Platbos Forest Reserve

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Platbos Forest Reserve

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Platbos is a botanically unique, endangered forest ecosystem. The property is currently being rezoned to a Contact Nature Reserve.

Indigenous forest covers less than 0.05% of the Western Cape Province, and only 0.5% of South Africa. Located near Gansbaai in the Western Cape, Platbos is Africa’s southernmost forest with trees of over one thousand years of age. CapeNature has awarded Platbos stewardship status in recognition of the forest’s high conservation value with respect to its uniqueness, biodiversity and connectivity to the landscape. Nonprofit Organization Registration Number: 086-576-NPO
Public Benefit Organization (PBO)
Exemption Number Registered with SARS: 930 036 766

27/10/2026

🎃 Celebrate the magic of Halloween in an ancient Forest! 🎃

Looking for a last-minute getaway this weekend? Escape the city and spend a night or two surrounded by the ancient beauty of Platbos Forest!
Just 2½ hours from Cape Town, our peaceful forest cabins are the perfect place to slow down, reconnect with nature and enjoy a little Halloween magic.

👻 Halloween Special: R500 off! 👻
Book your weekend escape via WhatsApp on +27 76 923 3349, or simply use the WhatsApp button on our page or website. Enjoy R 500 off your stay at one of our available cabins:

🌿 Old Olive Cabin https://platbos.co.za/platbos-accommodation/old-olive-cabin/
🐝 Honey Bee Suite https://platbos.co.za/platbos-accommodation/honey-bee-suite/
🦌 Bush Buck Suite https://platbos.co.za/platbos-accommodation/bush-buck-suite/

🍁 A little Halloween history…
Halloween began over 2,000 years ago as the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, celebrated on Nov 1st to mark the end of the harvest and the start of the dark, cold winter. The Celts believed that on the night of Oct 31st, the boundary between the living and the dead blurred, allowing ghosts to return to Earth. People wore animal skins and masks to confuse or hide from wandering spirits. Communities lit huge sacred fires and made offerings to protect themselves through the winter. In the 8th century, Pope Gregory III moved All Saints' Day to Nov 1st to honour saints and martyrs. The night before became known as All Hallows' Eve, which eventually shortened to Halloween.

And what better place to embrace a little mystery and magic than an ancient forest? 🌙🌳

✨ Make this weekend a little different. Trade the hustle and bustle for birdsong, forest walks and cosy evenings surrounded by nature.

🎃

26/10/2026

👀 Spotted 👀 A juvenile Boomslang (Dispholidus typus) showing off its incredible defensive display!🐍

🛡️ When threatened, a Boomslang may puff up its neck to appear larger and more intimidating. This is a defensive response, a reminder that even the smallest forest dwellers need their space!

🌳 Juvenile Boomslangs can look quite different from adults, with distinctive colours that change as they mature.

💚 Snakes will generally try to move away from people or avoid us altogether. They don't want an encounter any more than we do! If you come across a snake in the forest, remain calm, keep a safe distance and give it room to move away.

🐍 Snakes play an important role in our natural ecosystem. By respecting their space, we can safely share the forest with these beautiful creatures.

📸 Thank you .fabricius for sharing this fascinating moment with us at Platbos Forest! 🌿

20/10/2026

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Best Magical, Romantic & Tranquil Place” – TripAdvisor Review

There is nothing more special than hearing that our guests have enjoyed their time in Platbos Forest.

Thank you to our wonderful guests for taking the time to share your experience with us. Your kind words means so much to us! 💚

Looking for your own magical forest escape? Discover our beautiful Honey Bee Suite, nestled beneath a magnificent White Stinkwood tree in the heart of Platbos Forest.

📸 Photos: Honey Bee Suite
https://platbos.co.za/platbos-accommodation/honey-bee-suite/

⭐ Read our reviews of Platbos Forest Reserve on TripAdvisor: https://www.tripadvisor.co.za/Hotel_Review-g472522-d7655634-Reviews-Platbos_Forest_Reserve-Gansbaai_Overstrand_Overberg_District_Western_Cape.html

14/10/2026

🌳The Wild Olive Tree - The Tree of Faith 🌳

Wild Olives (Olea europaea subsp. africana) are remarkably tough. They can withstand drought, strong winds and frost, making them wonderfully adapted to South Africa's varied climate 🌍

Despite its rugged appearance, the Wild Olive produces clusters of tiny, lightly scented, white-to-greenish flowers (October to February), which are followed (March to July) by small, spherical, thinly fleshy fruits (either sweet or sour) which ripen purple-black 🌼

The Wild Olive is associated with faith, peace, hope and endurance. Its ability to withstand challenging conditions makes it a beautiful reminder of resilience and strength 🕊️

The Latin name for olive is olea; europaea = from Europe, and africana = from Africa 🌿

Near our Old Olive Cabin stands an ancient Wild Olive that we estimate to be over 800 years old! Imagine all the seasons, storms and generations this remarkable tree has witnessed. Our secluded, off-grid Old Olive Cabin was named in its honour. Come and experience the peace of the forest, reconnect with nature and discover the magic of one of Platbos's remarkable trees: https://platbos.co.za/platbos-accommodation/old-olive-cabin/

09/10/2026

👀Spotted 👀 a Black-headed Heron (Ardea melanocephala) perched in a White Stinkwood tree (Celtis africana) at Platbos Forest! 🌿

Did you know these elegant birds are expert land hunters, stalking grasslands for mice, frogs, lizards and insects? They’re nature’s very own pest controllers! 🐭🦗

🌳 Ancient tree lovers: Black-headed Herons often nest in colonies high in the tops of tall trees, building large stick nests where they can raise their young.

⚡ Masters of patience: They can stand perfectly still before striking at lightning speed!

📸 Thank you .fabricius for sharing with us!

30/09/2026

🌿 Can you find Seth? 👀

Hidden among the trees is Seth - a mysterious forest figure made entirely from seed pods, bark and other tree materials. With his arms stretched wide, he welcomes those who happen to discover him in the Forest 🌳

Seth is named after an ancient Christian legend that tells the story of how Adam’s son Seth, placed pips from the apple tree in the Garden of Eden under the tongue of his dying father. When Adam was buried, a tree grew from his grave and became a symbol of new life 🌱

Created by Cape Town artist , Seth found his home in Platbos in 2025. Over time, the forest will grow around him, and he will slowly return to the earth, becoming part of the forest once again. 🍂

A sculpture, a story, and a little bit of forest magic.

Next time you’re at Platbos… keep your eyes open. You might just spot Seth.

📸 Have you found Seth? We’d love to see him through your eyes! Share your photos of Seth with us and tag us

25/09/2026

The Cape Dune Molerat (Bathyergus suillus). Caught here on our Platbos Camera trap…going about the serious business of foraging for vegetation. Likely to line a special burrow for a future litter of pups. Mole rats excavate tunnels up to 100 metres + long that pe*****te to a metre + beneath the soil surface. Occurring only in southern Africa, they are the largest mammals in the world to live exclusively underground. They eat roots and bulbs and whilst farmers in the area are infuriated by their burrowing, here at Platbos the play an important role in the ecology, recycling plant matter into the soil and aerating the sandy soil for better moisture adsorption. In days past they were a staple in the diets of the Khoisan.

According to a study https://academic.oup.com/mspecies/article/doi/10.1644/828.1/2600870 “the abundance of B. suillus was noted by Europeans as early as 1660. Van Riebeeck, in his journals, referred to the Berg River region as “the kingdom of the moles.” He commented that horse riders were forced to keep to rhinoceros trails to prevent the horses from stumbling and throwing their riders or breaking their legs when they stumbled into the mole-rats' burrows” (Bennett and Faulkes 2000).

Cape Dune Molerats today remain here at Platbos an important prey for caracal, leopards, mole snakes and larger birds of prey. We generally only see them above ground when heavy rains are forecast. It's great to see this one at work!

25/09/2026

🌿 School Holiday Forest Adventure🌿

Pack some snacks, grab the family, and come explore the magic of Platbos Forest! 🌿🦋

Wander, discover and listen to the birds and see what you can find among the ancient trees 🐞🌱 And if one day isn’t enough, make it a proper adventure and book an overnight stay in the Forest! 🏕️💚

Address

Platbos Forest, Uilkraal Vallei
Gansbaai
7220

Telephone

+27824110448

Website

http://www.platbos.co.za/

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