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THE CAPE OVERBERG
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| Cape Overberg, South Africa:
The Cape Overberg includes Swellendam,
Arniston, Caledon, Hermanus and L'Agulhas. It is the most southerly region in Africa and
is surrounded by mountains and ocean. The holiday-friendly shoreline is a home to stock
and wool farming, wildlife and botanical rarities and nature reserves. Along the coasts
birds and marine animals flourish. |
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CAPE OVERBERG DESTINATIONS
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 Arniston, also known as Waenhuiskrans, is
an attractive fishing village, very popular among artists because of its fishermen's
cottages, turquoise seas and undulating white sand dunes. The Afrikaans name
"Waenhuiskrans" refers to a large cave in the vicinity which can be visited at
... More about » Arniston Info
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 The fertile
Baardskeerdersbos Valley is one of the most undisturbed areas of the Overberg region. It
is a rural drive of about 25 km from Gansbaai. Baardskeerdersbos is home to several
pristine and rare fynbos habitats of the original "Cape Floral Kingdom". The
church in Baardskeerder- .... more about » Baardskeerdersbos
Info
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 At the heart of the Whale Coast, Betty's
Bay features scattered cottages, several beaches and three small lakes. Bass Lake is a
popular place for swimming, canoeing and boardsailing. In the centre of the Cape Floral
Kingdom, the Harold Porter Botanical Garden is famous for its.... more about » Betty's Bay Info
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 The small, picturesque village of Botrivier
lies in the foothills of the Houw Hoek Mountains, en route to Hermanus.
The Bot River, after which the hamlet is named, meanders its way through a fertile valley
surrounded by mountains covered in fynbos, historical wine farms and fields of wheat. A
... more about » Botrivier Info
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 The quaint town of Bredasdorp, which claims
to be the first town or dorp established in South Africa, lies on the slopes of
a fairly high hill known as the Preekstoel (pulpit), in the midst of giant proteas and
wheat fields. The proteas grow on the ridges of the hill and serve as one of the ... more
about » Bredasdorp
Info
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 Caledon:
Set against the backdrop of the Swartberg, surrounded by fields of barley and wheat, is
the little town of Caledon. Caledon is famous for its hot springs, discovered by the early
Khoi-Khoi people before the Europeans attributed healing properties to the iron-rich
waters and opened ... more about » Caledon Info
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 The biggest draw
card for Cape Agulhas, other than the fact that it lies only two hours from Cape Town on
one of the most beautiful coasts in the country, is that this little village lies on Cape
Agulhas, the end of the African continent and the meeting place of the Atlantic and Indian
... more about » Cape Agulhas Info
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 De Hoop:
De Hoop and adjacent marine reserve lie on the southern Cape coast between the towns of Arniston
and Witsand.
This is one of the most biologically diverse sanctuaries in the world and rates as one of
the great floral wonderlands of Southern Africa, laying claim to the top whale mating and
calving ... more about » De Hoop Info
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 De Kelders:
The little village of De Kelders, which lies just 5 km north of Gansbaai
and about 25 minutes drive from Hermanus,
has managed to remain largely immune to the large scale tourism that envelopes this part
of the country, and is still essentially a fishing village and famous for its ... more
about » De
Kelders Info
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 The Elgin Valley, one of the Capes
most beautiful fruit growing areas, is literally an hours drive from Cape Town and
one of the Capes better kept secrets in the sense that it is yet to be inundated
with crowds over weekends. Who wouldnt want to remain schtumm about this gorgeous
fertile valley filled ... more about » Elgin Info
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 Gansbaai:
The unpretentious village of Gansbaai - has a large reputation. Both Southern Right Whales
and Great White Sharks frequent the Atlantic waters of the Danger Point Peninsula and are
a major draw card for the town. The waters around these islands have become a feeding
ground ... more about » Gansbaai Info
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 Grabouw:
Reaching the town of Grabouw entails a mere hours drive from Cape Town over the
Hottentots Holland Mountains with a descent into one of the most beautiful valleys in the
Western Cape - the Elgin Valley - filled with flowers, fruit, fynbos and wine. Grabouw
lies in this green paradise ... more about » Grabouw Info
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 Greyton:
The peaceful little hamlet of Greyton lies surrounded by the Riviersonderend (river
without end) mountains and farmlands some 90 minutes from Cape Town, and is fast earning
the reputation as a perfect weekend getaway. Essentially lost in time Greyton, named after
Sir George Grey, twice ... more about » Greyton Info
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 Hermanus: The popular resort town of Hermanus,
situated between mountain and sea, has gained world-wide recognition of the world's
foremost land based whale watching destinations. Natural scenic beauty, the mild climate,
the range of outdoor activities available, and the close proximity to ... more about » Hermanus Info
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 Kleinmond:
Kleinmond lies on a lagoon at the small mouth - hence the name - of the Botriver
on a narrow strip of land hugged on the one side by the Palmiet Mountain range and on the
other by the Atlantic Ocean. Kleinmond is within easy driving distance from Cape Town, along the scenic ...
more about » Kleinmond Info
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 The town of Malgas, only 30 minutes from
Swellendam, is a perfect stopover for exploring the Overberg and the De Hoop Nature
Reserve. Set on the west bank of the Breede River,
which supports a significant variety of fish and birds and is one of the largest rivers in
the country, the little historical ... more about » Malgas Info
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 The road to Napier takes you through never
ending fields of wheat and barley, where the endangered Blue Crane
can be seen gathered together in large flocks. Napier is situated under the Soetmuisberg,
surrounded by rolling wheat and barley fields, at the southern-most region of Africa ...
more about » Napier
Info
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 Not even 20 km
from Gansbaai,
Pearly Beach has been described as the longest undisturbed sand beach in the Western Cape, and even
if this is a little grandiose a description, the beach nevertheless seems endless. Pearly
Beach is known for its wild beauty and serenity. Pearly Beach ... more about » Pearly Beach
Info
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 The little
seaside village of Pringle Bay is one of the four towns set within the natural beauty of
the Kogelberg Biosphere, the only reserve in South Africa to be proclaimed by UNESCO,
which supports over 1600 species of fynbos, 150 of which are endemic. This charming
village is nestled ... more about » Pringle Bay Info
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 Sandbaai:
Sandbaai is one of the newer suburbs in the Greater Hermanus area that lies
literally in a little sandy bay, hence its name, just past the LAgulhas lighthouse.
The village is only a stones throw away from Hermanus and to the east of Onrus,
little over an hours drive from Cape Town at ... more » Sandbaai Info
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 The unique little village of Stanford lies
just inland of False Bay, forming the tip of a triangle with the coastal towns of Hermanus
and De Kelders. Peaceful and largely unaffected by change, Stanford is an eclectic mix of
shops, galleries, restaurants and coffee shops, and the list of activities for a largely
... more about » Stanford Info
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 The picturesque little town of Swellendam
is just off the N2 about 240 km outside of Cape Town and connects the Southern Overberg
with the Garden Route.
Swellendam lies at the foot of the Langeberg Mountains and has become popular in recent
times as a place to retire and as a retreat for ... more about » Swellendam Info
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 The centre where the fruit of the district is processed and marketed. Wine
can be sampled at a wine tasting centre. The charm and tranquillity of Villiersdorp are
typical of many small towns of the Western Cape. The large, scenic Theewaterskloof Dam has
bird life in abundance and excellent ... more about » Villiersdorp Info |
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 Vermont borders on Onrus and on a number of
green belts created in an effort to maintain the inherent tranquillity and endemic fynbos
and bird life in the area. Its name, which is derived from the French words mont
vert - meaning green mountain - is after the American state of the
...more Vermont
Info »
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 The peaceful,
coastal town of Witsand (white sands) lies on St Sebastians Bay just off the N2 on
the Cape South Coast, three hours from Cape Town. St Sebastian Bay and Witsand are virtually
synonymous with the Southern Right Whale. This bay is the most important nursery for the
...Visit: Witsand
Info »
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CAPE OVERBERG ATTRACTIONS
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 The Harold
Porter National Botanical Garden lies in the epicentre (heart) of the Cape fynbos region -
a dedication to this natural shrubland vegetation with 10 hectares of cultivated fynbos
garden, and a further 190 hectares of natural fynbos to gratify the visitor. The peaceful
garden includes ...Viisit: Harold
Porter Botanical Gardens »
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 Lying within the southern extension of the
Hottentots Holland Mountain range about 90 kilometres south-east of Cape Town and 8
kilometres from Kleinmond, the
Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve has managed to remain largely unspoilt, in no small part due
to its ability to remain relatively ... Kogelberg Nature Reserve
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 Cape
Whale Coast: The coming of the whales to the Cape Whale Coast, every
year between June and November, not only creates a stir, but brings to our shores a large,
intelligent and remarkable giant of the sea and the only mammal to have adapted to life in
the open oceans. Whales, including the Southern ...Viisit: Cape Whale Coast »
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 Hermanus Whale Crier: Hermanus on the Cape Whale Coast has its
very own whale crier, and, whats more, Hermanus lays claim to the only whale crier
in the world. The popular town of Hermanus, connected directly to the Mother City by the
R43 and N2, is famous for whale watching, and the whale festival ... Hermanus Whale
Crier
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 De Hoop Nature
Reserve: The De Hoop Nature Reserve Seven ecosystems are found within
the reserve, which serves mainly as an educational centre. The vlei teems with waterbirds,
and bontebok and mountain zebra are protected in the reserve. There is a walking trail on
the Potberg Mountain ... Visit the De Hoop Nature Reserve »
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 Bontebok
National Park: the Bontebok National Park provides a refuge for not
only bontebok,
but also for other species such as the Cape mountain zebra, red hartebeest and grey
rhebok. The park is situated within the Cape Floral Kingdom, the smallest, but richest of
the world's six floral kingdoms ... Visit the Bontebok National Park
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 Arabella Golf Course:
The Arabella golf course in South Africa is ranked by Compleat Golfer magazine as
the number one golf course in the Western Cape. It is also featured in Golf Digests
USAs Top 100 courses outside of America in 2005. Designed and built in 1999 by
celebrated South African golf course ... Arabella Golf Course
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 Shark Cage
Diving: Shark cage diving in South Africa has grown greatly in
popularity and there are now a number of commercialized locations to view these incredible
monsters of the deep. Your adrenaline is sure to pump as you come almost face to face with
the seas most awesome predators. Shark cage ... Shark cage diving
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 Hermanus Golf Course: Located just 120
Kilometres from Cape Town at the southern tip of Africa, the Hermanus Golf Club offers the
keen golfer 18 incredible holes of golf. The Hermanus course is set in magnificent scenery
with views of the sea and a backdrop of the mountains. Wild life and ... Hermanus Golf Club
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