Situated at the foot of the Langeberg Mountains, Heidelberg is often referred to as the ‘Western Gateway to the Garden Route’. It is a scenic little town, offering great natural beauty and real ‘plattelandse’ (country) hospitality. The town has various historical and interesting buildings, which are fine examples of the architecture of their time.

GENERAL INFORMATION

How to get there

Swellendam 50 km, Riverdale 30 km, Mossel Bay 119 km

Altitude: 400 m to 600 m

Average Temperatures

Summer 30°c(day) 20°c (night); winter 20°c (day) 09°c (night)

Average Rainfall: 367 mm per annum

Banks

Absa (ATM), Boland, FNB (ATM), Standard

Dams

Ertjiesvleidam, Korente Dam

Rivers

Breede River and Duivenhoks River

HISTORICAL VIEW

Boer and the Brit

Scene of the southern most battle of the Anglo-Boer-War.

NATURE

Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve

Situated 22 km northwest of Heidelberg. The Bosbok Hiking Trail meanders through this 250 ha indigenous forest and along the slopes of the Langeberg Mountains. A wilderness trail is situated in the Boosmanbos Wilderness Area. The reserve also boasts two mountain bike trails and a campsite with full facilities.

ATTRACTIONS

Malgas Pont

This is the only pont in South Africa still in full operation, ferrying vehicles and livestock across the Breede River, Malgas played an important role in the early shipping ventures of Joseph Barry ‘merchant prince’ of the Overberg (1820’s)

ACTIVITIES

Bird watching

Very popular along the Breede River and in the Langeberg Mountains.

Fishing

Witsand and the Breede River mouth is regarded as one of South Africa’s top fishing locations. The Breede River offers unique fishing with the upper reaches renowned for fresh water fish such as bass, while the lower reaches are a Kob fisherman’s paradise – Kob exceeding 50 kg in weight are regularly caught in the river. The rock and surf angler will also not be disappointed with good catches all along coastline. Bait and tackle is available from many local stores

Hiking

Bosbok Trail

Starting point: Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve Office. End: Circular Routes. Distance / Duration: 2 km – 10 km / 1 – 8hours. Rating: Easy. Permit: bookings at office. Features include indigenous forest.

Boosmansbos Wilderness Trail

Starting point: Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve Office. Circulare route. Distance / Duration: 27 km – 64 km / 2- 5 days. Rating: average to difficult. Permit: required. Features include mountain fynbos and indigenous forest.

Grysbok Trail

Starting Point: Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve Office. Circular routes. Distance / Duration: 3 km – 15 km / 2 – 8 hours. Rating: average. Permit: bookings at office. Features include fynbos.

Snelsetter Fynbos Trail

Starting point: The homestead. End: The homestead. Distance / Duration: 5 km / 3 – 4 hours. Rating: easy to average. Permit: from the owner. Features include unique fynbos – best from early August to late October and birdlife.

Horse Riding

Honeywood Guest Farm

Mountain Biking / Cycling

Honeywood Guest Farm

Whale Watching

San Sebastian Bay at Witsand has the highest concentration of Southern Right Whales found in a single bay area. The town of Witsand boasts the first Whale Watching Tower on the Garden Route. The tower is a perfect location to study these magnificent creatures close at hand, often as close as a hundred metres. Meals and locally produced articles are also sold here. A large information board is also a hand to illustrate and explain whale behaviour. Another interesting whale watching tour is conducted on a tractor-trailer, affording the opportunity to view Cape fynbos and watch the whales from the dunes at the same time.

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