services to inspect their wind turbines. The inspection of wind turbines would previously be done by rope access technicians – a process that was less efficient and had safety concerns.

By flying a drone along the length of each of the wind turbine’s blades (on each of the four surfaces), at approximately 8m from the blade’s surface, Dwayne is able to inspect the blades efficiently, capturing an image every two seconds and providing all the data to his clients. Through this data and imagery, the client can prepare accurate maintenance programs. The use of drones in preventative maintenance has helped to avoid multi-million-rand repairs.

Dwayne then secured a second contract with the same company, this time for the inspection of 400 wind turbines. He contacted his good friend Derek Crookes, former SA cricketer and co-founder of Drone Air Services, and together they set to work with two teams, sometimes capturing up to 10 000 images per day. In September 2023, Dwayne resigned from his position at SAFCA to give the drone business his full attention.

The market for drones continues to grow rapidly, driven by technological advancements and expanding applications as businesses realise the benefits that the commercial drone sector brings to their operations.

One such application is the use of drones in the property sector. Dwayne has partnered with Jaco Schoeman to offer clients ‘Real View’, a complete solution for estate agents as well as private property buyers and sellers. Real View can provide an unmatched ‘viewing’ of the property through images and drone footage, creating a virtual 3D tour of the property and an accurate aerial view of the outside and surrounding area. This is particularly beneficial to those dealing with buyers or sellers with limited time available to view properties, or those from further afield.

This combination of imagery and footage is also an exciting and progressive marketing tool for hotels, guesthouses, and wine farms, providing potential guests with an immersive preview of the accommodation and setting.

Another clever application of this technology benefits developers and home builders. Real View can provide progress images and footage, virtual tours and progress reports – great for the out-of-towners keeping an eye on the construction of their holiday home!

The insurance market is also quickly becoming aware of the value that drones bring to the sector through visual verification and documentation of property and insured items. Before an insurance claim can be settled, insurance companies must verify its basis in fact. Real View can provide this to customers through imagery, giving the insured the means to quantify his claim with the insurer, should the need ever arise.

FD has a large variety of equipment for various applications. Precision farming is taking off – a drone with a multispectral camera can help in the agriculture sector to assess crop health by taking the raw data and uploading it into software that provides a meaningful report for the client. Thermal cameras are also being widely used to identify issues on solar panel performance, water leakages and more. In security, thermal cameras are a great tool as they can identify body temperature targets with ease, during both day and night surveillance.

On the backend, software has been rapidly produced globally to support the raw data that is captured by the drone operators, so that the end user can have meaningful reports that are easy to use. The use of drones in the various applications has led to data being collected quickly, accurately and safely.

For more information contact Dwayne on 082 878 0126 or email info@forestrydrones.co.za. To make sure that you are dealing with a legal drone operator, visit the SACAA website to see a list of all RPAS Operator Certificate holders.

Coffee, cake, light meals, and good vibes are the order of the day at Perron 25 Coffee Shop in Kleinmond. Owned by Strauss Odendaal and his family, the coffee shop and tearoom (Teekamer at Perron 25) provide the perfect place to unwind and connect with new friends. 

Strauss previously worked in the financial sector but felt a desire to change his path to one that had more purpose and brought more meaning to his life.

The family, who are originally from Pretoria, owned a holiday home in Kleinmond, and with extended family in the area, they made the decision to move to Kleinmond permanently. As Level 3 lockdown lifted, and with that the ability to sell property again, they put their Pretoria home on the market and received an offer to purchase the following day.

The unexpected quick sale of their house left them in a predicament as their son, Estian, was in matric in Pretoria and needed to see out his final year. Strauss says that suddenly everything seemed very real, but things continued to fall into place and the family promptly found an apartment where they stayed for six months. Just a few days after Estian matriculated in 2020, Strauss and his family moved to Kleinmond.

Strauss started a business called Farm to Plate which he ran as an online shop – a produce shopping site where consumers can buy meat directly from carefully selected family farms, largely organic. At around that time Strauss met Marquin Brikkels, a humble young man who showed much potential, but who struggled with drug addiction. By the age of 24, Marquin was a father to five children, and by the time Strauss met him, he had already spent six years in jail. Despite this, Strauss saw something special in Marquin. 

At 11pm one evening and with the ongoing support of the local church, Marquin decided “it’s now or never”, and made the decision to turn his life around. He found employment, securing a six month contract, after which he began doing occasional work for Strauss. There was no doubt in Strauss’s mind that Marquin was a changed man and he set to work helping him find permanent employment.

Strauss contacted Ground Central, a coffee shop in Kleinmond, about the possibility of hiring Marquin as a barista and found out that the owners intended selling the coffee shop. Strauss’s business, Farm to Plate, was undergoing its own challenges, with loadshedding ever present and logistics, at times, causing delays in deliveries. In Ground Central, Strauss saw an opportunity, for both himself and Marquin, and while Marquin expressed some concern in his own ability to step outside of his introverted nature, Strauss had no doubt that Marquin would shine in his new role as barista.

The priority when purchasing Ground Central was to ensure that it was a community-based venture and a place where people could come together, strike up conversations with strangers, and build on that sense of community. As part of this, Strauss supports other local businesses. He buys produce from Die Bloubakkie next door, and customers filling their prescriptions at the local pharmacy will sit down for a cup of coffee. This extends to other businesses and sees them all working in synergy. Before long Strauss decided that rebranding would help to create the environment that he envisioned. 

In November 2023, Strauss relaunched Ground Central as Perron 25, serving customers in an outside area which promotes social interaction and community, and where everyone knows each other by name. On Fridays and Saturdays, Strauss lights the braai and adds to the menu by offering wors, skilpadjies, sosaties and more. A local musician, Eugene, contributes to the festive atmosphere, performing between 12:00 and 14:00 on Fridays.

The space which previously housed produce for Farm to Plate has been converted into the Teekamer at Perron 25, a delightful indoor coffee shop where something grabs your attention at every turn. The playful decor turns a cake and coffee outing into an experience. Each detail has been meticulously thought out, and the carefully curated touches throughout make it a very special place to visit. It is a perfect setting for dads wanting to take their “princesses” on a little “date”. Strauss says that it was created as a space for women to retreat and find some calm.

The menu is as delightful as the setting. The cakes are made by local dominees (and a dominee’s mother), and the signature blend coffee is supplied by Kleinmond roaster, Buck & Bean. Strauss is forever inventing new things to add to the menu and their designer coffees include the ‘Pink Plaasmeisie’ – an espresso with condensed milk, pink frothed milk, and bite-size chocolate; and the ‘Jaloerse Meisie’ –  an espresso with condensed milk, green frothed milk, pistachio crunch and a Ferrero Rocher on a stick to stir. They will soon offer a new and fun hot chocolate range, perfect for winter.

Particularly popular are the ‘49'ners’, a selection of menu items that cost only R49, served between 07:00 and 14:00 daily. Included in these are quiche, flapjacks, pancakes, and the ‘Egg’cellent Toast’ – scrambled egg served with rosa tomatoes, and a side of sourdough bread and preserves. 

The atmosphere is one of fun and Strauss is very hands-on, engaging with customers and welcoming them in. Recent knee surgery does not seem to have dampened his enthusiasm in any way. He is full of smiles, and his customers are clearly very fond of him. Strauss has succeeded in what he set out to create – Perron 25 is a meeting place for the community. And Marquin is there, still a little reserved, shining in his role as barista.

Perron 25 and the Teekamer are located at 25 2nd Street and are open Monday to Friday from 07:00 – 17:00 and on Saturday from 07:00 – 14:00. For more information contact Strauss on 082 415 2837. 

The personal details in this article have been provided with the kind permission of Marquin Brikkels.

Join the City Nature Challenge 

By Sandy Immelman, Facilitator for CNC 2024: Overstrand

The Overstrand will once again take part in the annual City Nature Challenge (CNC) from 26 – 29 April in an effort to help document biological diversity. This is the third time that Overstranders will be participating in this global bioblitz, which also acts as a friendly competition against other cities around the world.

The CNC started in 2016 as a competition between Los Angeles and San Francisco, and has grown into an international event, motivating people to find and document wildlife in their own cities. It is run by the Community Science teams at the California Academy of Sciences and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles. 

This bioblitz calls on current and aspiring community scientists, nature and science fans, and people of all ages and backgrounds to get outside and observe and submit photos of wild plants, animals, and fungi during the designated dates in order to help scientists track real-time changes in our planet’s biodiversity and to better understand wildlife conservation. After the photos are submitted between 26 and 29 April, time will be spent from 30 April to 5 May uploading observations and identifying what was found. The results will be released on 6 May for the public. 

In 2023, 66 394 people took part from 482 cities, making 1 870 763 observations in over 57 220 species, with La Paz in Bolivia winning with 126 983 observations. The Overstrand collected a grand total of 14 190 observations. Of those observations, 2 002 species were identified – 397 of which were red-listed plants and animals in the Overstrand. 

“It is so interesting to see that of the 110 species of conservation concern we observed during the Challenge, most are plants in the Protea family. In fact, 9 out of our top 10 most observed species of conservation concern are Proteaceae! No wonder they call us the heart of the Cape Floristic Region,” said Margriet Brink, one of the Overstrand CNC facilitators, “This data adds to our collective species knowledge and can feed directly into keeping our national and international red lists up to date.”

Please join in and have fun with friends, colleagues, and family over the four days. Photograph everything other than humans and pets and upload your observations to iNaturalist. For more information and to join the CNC 2024: Overstrand please visit www.citynaturechallenge.org and click on ‘Participate’. 

Various organisations such as CREW (Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers), Betty’s Bay Conservancy, and Hermanus Botanical Society will be arranging outings over the four days, so keep your eyes open for details. You can follow Overstrand Bioblitzing on Facebook and/or request to join the WhatsApp group to keep updated by sending a message to 072 921 1757. 

Greenpop’s Reforest Fest is family-friendly, annual restoration celebration that brings people together to plant thousands of trees while enjoying a celebration like no other. 

Since 2011, attendees have planted between 5 000 and 10 000 indigenous trees each year. The event contributes towards Greenpop’s Uilenkraal Forest Restoration Project which aims to restore degraded forest patches at the Platbos Forest Reserve and Bodhi Khaya Nature Retreat. 

So far, the project has planted over 110 000 trees, restoring forest habitat, and helping to preserve and expand a forest that is home to many incredible, often endangered, species, such as our elusive apex predator, the Cape Leopard. Other creatures that make use of the indigenous forests for their survival include Bushbuck, Large-spotted Genet, and baboons. 

The Reforest Fest is not just about trees though – it's also about community, music, friends, family, dancing and (re)connecting with nature.

This year’s Fest took place over Easter weekend from 29 March to 1 April and had lots of exciting activities to enjoy such as yoga, botanical embroidery, mindful movement, wood whittling, a guided forest walk, and an Easter Choco Hunt.

On Saturday the tree planting began with four teams making quick work of the digging, planting, and mulching of the saplings. There was a competition for the best decorated spade, and many decorated their hats with flowers and plants.

After the planting, and out of the heat of the sun, festivalgoers headed back to the camp where they were spoilt for choice when it came to food and drink. Options included dumplings, pizza, smoothies, coffee, gin, and sweet treats. 

Later that afternoon the Main Stage came to life with music from the likes of Nomadic Orchestra and Jeremy Loops. A bonfire was lit and festivalgoers danced to their heart's content until midnight when the festivities moved to the Late Night Secret Stage until 3am.

The event ended on Monday with some relaxing yoga and good food from the stalls which stayed open all morning so that everyone could relax and fill their bellies before heading home after an unforgettable four days.

The Reforest Fest team is still tallying the total number of trees planted, and this information along with more photos will be posted to Greenpop’s Facebook page soon.  

Stefan Botha from Hermanus High has been excelling in the school’s photography club this year. 

In January this Hermie photographer entered the monthly Photographic Society of South Africa (PSSA) Youth Division competition where he received six awards for his image ‘Honey’: Best Junior, PSSA Monthly Category Winner, Monthly Overall Winner, Best Scholar, Certificate of Merit, and Best One Star Photographer. 

Most recently Stefan participated in the German International Photocup 2024 as one of 92 students from fifteen schools / clubs across South Africa (entering as The PSSA Youth Photographers of South Africa).

A total of 51 students received 165 acceptances which included several awards, and Stefan is one of them with his photo above of beloved, local elephant seal, Buffel. The image got 4 acceptances and also received a Certificate of Merit (over 90%) in the monthly PSSA Youth Division competition.

Creative Notions Bernina Overberg was excited to announce that they have been selected as the Bernina Dealer of the Year at a celebratory event at their shop in Hemel-en-Aarde Village on Friday 5 April.

Creative Notions established themselves in Hermanus in 2017, however the shop has been in business for well over 12 years, having started in Pretoria in 2010. In October 2020, they became a Bernina dealer for the Overberg.

The event was attended by several of their loyal clients as well as Ivan Stevens (Dealer Manager of Bernina South Africa), who handed over the trophy to owners Louis and Mireille Pretorius (second and third from left). 

After receiving the award, Louis thanked their clients and the community for their ongoing support and announced the winners of a lucky draw which included special prizes such as gift vouchers and a sewing machine. Finally, he thanked the Creative Notions staff for their commitment and hard work.

Just Care held their annual Golf Day on Friday 5 April at the Hermanus Golf Club. The players took to the course at 11:30 and ended off the day with a dinner and auction in the clubhouse.  

“It was a fun-filled day and the weather played along,” says Marlinda Wright, member of the Just Care team, “We had great sponsors and wonderful support from players, donors, caterers, volunteers, Hermanus Golf Club, and our team. We are still counting the money raised from the event.  

“Just Care is so full of gratitude to everybody involved in our big day and the ongoing support from the community of Hermanus.”

The winners of the golf day were Wayne Taylor, Fergus Macloed, Philip Clemens, and Ian Wilson.