Hartenbos

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Hartenbos is a town in the Western Cape of South Africa, about 45 km from George, and part of the Mossel Bay Local Municipality on the Garden Route. It began as a farm and was turned into a holiday resort in 1933 by the South African Railways and Harbours for their workers.

In 1936 the Afrikaanse Taal en Kultuurvereniging (ATKV) bought the farm, laid out about 670 plots, and developed the area. People were not allowed to build permanent brick houses until 1994. The ATKV still runs an amphitheater there and hosts Afrikaans cultural events, including large Christmas services in the arena. The area can host up to about 15,000 visitors in peak holiday times.

The resort has five kilometers of Blue Flag beaches, a river with paddle boats, a water slide park, a heated swimming pool, flea markets, conference facilities, and shopping centres. It is the largest self-catering holiday area on the Western Cape’s Garden Route coast. Hartenbos has its own primary school, sports clubs, and several churches.

Afrikaans culture has long influenced the town, but it is now multi-racial as well. The famous Afrikaans musician Koos Kombuis called it a symbol of “pure zen” and noted that the town has slowly become more diverse without losing its character.

There have been recent development plans to turn some caravan parks into conference venues, which many locals opposed because they fear losing the town’s soul. For now, the town largely remains as it is.