The Reforest Fest 2026 was more than just a gathering; it was a vibrant ecosystem for a restorative future where 8,327 trees were returned to the earth in a single, record-breaking day. This year felt different—a coming-of-age for our community and a deep realisation that we are all, inherently, land stewards. This is a reflection on the magic, the music, and the collective hands that made this year’s Reforest Fest, the best one yet.
Claudia Waller
My skin is still tight from the sun, and my bones are aching from hands-in-the-soil labour. But the forest is now quiet — alive only with the new breath of 8,327 trees, lovingly planted, mimicking the nature of the Uilenkraal Valley’s precious ecosystem.
Usually, the week after the festival finds me cowering in a dark room, napping all day to claw back some semblance of equilibrium into my exhausted being.
This year, I feel different.
Perhaps it is the knowledge that next year we take a fallow year — a deep inhale to allow for a longer exhalation and the energy for new opportunities. Or perhaps it is the team maturing together; a symbiotic canopy reaching for the light and sharing resources. It may also be my own personal growth and confidence in curating this event — the years of feedback and iterative improvements finally coming to fruition in what I can say was the best event yet.
Whatever it is, I feel right now a sense of pride, adoration, and absolute admiration for each and every individual who contributed to the planting of a record-breaking 8,327 trees in one day on these sacred lands. This effort is a cornerstone of our Uilenkraal Forest Restoration Project, a collaborative initiative dedicated to restoring Africa’s southernmost indigenous forests, particularly after the severe wildfires that recently scarred this landscape. For the love poured into every act of service to make it happen, and for the ancestors of the land that welcomed us home to do the work, I am deeply grateful.
Articulating the magic — and the urgent need for the world to have gatherings like Reforest Fest — is a difficult task. Now more than ever, the need to unite in community led by purpose is vital for our survival. We cannot be crazy alone!
We need to challenge the status quo and show that an alternative way of being is possible. We need to feel that each of our individual acts does mean something, and that our special, enduring collective — one that cares for the posterity of this planet — can make real change.
We are all land stewards now, all listening deeply to unlearn the stories of finite, discordant systems. The culture of restoring our lands is alive!
From the moment we opened the gates, the mission was clear: let us celebrate our planet-friendly way.
We saw 15 tonnes of emissions saved by those who arrived via the Nomad Africa Tours shuttle or pedalled in, led by adventurer Cally Silberbauer and her entourage of cyclists. For the fifth year running, Ride to Reforest Fest has been advocating for more planet-friendly travel, proving that the journey to the festival can be as purposeful as the planting itself. Ten courageous people cycled collectively 1,550km over 2 days!
We saw waste become fashion, as petco helped us turn recycling into a spectacle. I still barrel over in laughter thinking of the sombrero dangling with tea bags and aluminium cans, worn proudly by one of our gate Waste Activators as they taught arriving guests about our waste management system.
Education can be a good time! Our planting team ensured everyone knew how to plant a tree before they ever reached the fields. It is more than just digging a hole; it is about learning the fundamental task of mimicking the forest itself. Our community learned how to plant multiple indigenous species closely together in groups — like the ancient milkwood forest surrounding us — building large berms and using mulch made from invasive alien species cleared from the land to capture every drop of rainwater. Trees like to grow in community — much like us humans do.
Newly crowned tree planters were rewarded for their focus with a delicious treat — a can of Lubanzi Wine, a Corona Cero, or a Tony's Chocolonely to affirm their new knowledge.
As the first evening settled, Veld & Sea opened the Botanical Bar, offering a literal taste of the wild. Through stories of foraging and reciprocity with nature, they served up the landscape itself. My own palate, ever-searching for umami, found a home in their sea-inspired Ocean cocktail — brought to life with homemade tinctures, syrups, and herbs. This space was not just a feast of flavour, but also a feast for the eye, crafted with locally sourced timber and adorned with indigenous herbs and flowers. Let us bring the wilderness back into our lived experience!
The first night of sound opened with an immersive percussion jam, setting the heartbeat for the weekend. I remember chatting with Siso Nkambule, who came all the way from Swaziland, before his set. He told me, "I do not know music. I just play the sounds that come through me… sounds of the farm, the birds, the chickens, life around me." His sound is truly nature incarnate. By the time Crimson House shook away the city cobwebs and Sol Damba closed with live guitar licks, the spirit of the festival was well and truly warmed up.
The Ubuntu Stage felt like home — a return to our innate knowing. Historically our speaker stage, this year was transformed into the intellectual and emotional heartbeat of the festival, weaving in live art, poetry, and musical elements. Proudly supported by Hazendal Wine Estate and Be the Earth Foundation, the space featured systems weaver Sara Featherston pulling the golden thread through the weekend.
Amogelang Ditahle, the moderator of the stage, described the unfolding living laboratory:
"The first day was opened with burning mpepho and a musical offering that invited appraisal to 'The Story of the Land'. We explored the first stewards, the founding vision of Bodhi Forest, the custodian of the land Georgina Hamilton's vision for restoration, the present ecology of the fynbos-forest mosaic, and the restorative future of the soil.
The next day took a careful analysis with 'Bridges to Environmental Action' — shedding light on impact entrepreneurialism, food security, supply chains, biophilia, financial systems, collective stewardship, planetary health, faith, and restorative justice. Bold and fierce performance pieces spoken with folded legs, paced voices reading from hand-written A5 pages, and blunt stares deepened the realities of historical truth — singing the cries and ululations of Ubuntu and unheard voices."
This second day was like a marketplace in full swing. Many voices, and so much emerging all at the same time. Behind the scenes, artists coordinated with guests and the materials in the space to bring a live artwork to life.
Hazendal Wine Estate used its platform to move far beyond hospitality, exploring complex and sometimes contentious themes. By framing their presence as a natural extension of a 300-year legacy, they helped restore the ancestral flow thinned by our digital world. This was a deeply sensory experience: olfactory senses were amplified through botanical drinks with local foraging expert Roushanna Gray, while the sounds of our ancestors and indigenous instrumentation filled the air with Sky Dladla. Through this relationality, Hazendal demonstrated that true care for the land only follows a deep, shared understanding.
Be the Earth Foundation shaped this space as an invitation to dismantle outdated, extractive economic models. Co-founder Renata Minerbo offered a spectrum of capital, asking what it would mean to move money the way nature moves energy. By positioning the stage as a physical manifestation of a new way of being, the narrative explored economics as if the flourishing of all life was the primary metric of success.
The programming culminated on Sunday with "Bringing Nature to the Table," a Live Podcast series exploring how we embed the interests of nature into our legal and corporate structures. This collaboration linked the festival’s tree-planting action to a Wholesome Capital Approach, viewing diverse forms of wealth — natural, social, and spiritual — as dynamic forces for healing. The programming prioritised feminine principles in leadership, focusing on care, empathy, and intuitive collaboration.
Throughout the three days, visual scribe Mernette Swart captured these dialogues. Her three canvases now live permanently at Bodhi Khaya — a record of what the Ubuntu Stage was built to do: make the audience the material and leave something behind that lasts longer than the conversation.
Saturday morning saw us stomping up a dust storm in the main arena, gathering our best dressed spades and marching to the fanfare of drums. It was historic.
Together, we planted 8,327 trees — our biggest single-day planting ever. The energy in the field was dedicated, calm, yet joyful. We flew past our target, fuelled by ButtaNutt sarmies and cold Corona Ceros!
Planting lead Michiel Grobler reflects:
"Every year, I'm amazed at the immense joy that's shared on the plant site as people invest energy and effort into collective action.
For a few hours, we become deeply present and can forget about the madness of the world. Not to escape, but to do something truly radical: restore our relationships with ecosystems, ourselves, and our communities.
The trees turn into symbols of hope of a better future — our collective investment in what we hope to see the world become. Not just by envisioning it, but by actively participating in its becoming."
This tree planting which takes place during Reforest Fest does not sit in isolation though — through our Uilenkraal Forest Restoration Project, in collaboration with Platbos Forest Reserve, Bodhi Khaya Nature Retreat, Bodhi Forest, and Kleinbos, Greenpop works to restore this landscape year-round. Using the Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) method, which aims to restore ecological functionality and enhance human well-being across deforested landscapes, Greenpop and our partners undertake diverse restoration activities to provide multiple benefits, including biodiversity conservation, improved soil health, water regulation, and carbon sequestration. To date, the Uilenkraal Forest Restoration Project has successfully planted over 170,000 trees, contributing to the reforestation of 15 hectares and the conservation of over 50 hectares of primary forest.
This year, the Wellness Warehouse Food Village once again became our village square. We shifted culture here — participants brought their own plates, cutlery, and mugs, diverting tonnes of waste whilst supporting our vendors, who in turn supported ten local farmers through our mandated suppliers list. They reported a whopping 80% of their produce was local.
The Wellness Café supplied, on a donation basis, gorgeous teas and condiments — and the tables around were filled with hungry planters. The Wellness Lounge was home to aspirational workshops: Herbalism with Wild Nettle's Annette Muller, Agroforestry with Alex Kruger, and a wonderful practical on Food Gardening with Willemiena du Preez, hosted amidst the beautiful Bodhi Khaya veggie garden.
That same afternoon, the Conservation Wine Tent — hosted in partnership with WWF-SA — was heaving with participants eager to taste local wines that are putting the planet first. We featured local champions like Hazendal Wine Estate, Lubanzi Wines, and Sophie Germanier Organic Wines, alongside a new generation of WWF Conservation Wine Champions like Creation Wines. These forward-thinking producers are on a mission to prove that world-class wine can be a vehicle for restoration. Through regenerative farming, water stewardship, and ethical land management, they are redefining the industry.
Wines in the Wild gave us all a chance to make these sometimes lofty conservation goals tangible and fun — tasting the dedication in every glass, and connecting through the stories of the winemakers themselves.
There is no such place as away. When it comes to our waste/resource management, we can only improve if we have data. This year, we ramped up our systems and our guest communications to support the ongoing journey to have less go to landfill.
The tireless waste resource team diverted 86% of all waste from landfill, while cutting the overall waste volume sent to landfill by 46% compared to 2025. petco demonstrated how the recycling process works and encouraged guests on how to implement it at home. Overall waste per participant dropped by nearly 30% to 1.35kg per person for the full weekend (the South African average produces over 2kg of waste a day) — demonstrating that the festival's environmental ambitions extend well beyond the tree-planting programme.
It's been a great ambition of mine to make the event more accessible year on year — to move away from caring for the environment being something of the privileged few, and toward an equitable care of nature for all.
29 young people from Mitchell’s Plain joined us from women in conservation advocates BRAVE Girls, and Regenize, a recycling social enterprise that petco supported in bringing to the event for the second year running. Nomad Africa Trust supported the BRAVE cohort, with leader Audery commenting: “This assistance from Nomad Africa is coming at just the right time, as [we] are running a 'Girls in Conservation' 12-month programme working with Grade 12 or gap year learners… The first 6 months of the programme [are] teaching them about nature and conservation, and this cohort will be the one attending Reforest Fest. For the next 6 months, they want to prepare these women to find work or internships in these fields!”
23 people from Japan came to South Africa to spread happiness, music, and peace — and plant lots of trees. They adored the food at Bali Food Truck, who won our Green Vendor Award for showcasing the best sustainability practices. Synchronistically, the co-owner of the stall, Frieda, knew how to speak a little Japanese!
Lastly, an additional 101 people attended with subsidised tickets — available to anyone who simply sent us an email.
Saturday afternoon at the dam has become my personal ritual.
At the Secret Stage, amidst laughter yoga and the divine music of Sibusile Xaba, I finally sat down. Holding my heart, watching the wind shimmer over the fynbos, hearing the children splashing in the water — I felt the sun's warmth like a well done from the earth itself. I lay there, eyes closed, and let the gratitude overflow in a quiet tear.
Look at the magic we have created.
Watching a child plant their first tree fills me with a resonant hope for the future. A truly special part of the event is enveloping these young stewards in a safe space where they can learn about nature, reciprocity, and their unique place within the world. Whether they are discovering the environment through Nature Plays Forest School and Earth Child Project classes, connecting to themselves in mindfulness sessions, or creating land art and clay sculptures together, seeing them thrive in this festival environment brings me immense joy.
One parent commented:
“Our five-year-old boy has been inspired to ‘save trees’ as a result. It is so incredible to see how this message has landed with him and that at such a young age he feels a call to action.”
In the evenings, the main stage bustled with life, from DJ Okapi's vinyl Afrobeats to the breathtaking special guest Roaman, who opened the main celebration with a remarkable performance. I don't think I'm alone in remembering my jaw hurting from smiling while watching Japanese band FUNKIST's wild energy and musical prowess. Sky Dladla's powerful performance brought it home — the power of South African music to unite and create wonder.
Nomadic Orchestra are always a good time, and the need to shake out all the aches from the morning's planting was eased by another performance to remember. Then on to our beloved DJ Crash Love — Tree-E-O Misha Teasdale, who sometimes we think actually started Reforest Fest back in 2011 out of a desire to play his music more than anything else — played banging party mash-ups with Jews for Techno and friends to close the main stage. A resounding, familial love on the dancefloor for our beautiful, growing community.
The party continued at the Secret Stage with desert beats from Gretiq and Treepian sharing tunes that kept the dancefloor's heart open into the night.
Sunday morning was a gentle return to being. From the Secret Sunrise dance and Letters to Tomorrow workshop, to the Easter Service and Kids Choco Hunt, we focused on fair-share and the future.
The Sunday Harvest Feast saw 150 of us dine on Chef Bridget Bartleman's wild-harvest and local plant-based delicacies, paired with delectable wines from farms like Hasher Family Wines, whilst being serenaded by the soothing sounds of Magé and Sibusile Xaba. There were some fantastic dresses in honour of the Seeds of the Future dress-up theme this year!
It was difficult to choose what to attend, more captivating talks at the Ubuntu Stage, a sound journey in the Tipi, or the famous guided walks by Platbos Forest custodian Francois Krige — taking guests on a journey through the past 15 years of planting sites as well as the ancient milkwood forest we are working so hard to protect.
The activities gathered around the main bonfire, with a powerful poetry performance by Vuyo Mthetho and an Anthems for the Future songwriting class with Aeryn. It was wonderful to see the head sound engineer from Cape Audio College get behind a drum in the samba jam — to see him relaxing after putting on world-class sound production across all of the stages all weekend. A big thank you to Cape Audio College and Bothners for the great sound throughout.
The final night closed with Rhythm and Fire open-mic sessions — a time for the team to breathe out, connect, pat each other on the back, and listen to the wildly talented people who make up this event.
As people departed on Monday, we waved goodbye to another extraordinary year. Tired as I was, I couldn't help but feel a resounding pride in all that had happened before us. There was definitely magic in the air, and the feedback we have received has been remarkable. One guest commented: "I don't think I've ever felt safer, more connected, or more South African — it gives a month's worth of joy in a weekend."
Reforest Fest 2026 was a testament to the fact that we can challenge the status quo and live harmoniously with our planet. We demonstrated that ecological stewardship lives in every one of us. Whether you were a city-dweller planting your first tree, or a returning veteran here for your fifteenth year, your presence proved that our individual acts carry immense weight when woven into a collective.
We are all land stewards now, all listening deeply to unlearn the stories of finite, discordant systems.
In the face of the seriousness of our climate situation, we chose to celebrate life. We used unadulterated joy to lighten the weight of the world, stepping into a space of action fuelled by gratitude and reciprocity.
Our aching bodies and sun-kissed skin are a badge of our resilience — a reminder that we, and the resilient land, are one and the same.
What better way to spend our time here on Earth?
Reforest Fest will be taking a fallow year in 2027 to reflect, innovate, and dream. But we can't wait to see you all back on the soil in 2028. Thank you for joining us in the most magical event we've ever held.
Thank you to our Reforest Fest partners
Bodhi Khaya Nature Retreat | Platbos Forest Reserve | Hazendal Wine Estate | Be the Earth Foundation | Corona | Wellness Warehouse | petco | Western Cape Government | Nomad Africa Tours & Trust | WESGRO | WWF South Africa | Cape Audio College | Lubanzi Wines | Hammer Live Brands | ButtaNutt | Overstrand Municipality | Gansbaai Municipality | Gansbaai Tourism | Happy Earth People | AGT South Africa | Credé Oils | Kolossal Hospitality | Peregrine Farm Stall | Tony's Chocolonely | OK Foods | Eureka Mills | Pesto Princess | Live Kindly | Santa Anna's | The Valley Farms | Creation Wine | Bosman Family Wine | Hasher Family Wine | Sophie Germanier | Fitch and Leedes | BOS Tea | Tea of Life | Arrow Coffee | Gooi | Bothners | Better Earth | Dacha Wellness | Foxbase Radios | CASLAD | The Pole Yard | Litehouse | Treklodge | Growing Paper | Computer Hut | Sizisa | Expedition Glamping | Hemporium | Dimensions Tents | NUDE Foods | Ballo | Essential Green | Build it | GreytPrint | ORMS | Origin Festival | Bridges for Music | Regenize | BRAVE Girls | ProVeg | CapeNature | Driven by Nature Foundation | Veld and Sea | Local Life | Tractor Billboards | WESSA
Thank you for being part of the growth. We will see you in the forest in 2028!
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