Established at the base of the Langeberg Mountains in the Cape, lies the third oldest settlement in South Africa – Swellendam.
An ideal place for tourists to stop over at when travelling to the Garden Route, Greater Swellendam, as the area is known, is made up of a number of towns including Malagas, Swellendam, and Stormsvlei
There are a multitude of activities for the whole family starting with the Swellendam Getaway Activity Farm which has lots of things to do like paintball games, walking trails, bird watching, golf, a swimming pool, 4×4 trails, liqueur tasting and berry picking.
Visit the Drostdy museum where 18th and 19th century furniture, tools and kitchen equipment are on display.
Other interesting stops to make in the area are the Marloth Nature Reserve with its profusion of wild flowers. Hikes and walks through the reserve are available on a regular basis.
Go on the Swellendam Historic Walk retracing the 18th century settlers and view some of the magnificent architecture, including the Dutch Reformed church which is one of the central buildings in the town.
About 30 minutes away from Swellendam is the De Hoop Nature Reserve. This reserve is part of the Cape Floral Region Protected Areas and is a World Heritage site. Situated on the coast of the Indian Ocean, the De Hoop Nature Reserve has wildlife, bird watching and during whale season it is one of the world’s best spots for some whale watching . At Koppie Alleen stand on the sand dunes and watch the whales a few hundred meters away. Seeing these majestic mammals rising out of the water is a wondrous sight. Dolphins and seals can also be seen.
There are a number of other reserves in the area that have an abundance of wildlife and hiking trails. When travelling along the Garden Route, make a point to stop off in this area.
Image Credit: Dale Clendennen FB South Africa My Best