The Kogelberg Biosphere, like much of the Western Cape, has once again been severely impacted by wildfires. This year, fires began long before the official start of the Overberg fire season on 1 December. And we’re now only halfway through the season. According to...
As the BEST team took a well-earned break in December, the report recording incidents and call-outs in December and January will be presented in the next BBRA newsletter. An important reminder to all, please have your medical aid information, a list of your current...
HCCC provides welfare services to the Hangklip community, i.e. residents of Betty’s Bay, Pringle Bay and Rooi Els. After closing for the holidays in early December, food preparation and other services resumed on 12 January this year. After a well-deserved break, our...
The peak holiday season brings a large influx of local and international visitors to the Stony Point Seabird Colony. In an attempt to help educate visitors on how to minimize stress on the...
Thanks to Pierre de Villiers of CapeNature for his very interesting and informative presentation on the MPA in Betty’s Bay. Initially, the Marine Living Resources Act 18 of 1998 was used to declare and regulate MPAs. Later this became function of the Protected Areas...
In late November, we were graced with a visit from a young male southern elephant seal. He first made his appearance on Silversands main beach. That lasted a day before he went to the Sea Farm Beach. One day there and back to Silversands. The novelty of his visit...
New Chicks on Main Beach 16 December: Exciting news! Our first two African Oystercatcher chicks have hatched on Main beach. The hatchlings are only a few days old. The same pair of Oystercatchers successfully raised one chick to fledgling last season. (The miracle...
A brief recap from the last newsletter: There was an application for South African perlemoen (in its dry form) to be reclassified to CITES Appendix 11 at the COP 30 meeting in Brazil CITES is: The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna...
For those who have not seen the first draft of the 10 paged “Biosphere Living” booklet from 2024, here is the link. Please share it with any family, friends, neighbors, tenants or holidaymakers to help spread the word about “living in a biosphere”....
The launch of the Betty’s Bay book was a festive community event in the beautiful Harold Porter Gardens. The Nirvenia Hall was full and overflow seating was provided outside. This 640 page colour coffee table book is a celebration of Betty’s Bay and “captures the...