Hartenbos

Accommodation | Activities | Restaurants | Business Directory

Geography and History

Hartenbos is a seaside resort village situated next to the Mossel Bay industrial town of Voorbaai in the Western Cape of South Africa. The Hartenbos resort was started in 1936 by an organisation called the ATKV - AfrikaanseTaal en KultuurVereniging, (The Afrikaans Language and Culture Organisation) which was part of the old South African Railways. The resort lies on the banks of the Hartenbos river and is an extremely popular vacation spot for local South African visitors.

Activities

Hartenbos becomes a bustling holiday destination during peak season, December to January, when about 100 000 visitors from the interior flock here to enjoy the sun-washed beaches, calm seas and Mediterranean climate.

Boating and fishing are by far the most popular activities in Hartenbos. Other activities include a beach front with a heated indoor pool, super tube, bowling green, tennis courts, amusement centre, conference facilities and a huge amphitheatre where festivals and concerts take place.

Hartenbos is a popular desination for family holidays. Colourful kiosks line the streets selling anything from delicious seafood to colourful clothing during the holiday season.

The lagoon of the Hartenbos River is great for family holiday sport such as swimming, surfing and canoeing.

Whale, dolphin and seal watching draw visitors to Hartenbos each year. Bird life, particularly near the river mouth, is abundant and the area is an active breeding ground for sea birds.

The Hartenbos Museum has an impressive display depicting the various stages of the "Great Trek".