Gouritsmond, Garden Route

Just over an hour's drive from Still Bay, Gouritsmond lies on the Garden Route on the coast, at the mouth of the Gourits River - creating a wonderful water playground where river meets sea. Pretty little stone houses that date back to the 1920s still dominate parts of the village, testimony to the farmers that descended on the area on holiday from the Albertinia district. The area continues to be dominated by sheep and wheat farmers, as the town continues to function as a holiday spot, a popular beach, and place which to escape.

It is also great for fishing and used to be called The Fisheries, because of the opportunity to catch, especially, kabeljou. Thus fishing charters are available and stories abound about 'how big' the last kabeljou caught in the river was.

However Gouritsmond is well known for a completely different reason too. Both railway and the N2 cross the Gourits River in the form of bridges, and where they do this in parallel, is one of the most popular bungee jump stations in the country. Whilst it isn't as high as the jump from Blaauwkrantz, it is nonetheless pretty daunting for even hardened adrenaline junkies.

The village itself is small, so stocking up before arrival is probably a good idea. This said, it does have its own supermarket, a restaurant or two, an ATM and a tidal pool that is good to know about if you have children. The beach too is beautiful, swimmable and renowned for surfing. Look out for, or should I say avoid, the threatened black oyster catcher, but enjoy incredible coastal hikes. It is also a great place to spot whales during the season between July and November, and shell middens that date back 2000 years have been discovered on the east and west banks of the Gourits River.