Reforest Fest 2023
Fri Apr 7, 12:00 - Mon Apr 10, 14:00
Bodhi Khaya Nature Retreat
ABOUT
RESTORATION CELEBRATION, EASTER 2023
Reforest Fest is an annual restoration celebration that brings people together to plant thousands of trees while enjoying a celebration like no other.
It’s a festival for everyone and whether you celebrate Easter or not, there is much to be grateful for over this long weekend. Where creativity meets participation, join in the diverse array of entertainment with interactive art & theatre for the whole family - all whilst having a blast getting active for the environment. Help restore degraded land; attend workshops, talks & classes. Celebrate under the stars with local live music & DJ’s and delight in the wholesome food village.
The stunning surrounds of Bodhi Khaya Nature Retreat welcome explorers to its milkwood forests and fynbos trails, in addition to beautiful on-site accommodation. New this year is our exciting Tented Village, featuring luxury-fitted bell tents and pre-erected Kartents - fully-equipped 2-person cardboard tents, to suit all budgets and preferences.
The 2023 event is being held at Bodhi Khaya Nature Retreat, which is located only 2.5 hours from Cape Town, nearby Gansbaai and Stanford.
Programme (more information to be released in the lead up to the event):
Arrive Friday evening, pitch your tent and relax into a chilled night of gentle tunes under the stars.
Awake early on Saturday and get active helping to restore the Uilenkraal valley ecosystem during for an action-packed day of planting thousands of trees. Return to camp for a forest party to celebrate your achievement.
Sunday is a day to relax your body and stimulate your mind with fun, educational activities and interactive workshops, guided forest walks, yoga and guest talks on sustainability topics, with chilled campfire vibes into the evening.
Monday, we encourage you to enjoy the stunning natural surroundings of Bodhi Khaya before you depart back home.
TICKETS - click the ticket link to purchase
- Under 4 year olds go free! They do not need a ticket
- Kids 4-12 year olds - R340
- Early Bird Ticket - R465 - sold out!
- Phase 1 Ticket - R665 - sold out!
- Phase 2 Ticket - R775 - standard festival ticket
- Phase 3 Ticket - R950 - standard festival ticket
TICKETS INCLUDE:
- A place to pitch your tent in the Bodhi Khaya campsite
- Tree planting, including all demos
- Workshops, talks and activities: upcycling, arts & crafts, theatre, games, educational workshops, and lots more!
- Live entertainment: music and performances
- Yoga classes
- Forest walks
- And so much more!
TICKETS EXCLUDE:
- FOOD: We will provide some snacks during the planting and there will be a selection of delicious food trucks and vendors on site preparing fresh, delicious meals for purchase, with a large selection of vegan- and vegetarian-friendly options, as well as kid-friendly options.
- TENTS: These can be rented separately if you don't bring your own. See the ticket options.
- ACCOMMODATION UPGRADES: (see Accommodation tab)
- TRANSPORT: It is your responsibility to get to the event. Check this link for ride-sharing: https://bit.ly/LiftshareRFF23
- CAMPER VAN PARKING: (see Accommodation tab)
OPTIONAL EXTRAS:
- EASTER SUNDAY HARVEST FEAST: Treat yourself and your festival crew to an Easter Sunday Harvest FEAST!
Date: Sunday 9 April
Cost: R360 per person
This incredible picnic-style lunch will be crafted by Chef Bridget Bartleman for you to enjoy with your friends and family as you recover your strength after helping to plant 1000s of trees.
Prepare to be delighted by a feast to be remembered, including: Stone house cajun soft cheese * Klein river smoked cheese trunket and Klein river Danbo * Anybos goat cheese-cake with figs * Pickled wild sage and mushrooms * Pickled baby beetroot with toasted seeds * Tzatziki with deep fried herbs, flat breads and falafels * Tomato and balsamic tarte * Waterblommetjie quiche * Wild mushroom and pine arancini balls * Fynbos Honey sweet potato, pecan nut and rocket salad * Green salad of baby leaves and avocado with a lemon and garlic dressing * Chocolate Brownies * Buchu and pear tart. Plus an assortment of wines to taste and pair with your meal. Festival ticket not included.
**PLEASE NOTE**
This is a family-friendly festival. Minors (U18s) must attend with a parent or legal guardian. We encourage you to bring the whole family!
Due to the sensitivity of the event and site, no pets are allowed (only the resident animals at Bodhi Khaya Nature Retreat will be allowed in the festival space).
Reforest Fest's Past
Since 2011, Greenpop’s biggest tree-planting event of the year has always been the Reforest Fest! By facilitating attendees to plant between 5,000 and 10,000 indigenous trees each year, this event contributes towards Greenpop's Uilenkraal Forest Restoration Project which aims to restore degraded forest patches at the Platbos Forest Reserve and Bodhi Khaya Nature Retreat. So far, the project has planted a total of 105,645 trees, restoring forest habitat and furthermore helping to preserve and expand a forest that is home to a number of incredible creatures, many of which are vital to the function of the ecosystem, such as our elusive apex predator, the Leopards of the Cape. Other creatures that make use of this indigenous forest for their survival include Bushbuck, Large-spotted Genets, and, of course, baboons.
This year, they will continue their important work across the road at Bodhi Khaya, located 2.5 hours drive away from Cape Town in the Overberg region. Greenpop’s planting efforts in the Overberg valley are growing and they will be planting trees in pockets of previously forested land, as part of a broader ecosystem restoration management plan in development by the Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy. Greenpop aims to grow the Reforest Fest into a flagship event that attracts a global audience as Africa’s largest citizen-led restoration festival.
Join Greenpop’s tree-planting festival and help celebrate the age of restoration!
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to get in touch with our Events Production Assistant, Michaela, on [email protected]
ACCOMMODATION
Upgrade your experience:
Tented Village: Kartent (2 Pax) - R900 unfurnished /R1200 furnished, 3 nights
Not so keen on setting up your own tent? Pre-erected cardboard tent for two people for all three nights, saving you transporting your own and setting it up! Kartents are 100% Upcyclable! The material of KarTent can be re-purposed to make new products and otherwise recycled. The cardboard material blocks the sunlight, which keeps your tent dark and cool in the morning. It is rainproof and keeps you warmer than regular tents on cold days.
We set it up for you. Simply show up and the party can start!
Furnished option includes: - 2 single mattresses with fitted sheets, 2 sleeping bags, 2 pillows with pillow cases
Tented Village: Luxury Bell Tent (2 Pax) - R3,600 2 nights, /R5,250 3 nights
Our luxurious Glamping option sees you enveloped in comfort inside a beautiful 5m bell tent.
It includes:
• One double King bed / two singles with comfy mattresses and quality linen along with towels
• Bedside table
• Lighting
• Rugs, throws on the beds and scatter cushions
• Two chairs
Book now or alternatively email [email protected] for further information.
Camper Van Parking - R150
Interested in bringing along your Camper Van? Purchase this ticket to get access to the Camper Van Parking area. Due to limited space, without a Camper Van Parking ticket, you will not be allowed to park in this area and will have to park in the main parking area. If you would like to park and camp you are also welcome to purchase a space. Spaces are limited so book now.
Staying at Bodhi Khaya (SOLD OUT)
The magnificent venue has accommodation on-site at the festival, you must book this separately with them here.
Other accommodation in the area (SOLD OUT)
If you don't want to camp, we recommend the following places:
Bodhi Khaya: https://bit.ly.BKaccommodationRFF23 (SOLD OUT)
Platbos (Bush Buck Suite, Old Olive Cabin): www.platbos.co.za
Uylenvlei Retreat: www.uylenvlei-retreat.co.za
Grootbos: www.grootbos.com
Farm 215: farm215.co.za
De Uijlenes: www.deuijlenes.co.za
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to get in touch at [email protected]
GETTING THERE
You can follow this google maps link and save the following as a backup.
Remember you might be arriving in the dark on Friday evening, please be sure to read these directions carefully and have them on hand.
From Cape Town, via Caledon:
- From either the City or the Airport, take the N2 towards Somerset West / George. Continue on the N2 until Caledon. At Caledon Take the R316 towards Bredasdorp.
- After 26km, turn right onto the R326 towards Stanford. Please do not take any dirt road alternatives on this road.
- At the Stanford circle, turn left onto the R43 towards Gansbaai. After 13 km, turn left onto the road signed for Grootbos.
- Enter through the Protected area gate and follow this road (which becomes a dirt road) for 3.5 km until you see the sign for Bodhi Khaya to the left.
From Cape Town, via Hermanus:
- From either the City, or the Airport, take the N2 towards Somerset West / George. Continue on the N2, then take exit 90 toward R43/Kleinmond/Hermanus
- Continue on R43 to (and through) Hermanus.
- Continue to follow R43 past Stanford. After 13 km, turn left onto the road sign for Grootbos.
- Enter through the Protected area gate and follow this road (which becomes a dirt road) for 3.5 km until you see the sign for Bodhi Khaya to the left.
Don't feel like driving alone? Here are a few other options:
Join the carpooling group https://bit.ly/LiftshareRFF23
Alternatively, you can book a return shuttle from Cape Town to Bodhi Khaya. Book your shuttle ticket by clicking TICKETS here and scrolling to near the end of the ticket options. For any questions, pop us an email on [email protected]
Cost: R600 per return ticket
Shuttle details
-Each direction takes approximately 2.5 hours
Cape Town to Bodhi Khaya:
Date: Friday 7 April
Departure time: 12:00 (please arrive 15 minutes early)
Departure location: Greenpoint McDonalds parking lot , Fritz Sonnenberg Rd & Granger Bay Blvd, Greenpoint, Cape Town, 8051
Bodhi Khaya back to Cape Town:
Date: Monday 10 April
Departure time: 13:00 (please arrive 15 minutes early)
Departure location: Reforest Fest parking lot
Arrival location: Greenpoint McDonalds parking lot , Fritz Sonnenberg Rd & Granger Bay Blvd, Greenpoint, Cape Town, 8051
VENDORS & COLLABORATORS
Vendors
We are looking for exciting food and non-food vendors to trade at this year's event. Please read through the information and fill out the application form here.
Collaborate
Do you want to host a talk, workshop, guided walk, class or other type of activity? We’re keen to make this event as collaborative as possible, if you’re interested, read more and fill out this form here.
Musicians
Does your band want to play Reforest Fest 2023? Or perhaps you're a DJ? Take a look and fill out this form here.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to get in touch at [email protected]
Team
We're looking for hard-working volunteer crew members, who are willing to get really stuck in and help us make this event memorable. Apply here
Subsidies
Want to join the event but do not have the financial means? Email for reduced ticket price subsidised by our community: [email protected]