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| The Lagoon at Kleinmond |
South Africa has an amazing coastline and some really great, small coastal towns.
We did a week-end escape to drive the iconic road between Gordon's Bay and Rooi Els
Clarence Drive (R44) actually goes further from Rooi Els to Pringle Bay, Betty's Bay and ending in Kleinmond. Panoramic views are endless in both directions over False Bay and the Hottentots Holland Mountain range. There are a number of stopping places where you are likely to start chatting to other travellers or photographers. We met a very friendly gent who simply loves Clarence Drive so much that he often just gets into his car and drives both ways between Gordon's Bay and Rooi Els. He lives quite far away in another Cape Town suburb so this truly shows his love of this incredible drive. With approx. 77 bends it truly is one of the best drives in the world. The drive was named after Jack Clarence, a local businessman, who helped to drive the project of getting a road to Rooi Els and beyond. Surfers love the area around the Kogel Bay and there are mobile coffee shops as well!
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| Clarence Drive |
We stopped at Rooi Els for a short walk in their nature reserve. This small village expanded rapidly and now has sort after real estate, despite the wind and the baboons who roam freely around the village! The main beach at Rooi Els is beautiful and very safe for swimming.
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| Rooi Els Beach |
Our next stop was in Betty's Bay. This village stretches for over 13km along the coast and is also spread out on both sides of the Main Road. The beach is huge and ideal for long walks although the wind does play a role here! The main attraction, besides the laid back beach vibe, is the Stony Point Penguin Colony and the Harold Porter Botanical Gardens. The penguins can be viewed via a boardwalk (entrance fee payable) There are new nesting boxes for them now so that they can be cozy and warm out of wind! Comical to watch although the numbers are not as many as at Boulders, Simonstown, Cape Town.
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| Penguins at Stony Point, Betty's Bay |
The Harold Porter Botanical Gardens have a fascinating history. Three men bought land in the area during the 1930's and named the villages as Betty's Bay, Pringle Bay and Rooi Els. They were Harold Porter, Arthur Youldon and Jack Clarence. Plots were sold off to interested parties. The Nature reserve has gone thru various management and is today managed by SANBI (South African National Biodiversity Institute) Avid hikers are well catered for in the Harold Porter Botanical Gardens. The Leopards Kloof Trail requires a permit from the entrance. There are a number of river crossings and waterfalls. A series of ladders lead to the second and third waterfalls . During late December to the end of January each year you could be lucky enough to spot the Red Disa. Having done this hike some years back, I can truly recommend this one. For those seeking an easier walk, take the Disa Kloof Trail to another waterfall. At the end of your day, pop into the restaurant for some refreshing drinks plus a light lunch.
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| Waterfall on the Disa Trail, Harold Porter Botanical Gardens |
Our final stop was in Hermanus where we indulged in some Bitterballen and Fish & chips at Dutchies, Grotto Beach. Grotto beach is a Blue Flag beach and is ideal for long, long walks, swimming and just enjoying the sound of the sea. We then further indulged in an ice cream at Kammabaai beach, watching families and surfers enjoying the stunning winter's day! Kammabaai offers safe swimming and good waves for surfing. Further along at Langbaai, there was a truly daredevil fisherman, perched on a high cliff with waves breaking heartbreakingly close. My nerves were on fire but, hopefully, he caught something in the end. We watched him for 4 totally unsuccessful attempts, every time clambering over the huge rock face to bait his hook again. Hermanus is a beautiful town with excellent restaurants, shopping malls, whale watching in season (July to November), the famous Cliff Path is a 12 km walkway, offering stunning views plus numerous coves and swimming beaches. For the hikers and nature lovers Fernkloof Nature Reserve is a must visit. For those who love to wander outside of the town, do try the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley for wine tasting and a lovely drive. This town, that truly started out as a village, has grown so much in the past years. While some of the village atmosphere is no longer, the overall ambience is vibey, busy and lots of fun. Hermanus has much to offer and deserves at least 3--5 days or more.
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| Fisherman at Langbaai, Hermanus |
All in all, a wonderful time in some iconic villages of South Africa
