Witsand is central to some
lovely day trips. Read up on a few suggested trips below and feel free
to ask Johnny and Clair about other opportunities during your stay:
Vermaaklikheid, Jongensfontein
and Stilbaai
Enjoy a drive through the
Vermaaklikheid hamlet, or plan a picnic along the banks of the Duiwenhoks
river, near the fascinating development of Puntjie. From here you could
drive on the Blombos road to Jongensfontein, a lovely seaside village
which boasts the most wonderful natural tidal pool area. You could then
go on to Stilbaai, which is also a popular seaside town, offering
an interesting shopping area, art gallery and the Matchbox, a well known
coffee/gift shop.
While in Stilbaai you can
see the feeding of the Stilbaai’s famous eels at the Tourism office,
as well as the Archaeologist Museum on the same property. You can visit
the fish traps, the Tuin op die Brak (a wild flower garden) and Inverroche,
a gin distillery. Travel home to Witsand via the N2, Riversdale and Heidelberg.
Tredoux Pass, Barrydale, Ashton,
Robertson and Swellendam
An interesting outing is
from Witsand through the Tredoux Pass to Barrydale where there are
various restaurants and gift shops. From Barrydale you can then go on the
R62 to Montagu, well known for it’s dried fruits, and then to
Ashton and Robertson, both well known for their wine farms. Robertson has
the famous Affies Farmstall which offers lovely fruit and eats. From Robertson,
Ashton you would come back via Bonnievale, known for fruit, wine and the
Parmalat Cheese factory shop. Finally you would come through Swellendam,
which offers a wide variety of restaurants..
Malgas Pont and the De Hoop
Nature Reserve
A favourite outing is to
go across the Malgas Pont and on to the De Hoop Nature Reserve
where there are the most beautiful white sand dunes and a lovely beach
in De Hoop.
Few other reserves offer
as complete an outdoor experience as De Hoop – sea, sand dunes, the vlei
(a floral sensation of rare fynbos plants), diverse antelope and the beautiful
Potberg Mountains. Every year, some 40% of the world’s southern right
whales come to these shores to breed. Females and their calves swim in
the clear waters, while males put on spectacular displays. These endangered
mammals ensure that the De Hoop Reserve in South Africa, is one of the
world’s best land based whale watching areas.
Birders can observe wading
birds on the shores of the vlei while the Potberg Mountains are home to
a colony of endangered Cape vultures.
Hikers and cyclists have
close-up encounters with bontebok, Cape mountain zebra, eland, baboons
and ostrich. Activities are diverse and guests choose between various day
walks through the rich fynbos plains or along the deserted coastline, or
mountain biking along the many gravel roads or scenic game drives. Lazing
on the beach and snorkeling in the many turquoise rock pools is simply
another way to pass a rewarding day. Day visitors welcome. De Hoop Collection
has a lovely restaurant called the The Fig Tree Restaurant. “Koppie Alleen”
is a place the young people enjoy, with its wonderful rock pools and the
crystal clear water. De Hoop offers braai (barbeque) facilities near the
office/restaurant area.
Malgas area on the Breede River
You might decide to visit
severak interesting places in the Malgas area such as The Sijnn Winery,
a beautiful pioneering wine estate in the middle of nowhere at the end
of a long, dusty, bumpy road. When David and Rita Trafford visited the
Malgas region for the first time in 2000, they were blown away with the
incredible soils, specifically in the Lemoentuin area, and immediately
set about finding a suitable property to purchase.
Boat House – enjoy
the best pizzas in Malgas, right on the Breede River! There is a TV to
watch sport, indoor and outdoor seating and drinks at the bar. The Boat
House can be accessed by boat.
Bush Pub – a relaxing
and fun place to hang out and have a few drinks. For R10 pp you can braai
here. They will supply the wood and you bring everything else. Open weekends
in summer season only. 10 minutes drive from the winery, or you can access
the pub by boat.
Pont to Malgas from Witsand
– Take a drive from Witsand and enjoy the experience of taking the pont
across the river. This is the only hand drawn Pont remaining in South Africa.
Runs 6 am – 6 pm daily. R50 for a return trip (same day).
Buffelsjachts Watersport:
Enjoy one of the great hits, the three-hour cruise on the Buffelsjacht
Dam, at the foot of the Langeberg Mountains, on a fully kitted-out double
decker wooden raft. Relax and enjoy the scenery (Minimum 10 pax). Canoes,
taking two people, can be hired for ½ day.
Contact: Tel: 0285123787
Cell: 082826012
The Berry Farm, Drostdy Museum
and the Continent of Sulina
Swellendam: The
Berry Farm is situated in the lovely, peaceful Hermitage Valley
at the foot of the Langeberg mountains. They have a TastingRoom
on the premises where you can try their homemade liqueurs, jams and ice
cream, or just relax with a Berry Smoothie or cup of coffee while enjoying
the view. You can purchase fresh (in season) and frozen berries throughout
the year - youngberries, blackberries and blueberries.
Visiting hours: Mon
– Fri : 8:30 am – 4:30 pm, Sat : 9 am – 2 pm, Sun : Closed.
Seasonal visiting hours: Nov. and Dec. Mon – Fri : 8 am – 5
pm, Sat : 8:30 am – 3 pm, Sun : 9 am – 3 pm, closed on public holidays.
The Drostdy Museum
is a collection of several historical buildings. It is a beautiful museum
that includes large grounds and a typically nineteenth-century Cape garden,
but is also one of the country’s finest museums in South Africa, perched
on Swellengrebel Street, a particularly pretty road in Swellendam. You
can also find the fabulous Field and Fork Restaurant in the same
building as the museum.
The Continent of Sulina:
This local attraction draws people from all over the country. It’s not
just a pottery – it’s a FAERIE SANCTUARY! Faeries of various
shapes, sizes, colours and styles are beautifully displayed in four rooms
and then there are those that peep out from behind the foliage in the flourishing
garden, with it’s mini-jungle of indigenous trees, plants and herbs.
Relive your inner childhood – go and see it! Open 09.00 – 17.00.
Closed on Mondays.
Contact: Ian and
Minkie Sulin 028 5141786
Arniston and Cape Agulhas
Arniston - or Waenhuiskrans
as it is better known in the area - as well as Cape Agulhas, are both popular
day trip destinations. You could go over the pont at Malgas and on the
dust road, past De Hoop Nature Reserve gate to Bredasdorp and then on to
either Arniston or Struisbaai/Agulhas, but return on the R319, back through
Swellendam.
