Guidelines and Regulations
The wild, isolated location of the village and the regulations affecting it have led to essential guidelines to help property owners and visitors alike
The wild, isolated location of the village and the regulations affecting it have led to essential guidelines to help property owners and visitors alike
Baboon house invasions can occur without warning. They can be extremely unpleasant and sometimes dangerous. ADT (0810378656) and/or the Baboon Monitors will assist in evicting baboons.
Please read the baboon management guide.
Keep food out of sight.
Close all windows and lock doors when leaving residences.
Chase baboons away by making a loud noise or spraying them with water.
Do not approach them inside a home unless they have an escape route and are not feeding.
Request a link to join the NV Baboon Alerts WhatsApp group to be warned of, and to report baboon movements. 0445316820
Put out garbage early only on Fridays (plus Tuesdays between 14 Dec & 22 Jan). All garbage to be in a ‘wheely bin’ secured with cords or clips.
See general baboon management guide
Initiative for removal of damage causing baboons, November 2021
NV Baboon Management Plan second update, November 2021
NV Baboon Management Plan update, September 2021
National Sea Rescue (Emergency Plettenberg Bay Office 0829905975)
Whilst the Groot River is in a near-pristine condition, the lagoon as a natural body of water can become polluted under certain circumstances, e g heavy rains during peak visitor periods as a result of poorly maintained or overloaded septic or conservancy tanks. The water quality is regularly tested and warning notices are put up if necessary.
Visitors need to be aware that sewage in the valley is not linked to any central collection or treatment system. Septic tanks should be used carefully to avoid overflow due to blockages. Conservancy tanks should be emptied well before there is a danger of overflow and pollution.
The Groot River Estuarine Management Plan may be viewed here. It includes regulations for the artificial breaching of the estuary mouth.
No person may breach or attempt to breach the mouth of the river when it is closed. SANParks have strict criteria for opening the mouth in accordance with estuary breaching regulations.
To ensure easy access and a pleasant environment for all users of the lagoon, canoes, boats, etc should be moored to the railings that have been provided.
No motorised craft are allowed on the lagoon.
NB: Being surrounded by a national park, a number of SANParks regulations are applicable in addition to municipal by-laws.
Dogs play a special role in many families. However, if uncontrolled in the village or National Park they can harm or frighten pedestrians (children and the aged being most vulnerable) as well as wildlife. Birds and buck have been killed. They can also be a nuisance/danger to beach-goers, especially children.
Revised Dog Regulations were announced by Bitou Municipality in December 2017. These set out red, orange and green areas where dogs are forbidden or have to be on a leash or can be leash-free. A penalty of R500 applies to infringements. View Regulations. In addition, the following should be noted:
Visitors with cats that roam from protected areas should be aware that their pets could be vulnerable to predators.
By community choice, there are no streetlights in Nature’s Valley. When electricity was installed in 1986, the community decided not to erect street lighting for three important reasons:
In keeping with this approach, property owners are asked please to restrict to a minimum the installation and use of permanent and temporary external lights.
People living or holidaying in Nature’s Valley are likewise asked to help minimise light pollution at all times.
Roads serve as the main pedestrian routes in Nature's Valley.
Because of the many outdoor activities, all roads are used by pedestrians, joggers and cyclists far more than in a typical suburban setting. They are also used as key movement corridors by wildlife.
The narrow roads mean drivers should exercise patience and be exceptionally careful to avoid injuring people or wildlife including nocturnal game & birds.
Owners and visitors are asked to note the following points and, if necessary, to make others aware of them:
The densely wooded Tsitsikamma forests, the high proportion of wooden homes, the changeable wind conditions and the fact that the nearest Fire Department is 30km away, make it vital that owners and visitors avoid creating fire hazards in Nature’s Valley. See Useful Links for emergency contact numbers
What Regulations Require:
Regulations stipulate that no fires are allowed in the National Park, at the lagoon, on the beach or any public open space, except at designated places near the lagoon. Further: