Elands Bay, Swartland | The fishing village of Eland’s Bay is only two hours from Cape Town, but it is far off the beaten track

Elands Bay

Cape Town, Western Cape

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Elands Bay, Swartland

ELAND'S BAY - SWARTLAND
Pelicans in flight (Elands Bay)Elands Bay, Swartland: The quaint fishing village of Eland’s Bay might be only two hours from the city of Cape Town, but it is about as far off the beaten track as you can get, with so little travelling time.

Eland’s Bay is one of those gems that have managed to elude the rush of development and city dwellers to stake their claim on a piece of the coast - this is sand and sea with little else to lure the average holiday maker. The modest seaside town is worth the rather arduous journey (roads tend to be quite dilapidated as you head closer to Eland’s Bay with a dirt road detour to contend with), particularly as Verlorenvlei (lost natural wetland) - one of the biggest estuaries on the Cape West Coast with thousands of birds including flamingos and pelicans - lies on the approach to Eland’s Bay. Verlorenvlei is the site of no fewer than 232 types of birds.

Eland’s Bay really is a wonderful spot for dolphin and whale watching, and freshwater and salt fishing is touted as one of the best pastimes, although townsfolk will not stop short of telling you about how the fish have left this part of the coast - putting paid to the locals’ livelihood. But it is close to heaven to stroll on a beach where there is little commercialisation and where the term ‘relaxation’ isn’t a euphemism for flashy entertainment.

It’s also a surfer’s paradise - known as e-bay to the surf fraternity, the sought after left-breaking waves mean it’s much like Jeffrey’s Bay only without the crowds - and in season one can dive for crayfish, provided you have a licence. The Baboon Point cliffs are a firm attraction, including the Bobbejaanberg Cave decorated with rock art and a shell midden (a deposit of shell). There is much debate about whether or not Baboon Point will be named a heritage site.
Overnight at Swartland Accommodation or Swartland Hotels.
The Swartland, an area synonymous with wheat and sheep farming, is just 40 minutes’ drive north of Cape Town. Meaning ‘black country’ and named after the indigenous Renosterbos, which turns a dark colour at a certain time of the year, the wine route extends from Darling on ... more about Swartland Wine Route »

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Elands Bay, Swartland | The fishing village of Eland’s Bay is only two hours from Cape Town, but it is far off the beaten track

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