Hartenbos

• Province: Western Cape
• Garden Route
• Coordinates:34°7′S 22°7′E
• Area:24.20 km2
• Municipality­ – Mossel Bay

Hartenbos is a coastal town on the Garden Route. situated just north of Mossel Bay. The town lies at the mouth of the Hartenbos River, where it flows into the Indian Ocean. It forms part of the Mossel Bay municipal area and is connected to nearby towns by the N2 highway and the coastal R102 route. The area is characterised by long sandy beaches, dunes and a mild coastal climate. Hartenbos is located about 40 km west of George and approximately 400 km east of Cape Town.

History of Hartenbos

Hartenbos was established in 1730 when a ship and her crew were stranded along the shore. One of the local farmers alerted the authorities to the disaster, and the Dutch East India Company granted him a farm as compensation. He called the farm Hart en Bosch (deer and bush, a hart is a large stag). Another theory is that the name means “Forest of Hearts” in Afrikaans,  referring either to the shape of the local river bends or to the heart-shaped leaves of the indigenous milkwood trees.

The farm was purchased in 1936 by the Afrikaanse Taal en Kultuurvereniging of the South African Railways to build a holiday resort for S.A. Railways staff. About 1,000 plots were laid out and sold separately as holiday accommodation. A church, a hospital, sports facilities, and a school were built. The resort is now open to all.

The license plate prefix for Hartenbos is CBS, and the postal code is 6520 (Streets and Boxes)

local WEATHER TODAY

Browse businesses and places to visit in Hartenbos

Things to do and see in Hartenbos:

• The  Museum is situated in the heartland of Afrikaans culture. The focal point of this exceptional museum is the Great Trek.
• The Beach has Blue Flag status.
• The beach trail features marble slabs engraved with excerpts from 16 Afrikaans poets, spanning the past century. Each poem explores themes of the sea or highlights aspects of South Africa’s maritime heritage.
• Janine wash and iron museum
• Hartenbos water park
• Hartenbos Lagoon is shallow, sandy and offers safe swimming and canoeing.
• Outeniquasbosch 5km parkrun Every Saturday at 8:00 am.
• Hartenbos Boere Mark

Resources

Practical information for the Western Cape, Regulations, permits and helpful tips. See the Colourdots coastal and nature use guide

Useful Numbers

Residents and visitors can find important local contact numbers below, including police, medical services, utilities, and community facilities

• Emergency Services

• Police: Mossel Bay 044 606 2805
• Fire: 044 606 5031
• Ambulance: 10177

• Medical

• Closest hospital;Life Bayview Private Hospital044 691 3718
• Pharmacy: -044 695 1510

• Municipal & Utilities

• Municipality 044 606 5266
• Water: 044 606 5266
• Electricity:044 606 5266

• Transport & Roads

• Traffic department: George 044 878 2400
• Road Emergencies / SANRAL: 0800 204 204
• Childline-116

• Community & Safety

• 24-hour Poisons Information Helpline of the Western Cape:  0861 555 777
• SPCA: Garden Route Spca-044 878 1990
• NSRI 087 094 9774

• Local Contacts and Community Resources 

• Museum-044 691 2202
• Post office: 044 695 1555
• Library:044 606 5271

• Schools in Hartenbos

•  Laerskool (Primary school) 082 774 8877

• Colourdots is an independent regional information resource for the Western Cape.
  Learn more about the project HERE