Southern Cape (Hessequa) Info

About 350 km east from Cape Town, en route to the Garden Route, you will find the jewel of the Southern Cape: the Hessequa region: Come experience unspoilt beauty, with the majestic “Langeberge” (“Long Mountains”) silently tracking your progress along the coast, where you will find unique “fynbos”, white beaches and spoil your taste buds with the wine, cheese and olives for which this region is fast becoming well known. Come and explore this jewel for yourself…. and be prepared to be surprised!

The Explorers “Garden Route” a 12 Month Holiday Destination!

You deserve the best stress free holiday in our revitalising Hessequa region along the Garden Route  N2, between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth.

Mother Nature’s Eden. Thoughout the Hessequa region you will experience  warm “platteland” hospitality, enhanced by world class gourmet products such as, olives, cheese, wine , aloe products and a world first, fynbos genewer. The Hessequa region, includes Heidelberg, Slangrivier, Witsand, Riversdale, Albertinia, Stilbaai, Jongensfontein, Gouritsmond, Melkhoutfontein and Vermaaklikheid.

Heidelberg...Western gateway to the Garden Route, a mountain biking ha¬ven for all skill levels including the Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve  Mountain Biking Route. It is a must for every nature lover, with its forest, fynbos, animals and a bird watchers paradise. Historians describe the town as the most southerly battle point of the Anglo Boer War. It has beautiful heritage buildings, including a Gothic-design church.
Slangrivier... 15km from Heidelberg. It originates way back from 1938 when the settlement was awarded to the indigenous community for their loyalty during the wars. Visit the Johnic Johannes Bird Sanctuary with it’s prolific bird life. Go hiking on the Blue Crane Trail and the Cape Fynbos trail.

Witsand... Enjoy the prestigious “Blue Flag” beaches of Witsand also known as the Whale Nursery of South  Africa, record  numbers of these magnificent giant ‘ships of the sea’ visit the bay to feed and to calf. Excellent rock angling of Cob, Steenbras, Grunter and Elf. For the adventurous at heart try your hand at spear fishing, windsurfing, snorkeling and surf angling.

Riversdale... Floral paradise in the shadow of the spectacular Sleeping Beauty, a well known peak in the Langeberg mountain. It is a popular destination for adventure and nature enthusiasts. Experience the adrenalin packed sport  of abseiling or go windsurfing at Korente Poort Dam, water skiing, fishing and para-sailing, bird-watching and biking. Africana enthusiasts can browse  through the Julius Gordon Africana Centre, which houses works by renowned South-African artists. “Die Ou Tronk Plaasmark” A Farmers market is held every Saturday where freshly baked products, vegetables and handmade products are sold.

Stilbaai...The picturesque coastal village lies within the Cape Whale Coast and has been dubbed the Bay of Sleeping Beauty due to its proximity to the iconic Sleeping Beauty Mountain. The well known Lappiesbaai beach has “Blue Flag” status during December and January. Hiking trails, leisure walks and varieties of birdlife, river boating, skiing and the local art route. Feed the eels and visit the “Fish Traps” of a bygone age.

Albertinia... Home to the largest aloe. A peaceful, friendly town with majestic Langeberg Mountains as a backdrop. Albertinia is the primary South African source of yellow ochre used in the manufacturing of paints and the coloring of cement and linoleum. Confined only to the area between the Gouritz and Breede Rivers is thatch reed, used to thatch Cape Dutch houses of SA. Come face to face with the big 5 while on a game drive. Various hiking trails, 4 x 4 routes wine tasting and cellar tours on offer .

Gouritsmond... Tired of the hustle and bustle of city life? Kick off your shoes and enjoy our beach. This quaint town has always been a fisherman’s paradise with a variety of fish that can be caught from the rocks, beach, river or on the deep sea. A launch ramp is available for powerboats and features pilot “Blue Flag” status and a well maintained Municipal Caravan & Camping site. Watch the whales, and more than 90 plant  and - 244 bird species to identify. Snorkel, surf or swim  in the warm Indian Ocean or tidal pool.

Melkhoutfontein... A small  fisherman`s village, with a proud heritage and blooming with tourism activities such as historical walking tours to the An
glican Church and ancient graveyard. Enjoy home -stay  accommodation with traditional home cooked meals.

Albertinia Toerisme / Tourism
albertinia@hessequa.net
Tel: +27 (0) 28 713 7870

Gouritsmond Toerisme / Tourism
gouritsmond@hessequa.net
Tel: +27 (0) 28 713 7952

Stilbaai Toerisme / Tourism
stilbaai@hessequa.net
Tel: +27 (0) 28 713 7852

Heidelberg Toerisme / Tourism
heidelberg@hessequa.net
Tel: +27 (0) 28 713 7953

Riversdale Toerisme / Tourism
riversdale@hessequa.net
Tel: +27 (0) 28 713 7953

Hessequa Static Route Map

Here we have a static map showing the various routes between the unique towns within the Hessequa region of the Southern Cape.

Hessequa Static Area Map

Here we have a static map showing the segmented areas between Witsand and Plettenberg Bay.

Stilbaai

Stilbaai enjoys  a pollution-free, safe and peaceful setting with long stretches of white sandy beach, a temperate climate and a river navigable for some 15 km. The town lies along and around the banks of the Goukou River, with a magnificent estuary and safe and beautiful beaches on either side of the river mouth. One of these, Lappiesbaai beach, has been awarded Blue Flag status and is the only beach to claim this mark of distinction between Hermanus and Jeffreys Bay.

The village is thus very attractive to visitors seeking safe bathing, angling, wind surfing, kite surfing, sailing, canoeing and other pleasures on the water. Stilbaai has a rich marine life in the river estuary and a remarkably large variety of bird life attracted to the abundance of indigenous fauna and flora - Still Bay has no fewer than three Nature Reserves - Pauline Bohnen, Rein’s and Geelkrans and is on the flower route.

Riversdale

The pungent aroma of Cape fynbos alerts you to the fact that you are nearing Riversdale, ‘capital’ of the Hessequa region on the world- renowned Garden Route.

Nestled at the foot of the landmark Sleeping Beauty Mountain, Riversdale forms  part of the Cape Floral Region World Heritage Site as can be seen by the kaleidoscopic natural floral carpets on display between August and March each year.

Riversdale enjoys a moderate climate and is a year-round holiday destination. The town  has a rich cultural heritage, and historical landmarks are a ‘must see’.

Accommodation  is varied and includes outdoor camps, guest farms and cottages.

It’s difficult to imagine that, just over the mountain  pass, is the semi-arid Klein Karoo; home of the world-renowned Cango Caves.

Witsand

The peaceful coastal town lies along St Sebastian’s Bay on the Cape South Coast and is easily accessible  from the N2.

The town is flanked by the Breede River estuary and the warm Indian Ocean  and boasts 45km of pristine, sandy beach. As part of the Cape Floral Region World Heritage  Site, the area offers a plethora of unique Cape Fynbos.

The Breede River is one of the countries largest and most navigable rivers and is a birdwatchers' paradise. The quaint town is a haven of peace and tranquility and a prime destination for nature-lovers. Explore the rock pools and marvel at the creatures of the sea, such as octopus, starfish, sea urchin and crab.

Witsand is known as THE Whale Nursery of South Africa and draws thousands of visitors annually between July and November, when these magnificent mammals visit the bay to feed and to calf. Record numbers  of these giant 'ships of the sea' have been recorded over the years, as they migrate to the bay from the Antarctic.

The Southern Right whale is believed to have the most highly evolved mammalian brain of all of the world's mammals. As the best land-based whale-watching destination, there are several vantage points from which to view  these 58-ton gentle giants.

Albertinia

Blazing orange carpets of aloe rising out of the fynbos like an army of red hot pokers, are a sure sign that you’re entering the country’s Aloe Capital. Situated between the Langeberg Mountains in the north  and the warm Indian Ocean in the south, this floral paradise and Cape Floral Region World Heritage Site on South Africa’s Garden Route, offers a destination ‘away from the maddening crowd’ and days of sheer enjoyment.

The town and surrounds offers an eclectic mix of attractions and activities, including a pukka South African game drive experience, as you follow in the footsteps of the BIG 5!

Whether it’s the thrill of adventure that tempts you to try your skills at 4x4 trailing, relaxing in the pool after a day’s hiking, or bird-watching along the banks of the Gourits River, you’ll find a variety of activities to interest and excite you!

Before leaving the folds of this hospitable town, don’t miss the experience of viewing the unique Cape fynbos, of which more than 8500 species can be found  along South Africa’s Cape coast.

Heidelberg

Heidelberg lies within the Cape Floral Region World Heritage Site, lies on the foothills of the Langeberg Mountains and is the western gateway to the world-renowned Garden Route.

A quietquiet  hamlet of tranquil country living on the banks of the Duivenhoks River, the town and surrounds has some of the most scenic spots on the route and is home to beautiful old Gothic and Cape-style buildings dating  back some 200 years.

What is special about this second oldest town in the region is that it is perfectly positioned for day drives in and around the Hessequa and beyond.

Expect to find warm and friendly hosts in the town and surrounds’ many accommodations that include nature reserves and farm stays.

Gouritsmond

The small coastal town enjoys moderate weather throughout the year, but it is during the summer months that Gouritsmond comes alive, as revelers descend to enjoy the full benefits  of this sun-sea-sand destination.

Skiing, boating, rubber-ducking, surfing or simply chilling out on the sandy white beaches or the river banks, are favourite activities.

Set off on a deep-sea fishing trip, or ski on the Gourits River, while friends and family endeavour to nab that succulent fish to be enjoyed on an open fire or braai. There are great lookout points from which to observe Southern Right whales frolicking in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean between June and November each year.

Melkhoutfontein

Services of interest include: Soete Arbeid, the tourism production center; the Soete Inval Botanical Garden; the Soeterus Care Center and Nuut Begin, the shelter for the homeless.

Jongensfontein

Jongensfontein, a coastal village 9 km away, offers spectacular ocean views, tidal pools and a popular caravan park. The historic little ‘White House’ (Fonteinhuisie) serves as a local museum and information centre This fast growing seaside resort offers breathtaking scenery and a rocky coastline ideal for angling and water sports.