Eco Explorer

Name: Eco Explorer
Address: Plettenberg Bay, ZA
Telephone: +27833292491

Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Eco Explorer, Travel Service, Plettenberg Bay.

01/09/2026

Spring has sprung 🌸🐞🌼🐛🪻🐝🌻

And if you live in the Western Cape, you don’t need a calendar to tell you.

The fynbos starts putting on a show, flowers begin appearing everywhere, insects become more active and suddenly there seems to be a lot more life moving around us.

But spring isn’t just about warmer days and pretty flowers. For nature, it’s a busy season. Plants are flowering and producing food, pollinators are getting to work, birds are taking advantage of the abundance of insects and nectar, and countless small interactions are happening that we might barely notice.

So when the bugs start appearing around your home, garden or outside your window, try not to reach for the spray straight away. That bee, beetle, moth, butterfly or other little creature is part of something much bigger happening around you.

Spring is a good reminder that not everything that crawls, buzzes or flies needs to be killed. Sometimes it just needs to be left alone.

Take a little more time to look around.

What have you noticed changing where you live?

And what are you most looking forward to about the season?

30/08/2026

A Caterpillar Invasion?

Have you noticed them everywhere lately?

All over the garden. Covering branches. Crawling across paths. Maybe you’ve even squealed when you saw one moving across the floor in front of you — or perhaps you’ve squished one without thinking twice.

But before we declare a caterpillar invasion, there’s a little more to the story.

These are Barred Eggarlet, also known as Taaibos Lappet caterpillars — the caterpillar stage of a moth. And yes, when there are lots of them, they can make a tree look pretty alarming.

They’re stripping the leaves because they’re eating and storing the energy they need to grow before they pupate and eventually emerge as moths.

A tree suddenly covered in caterpillars can look like it’s being destroyed, but healthy, established trees can generally cope with losing a lot of their leaves and will produce new growth.

In fact, there’s a bit of natural pruning happening here. Trees regularly lose leaves, branches and other growth as part of their natural cycles, and being heavily browsed can stimulate new growth. One species feeding on another isn’t automatically a problem — it’s part of how these ecosystems work.

And those caterpillars aren’t just eating. They’re also food for birds, reptiles, bats and other wildlife.

So if you’ve got a branch looking like this at the moment, you don’t need to reach for insecticide.

Sometimes nature just looks a little messy while it’s getting on with itself.

And that caterpillar you nearly stepped on? It might simply have been on its way to the next stage of its life.

*Check comments for what the next stage moth looks like

19/08/2026

Pufferfish have washed up along our coast again - and they’re not something to let your dog or child investigate.

Locally called blaasoppies, these little fish contain tetrodotoxin, a powerful neurotoxin.

A curious dog doesn’t need to eat one for it to become a problem. Chewing or swallowing parts of a pufferfish can cause poisoning.

And this isn’t just a theoretical risk. Dogs along the Garden Route have died in the past from exposure.

Why are they so dangerous?

Pufferfish use their toxins as a defence against predators. The toxin can affect the nervous system, causing weakness, loss of coordination, paralysis and potentially respiratory failure.

And a washed-up fish doesn’t suddenly become safe because it’s dead, the toxin is still very much “alive”.

So, what do you do if you see one?

If you find a pufferfish on the beach:

✋Leave it where it is.

🐶🧒 Keep dogs on a lead and children away from it.

📲 Report the sighting (‪+27 79 463 4837‬ Plett & surrounds)

Don’t pick it up.
Don’t kick it.
Don’t let your dog sniff, lick or chew it.

If your dog has mouthed or eaten one, contact a vet immediately - don’t wait for symptoms to appear.

There’s a lot happening on the beach that we don’t always notice, but it’s important that we do.

14/08/2026

Always a treat 😍

13/08/2026

Seal rabies is nothing to panic about. It just means that we need to be extra vigilant and listen to instructions from those who are helping keep us safe.

12/08/2026

One report could mean the difference between a wildlife encounter and a missed opportunity to help and learn.

01/08/2026

If someone asked you what an MPA is, would you know how to explain it?

One of the simplest ways to think about it is this: an MPA is like a national park for our ocean. It’s a place where marine life has the space to feed, breed and grow.

This MPA Day, we asked local voices to share more on Plett’s MPA. There are no scripts or perfect answers—just people who care deeply about the ocean that shapes our community.

Whether you visit the coast every day or only now and then, MPAs quietly support the beaches we enjoy, the wildlife we love seeing and the livelihoods that depend on a healthy ocean.

Take a few minutes to watch, reflect, and if it resonates with you, please share it. The more people who understand why MPAs matter, the better chance we have of protecting them.

22/07/2026

Have you seen this Plett local?

When we see an otter, we’re not just seeing an otter. We’re seeing clean water, healthy wetlands, thriving estuaries and a coastline that still supports wild animals.

10/07/2026

The 5 Senses Experience invites you to discover the ocean in a new way through interactive exhibits, passionate organisations, hands-on activities and fascinating displays. It’s free to explore and open throughout the day, making it a great outing for families, visitors and locals alike.

If you’ve booked your symposium ticket, prepare for a programme filled with leading researchers, conservationists and storytellers sharing the latest insights into our oceans and the people working to protect them.

Come and spend the day surrounded by people who care deeply about our coastline, learn something new, meet the organisations making a difference, and celebrate five years of ocean conversations.

We’ll see you at Beacon Island Hotel, Robberg Room.

10-12 July
Free: 5 Senses Experience
Ticketed: Plett Ocean Festival Symposium

Come along, bring a friend, and be part of the conversation.

08/07/2026

The Winter Surf Fest has begun!

Come down to Robberg 1 and show your support for the Granny Groms.

Proudly supported by Surf Cafe Plett Robberg Fine Foods Bayview Hotel,Plettenberg Bay Seef Plett Slops Crush Surf Shop

Address

Plettenberg Bay

Telephone

+27833292491

Website

https://ecoexplorer.co.za/

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