Malgas, Cape Overberg
The little 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 village of Malgas was originally an important inland harbour and tended to be relegated to the back end of beyond - certainly very few South Africans knew of its existence.
Today Malgas is known best as the town with the last surviving hand-driven river pont in operation in the country. The pont, or pontoon, is a link with a bygone era in which Dutch settlers used to build floats that they took with them, if they knew there was a river to cross, on their journey. One can still negotiate the Breede River by pont between the east and west banks at Malgas today.
The area is a nature lover’s paradise, particularly for fishing and bird watching, as the estuary of the Breede River sustains an abundance of fish, including Cob, Spotted Grunter and Garrick, and attracts fish eagles, ospreys, fish owls and kingfishers. Couple this with the serene beauty of the surrounding mountainous and fynbos-rich backdrop and Malgas lives up to its reputation as a peaceful weekend escape.
In the vicinity
Hotels & other accommodation options

Ferry View
Ferry View is family-friendly and is situated at the Malagas Hotel on the banks of the mighty Breede River. This is where time slows down to give...

Melk Houte Bosch Guest Farm
Situated 34kms from Swellendam, Melk Houte Bosch is an active working farm with sheep, cattle and fields of oats, wheat, barley and canola. Enjoy...

Melk Houte Bosch Manor House
Melk Houte Bosch Manor House offers Malgas accommodation on a working farm that is 34 km from Swellendam and 22 km from De Hoop Nature Reserve on...

Tides River Lodge
Tides River Lodge lies on the banks of the Breede River near Malgas, in the Cape. A short two and a half hour trip from Cape Town and half an hou...

Malagas Hotel
Malagas Hotel is a family friendly country hotel situated on the banks of the mighty Breede River. This is where time slows down to give you the ...
Things to do in the area

De Hoop Vlei Trail
When visiting the beautiful De Hoop Nature Reserve spend some time exploring the De Hoop Vlei Trail which is 19km long and is an excellent exampl...

Self Drive Swellendam to Witsand
Route: Swellendam, Bontebok National Park, De Hoop, Malgas, WitsandDescription: the rolling countryside of the Duineveld (west of the Breede Rive...

The Bush Pub
Sitting on the banks of the glorious Breede River, surrounded by the greenery of the Western Cape Province and the sound of the prolific bird lif...

Malgas Pontoon Ferry
Do not expect anything romantic from the pontoon ferry that gets you, and your car, to Malgas. It is not a ferry in the traditional sense. Instea...
Noteworthy attractions

Kogelberg Nature Reserve
Lying within the southern extension of the Hottentots Holland Mountain range about 90 kilometres south-east of Cape Town and 8 kilometres from Kl...

Harold Porter Botanical Gardens
The Harold Porter National Botanical Garden lies in the epicentre (heart) of the Cape fynbos region - a dedication to this natural shrubland vege...

Hermanus Whale Crier
Hermanus on the Cape Whale Coast has its very own whale crier, and, what’s more, Hermanus lays claim to the only whale crier in the world. The po...

Hermanus Beaches
Where? +/-2 hours drive from Cape Town on the south coast of the Cape. Includes: Onrus Beach, Grotto Beach, Kammabaai and Langbaai Beach. Go ther...

Hermanus Hiking Trails
While most visitors to Hermanus have many things to do on their itinerary, most involving the whales that have made this town famous, there are m...

Hermanus Golf Club
The course doesn’t only challenge however, you are rewarded, hole after hole, with panoramic views that overlook the sparkling ocean and adding t...

Agulhas National Park
Lying in what is known as the Agulhas Plain at the southernmost tip of Africa is the Agulhas National Park, just 45 kilometres from the popular v...

Marloth Nature Reserve
Lying just three kilometres from the pretty little town of Swellendam, the Marloth Nature Reserve conserves the central Langeberg Mountains that ...

De Hoop Nature Reserve
The De Hoop Nature Reserve is approximately 34 000 ha in size and one of the largest natural areas managed by Cape Nature Conservation. It is a f...
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