Hartenbos, Garden Route
Stay in one of the Hartenbos accommodation spots and overlook the spectacular coastline of the Garden Route of South Africa. Between the towns of Mossel Bay and George lies a perfect holiday resort with an endless expanse of golden beach for walkers and anglers and a shallow, sandy lagoon that offers safe swimming and canoeing.
Hartenbos lends itself to family holidays and during school vacation the tranquil town becomes a bustling seaside destination. The village of Hartenbos started life as a farm granted to Esaias Meyer, a local farmer, as a reward by the Dutch East India Company after he helped shipwrecked sailors.
He called the farm Hart en Bosch (deer and bush). Most of the farm was later bought by the Afrikaanse Taal en Kultuurvereniging (Afrikaans language and culture organisation) and turned into a holiday resort for its members during the years of apartheid. Today it is still very popular with visitors from Limpopo to the Cape and thousands of people spend their annual summer holiday in Hartenbos.
Whale, dolphin and seal watching are very popular, particularly during May through November and the river mouth is an active breeding ground for sea birds.
During peak season, the Hartenbos beachfront is lined with colourful kiosks selling anything from seafood to clothing and there is also a heated indoor pool, a supertube, amusement centre and the local museum has an excellent exhibition of the Great Trek.
Travellers' Reviews
1 Review from SA-Venues.com travellers. All reviews are verified.
Verified review
If you have kids they can entertain themselves during the school holidays with other kids and be close to nature so I highly recommend it!
Merideth (PE)
In the vicinity
Hotels & other accommodation options
Hartenbos Lagoon Resort
Nestled on the banks of the beautiful Hartenbos Lagoon, the Hartenbos Lagoon Resort provides accommodation on the Garden Route. Hartenbos Lagoon ...
Marine Manor
Marine Manor offers bed & breakfast accommodation on the beach. All rooms offer Free Wi-Fi, air conditiong, hairdryers, underfloor heating, a bar...
BIKI C De Branders 12
Nestled in the heart of Hartenbos, Western Cape, Biki C offers a serene coastal retreat within the prestigious De Branders complex. Biki C is an...
Alikreukel B30
Alikreukel B30 is an affordable self catering apartment with sea views. There are four bedrooms; three are furnished with double beds (two rooms ...
Cheetah Lodge
Situated in Hartenbos, Cheetah Lodge is a charming family-run bed and breakfast accommodation. Located in the original farmhouse, this haven of s...
Rhino Family Unit at Bergsig
Rhino Family Unit at Bergsig Game Farm offers holiday accommodation in Hartenbos an area of tranquillity and beauty. The silence and fresh air of...
Fly Me To The Moon Guest House
Fly Me To The Moon Guest House has a stunning array of beautiful rooms to choose from. Each room has a subtle theme ranging from the refreshing h...
19 On Paul Street
19 on Paul St Hartenbos is a spacious self-catering retreat in the picturesque holiday town of Hartenbos, located between George and Mossel Bay o...
Hippo House at Bersig
Hippo House at Bergsig Game Farm offers accommodation in an area of tranquillity and beauty. The silence and fresh air of the mountains will capt...
25 On Rooiels
25 On Rooiels, on the Garden Route, offers self catering accommodation in Hartenbos. Enjoy the peacefulness of the location without being too far...
22 on Port Natal
22 on Port Natal offers self-catering accommodation in Hartenbos, a vibrant coastal town, situated within the Mossel Bay Municipality. From here ...
Bay Lodge on the Beach
Bay Lodge on the Beach offers luxury accommodation close to many popular activities. Rooms are offered on a bed only basis and include luxury lin...
Alikreukel B29
This affordable self catering apartment on the second floor (no lift) with sea view is 150m from the beach and it is fully equipped for a self ca...
Treklaer Lodge
Treklaer Lodge is a self catering guest house situated 550m from the beach in the holiday town of Hartenbos offering guests comfortably furnished...
Zebra Honeymoon Suite
Zebra Honeymoon Suite at Bergsig Game Farm is a Holiday Cottage in Hartenbos offering accommodation in a 3000 hectare reserve consisting of savan...
Black Impala Chalet at Bergsig
Black Impala Chalet at Bergsig Game Farm offers accommodation in Hartenbos in an area of tranquillity and beauty. The silence and fresh air of th...
Outeniquabosch Lodge
Nestled high on a cliff top, on the banks of the Palmiet River, you will discover a luxury, exclusive lodge located in the heart of the Garden Ro...
Things to do in the area
The Kingfisher Restaurant
With its beachfront location, unequalled seafood selection and fresh sushi, The Kingfisher has all the right ingredients for a perfect holiday di...
Hartenbos Beach
Hartenbos Beach, proudly holding Blue Flag status, is a distinguished gem near Mossel Bay along South Africa's Garden Route. This prestigious acc...
Tergeniet Beach
Tergeniet Beach is a beloved holiday destination that attracts both locals and visitors from far and wide, with many South African families choos...
Outeniqua Moon
Outeniqua Moon is a Percheron stud, in Ruiterbos, Mossel Bay, run by a group of incredibly passionate people, who are determined to keep the bree...
Bonniedale 4x4 Trail
Deep within the natural splendour of the Outeniqua Mountain Range, just inland from the Garden Route, is the stunning holiday farm of Bonniedale....
Dolphin Paragliding
The Garden Route of South Africa is unlike anything or anywhere else. It combines mountains, rivers, forests, beaches, and seaside towns in a vib...
Noteworthy attractions
The Links at Fancourt
Gary Player, who has been a part of the design team since the original courses at Fancourt, came on board to add the Links in 2000 and has gone o...
Montagu Golf Course at Fancourt
The course is typical parklands and one of three Gary Player designed courses offered at Fancourt. Montagu is highly acclaimed and has in recent ...
Outeniqua Golf Course at Fancourt
Named after the Mountain that overlooks this magnificent Garden Route golfing gem, the Outeniqua Course at Fancourt is one that barely needs intr...
George Golf Club
Nestled in the foothills of the magnificent Outeniqua mountains, George Golf Club is among the oldest courses in the country. George country club...
Goose Valley Golf Club
Originally a 9 hole course set at the heart of a real estate development, The Gary Player Design Company has created an 18 hole layout of note on...
Knysna Golf Club
The Knysna Golf course is probably the only golf course in South Africa which can boast holes that are below sea level. The Knysna Golf Club is s...
Mossel Bay Golf Club
The 18-hole links course has recently been remodeled and upgraded and is getting rave reviews. The golf club is situated above a peninsula that j...
Oubaai Golf Club
Situated only 8 kilometres from George, in the design of the Oubaai 18-hole Championship Golf Course and Driving Range, Ernie Els and his team ha...
Pezula Golf Course
Situated in the very heart of the Garden Route, on sweeping coastal cliffs, east of the charming town of Knysna, Pezula encompasses a world-class...
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