ROAD TRIP - George Herald

HESSEQUA TRIP
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GARDEN ROUTE
ROAD
TRIP
OLD MAKADAS PUT IN GOURITSMOND STILBAAI HAWE ROCKPOOL BREEDERIVIER JETTY

Hessequa
OVERVIEW
A quiet hamlet of tranquil
country living - Heidelberg
Situated on the banks of the Duivenhoks
River between the beautiful Langeberg
mountains and warm Indian Ocean,
this quiet hamlet and second oldest
town in the Hessequa lies in one of the
most scenically preserved regions in the
Western Cape.
Beautiful old Gothic and Cape-style
buildings dating back 200 years are dotted
around the town and on local farms.
There are nature reserves and, as part
of the Cape Floral Kingdom World Heritage
site, carpets of exquisite Cape
fynbos all around. It is a true birders’
paradise set amid unspoiled indigenous
forest adjacent to the 14 200ha Boosmansbos
wilderness area; secluded bird
hides among the trees make watching
our feathered friends a more ‘up close
and personal’ experience. Enjoy leisurely
walks and look out for the many small
buck prancing across your path and cool
off in the river while taking in the beautiful
surroundings.
It is also ideal for mountain-biking. There
are many and varied day trips in and
around the region – ask at the Tourism
Offi ce for a current list of tours, outings,
drives, activities and events in the re-
Op die Engenperseel langs die N2 by
Albertinia, bied ‘n groot verskeidenheid:
Uit die hartjie van die Klein-Karoo, die Breederivier Vallei, Swartland
en die Boland, asook sterker dranke aan persone bo 18.
Ons het ‘n hele aantal produkte teen afslagpryse!
gion. Visit the small traditional settlement
at Slangrivier where the locals have
many a tale to tell, or the little village of
Vermaaklikheid on the banks of the Duivenhoks
River.
There is a wealth of nature activities including
hikes, fynbos trails, botanical
garden walks, mountain-biking, birdwatching,
river fi shing, horse-riding,
game-viewing and game drives. Malgas
Pont on the Breede River - the last
hand-operated ferry in South Africa. Hot
springs at Warmwaterbad, off R62. Tours
to do include:Grootvadersbosch Nature
Reserve and Conservancy; Bushbuck
and Grysbok Trails; Boosmansbos Wilderness
Area; Witsand/Port Beaufort
whale-watching; Ostrich Trail hiking and
game-viewing. Drives through Tradouw
Pass, the Gymanshoek Pass and Garcia
Pass. (Source: www.hessequa.net)
Witsand: ‘The whale nursery of
South-Africa’
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 bird watchers’
paradise sporting more than 162 species
of birds. 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, starfi sh, sea urchin
and crab, and the rare ‘Black Oyster
catcher’ who nests in the sand. Witsand
is known as ‘The Whale Nursery of South
Africa’ and draws thousands of visitors
annually between July and November,
when these magnifi cent 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. In 2006 there were 69
calves counted and a total of 145 whales
during a offi cial aerial survey. Witsand
is the only town which has been giving
a boat based whale watching licence.
Land based whale watching are offered
from specifi c vantage points. ‘Freddie’
the 14 metre whale
display at the
beachfront in Witsand
allows whale
Heidelberg post offi ce.
Heidelberg NG Church.
Witsand is known as ‘The whale nursery of
South-Africa’.
education to children. Witsand also has a
Blue Flag beach.
Allegaartjie
Snappy Chef Kombuisware en geskenke
Tafeldoeke Ingevoerde lappe
Matte Victorinox messe
Fotorame & Spieëls Skoene
Voortrekkerstr. 7, STILBAAI | Tel/faks: 028 754 3299
en geniet ‘n uitsonderlike atmosfeer
HEERLIKE:
Ons bedien outydse boerekos net soos ouma dit nog gemaak het. Kom proe
so bietjie aan die kerrie-afval, die gebraaide skaapboud of soutbeestong met
mostertsous, om nie eens van ons heerlike kerrievis te praat nie.
Dis sommer watertand-lekker! Ons is elke dag van
die week oop vir Ontbyt, Middagete & Aandete!
Bring die hele gesin en vriende saam en maak sommer ‘n lekker
kuier geleentheid daarvan...
Ma - Vry: 08:30 - 16:30
Plaasmark Sat: 09:00 - 13:00
Hoofstraat, RIVERSDAL
028 713 4300 I 084 777 7276
66
HOLIDAY GUIDE Thursday 13 December, 2012

Hessequa
Village full of life
Melkhoutfontein is 7km from Stilbaai
and was originally part of a communal
farm project and home to local fi sher
folk. The small village is characterised
by original thatch-roofed, white-limed
houses and is known for its friendliness
and hospitality. Here you can enjoy a
unique ‘homestead’ experience, which
affords the visitor the opportunity to
stay with local families, while listening
to tales of old and indulging yourself in
traditional cuisine. A hiking trail starts at
the community hall and ends at the Old
Anglican Church and graveyard. The
locals will keep you mesmerised with
tales of bygone days and the history
and culture of the townsfolk, while you
indulge in delicious local cuisine. Don’t
miss a Cookup Kamammas where locals
prepare and serve meals for visitors.
(Source: www.hessequa.net).
The forgotten
The ‘forgotten’ village of Slangrivier is 15 kilometres from Heidelberg.
Its origins date back to 1838 when Sir George Grey
awarded the small settlement to the indigenous community for
their loyalty during the ‘border wars’. The settlement has since
developed into a village of about 2 000 people. The tiny, somewhat
undeveloped village is known for the Slangrivier Christmas
choir and Slangrivier culture group. The well-known Blue
Crane Trail starts here and ends in the picturesque coastal
town of Witsand. The Johnique Johannes bird sanctuary,
named after a local boy who drowned in the nearby river, offers
a wonderful opportunity to study the prolific bird-life and
there are wonderful Cape fynbos trails. (Source: Hessequa.
net)
On the banks of the Duivenhoksriver
One of the Cape thatch ‘Strandveld’ houses
outside Melkhoutfontein. Photo: Louise Mouton.
village
The forgotten village of Slangrivier.
OVERVIEW
Town of
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 fl oral 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!
aloes
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 fi nd 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 8 500 species can be
found along South Africa’s Cape coast.
(Source: Hessequa.net).
Albertinia is renown for Aloe cultivation.
GARAGE MAN
FULL ACCESS CONTROL
AUTHORISED INSTALLER OF
Norman Wait 083 665 4816
AUTHORISED INSTALLER OF
Puntjie holiday houses at Vermaaklikheid.
On the banks of the Duivenshok River, snuggled between Heidelberg
and Riversdale is the sleepy little hamlet of Vermaaklikheid
(amusement). A scenic 300km from Cape Town, it can
be described as a special hideaway, unblemished by time
and progress; a place where one can escape the pressures
of modern living and restore mind and body. The tiny town is
dotted with ‘Kaapstyl’ (Cape-style) houses.
The Duivenshok estuary and its surrounds is one of the last
remaining pristine estuaries in South Africa. The Duivenshoks
Conservancy was established to preserve its unique character
and the area is also a Nature conservation protectorate.
A unique eco-experience offers swimming, canoeing, fi shing,
nature walks, mountain-biking and bird-watching. No jet skiing
or speeding is allowed on the river.(Source: Hessequa.net)
WIL U VERKOOP?
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Veilings is ‘n vinnige en doeltreffende manier om ‘n oplossing
te bied vir alle verkoops aangeleenthede.
NAVRAE: Koos van Rensburg by 083 625 5466
Dawie van Rensburg 084 581 0781
VAKANSIEGIDS Donderdag 13 Desember, 2012 67