The Cape Overberg Region is one of the most verdant, beautiful and untamed parts of South Africa. With everything from seasonal whale watching and cheery canola fields to pristine cape nature, hikes and some wonderful wine farms and beaches, this special part of the Western Cape offers plenty to enjoy.
In this post, in no particular order, I look at some of my favourite gems that I have unearthed in the stunning Cape Overberg Region. From cosy, family- and pet-friendly accommodation stays to gorgeous hiking trails, beaches and pristine nature reserves.
1) Elgin Railway Market and Visiting Steam Train (Elgin Valley)
Since 2019, Elgin Railway Market has been a firm favourite of mine in the Cape Overberg Region.
I’ve visited this railway market several times over the years and it remains as great as ever!
Located within a steampunk-art-deco-inspired, old apple warehouse in the heart of thriving Elgin, this bustling market offers everything. From vibey live music to outstanding food, coffee, drinks (everything from craft beer to gin and bubble tea), a book bus, child-friendly playground and even its own visiting steam train thanks to its collaboration with the Ceres Rail Company’s Elgin steam train.
The steam train visits every weekend on a return trip that runs from Cape Town to Elgin.
You can either catch the train to Elgin (read my review here) or you can simply watch this beauty pull into the humble Elgin station. It’s quite a spectacle to behold!
Beyond the excitement of this old-world charm, the market is lots of fun for young and old to enjoy.
For more information and trading hours, please see here.
2) Blue Gum Country Estate and Campbell Café (Stanford)
Blue Gum Country Estate is a wonderful family- and pet-friendly accommodation farm, located on the R326, a short drive outside of charming Stanford.
Tucked away in a peaceful, rural valley where mountains and stillness prevail, Blue Gum Country Estate is the perfect place to go for a country retreat.
We enjoyed a delightful one-night, pet-friendly stay in one of their Mountain View Rooms in 2023 with our beautiful adventure cat, Tom (who sadly passed away in April 2024). Both we and Tom had a thoroughly enjoyable, tranquil stay.
Quaint Campbell Café
One of the highlights on the farm is the efficient, warm and welcoming Campbell Café. This caters to all your culinary needs during you stay.
We found both our simple afternoon tea, dinner and breakfast to be excellent. As a plus, the staff are so friendly and lovely to deal with.
Although we kept our stay quite simple this time around, the farm offers a fun array of activities to enjoy. These include swimming or playing tennis; running and trail walks; boules; or even a deli picnic.
There is also a nice kiddies’ play area (equipped with a sandpit and jungle gym) and The Block Shop, which offers a mix of new and pre-loved Lego, second-hand books and other children’s goodies.
If you are keen to explore the surrounding area, the quaint, little town of Stanford and the Stanford Wine Route are both unmissable stops. I can’t wait to explore more of them in time.
For more information or to book a stay at Blue Gum, please see here.
3) Cheverell’s Farm (Elgin Valley)
I could wax lyrical about Cheverell’s Farm, a delightful working apple- and pear-farm situated in Elgin Valley, near Grabouw.
Here, you will find a refurbished apple shed that now serves as a gorgeous country cafe and gift shop, a wellness studio and a unique glass greenhouse, as well as stunning cottage accommodation.
Cheverell’s Farm is the type of country spot you dream about; one that feels like something from a nostalgic childhood dream when time’s were simpler and the world seemed to only promise good.
Maybe it’s the endless orchards and beautiful farm atmosphere or the chunky farming implements scattered around. Or perhaps, it’s the warm, inviting feeling you get when you step into the cafe or bite into a morsel of their fine country cuisine. Whatever it is – the place is pure magic.
They also host a wonderful array of seasonal activities, from apple picking to watercolour workshops and sunrise yoga, which makes Cheverell’s even more of a drawcard for us city dwellers.
For more information, event info and trading hours, please see here.
4) Hermanus Whale Watching (Hermanus)
From June to late November each year, whale watching season kicks off along the Cape shores, as the Southern Right whales (and some other whale species) migrate from the Antarctic to our warmer shores to calve and mate.
Whale season is particularly special to enjoy along almost any stretch of the coastal Overberg but there is no question that Hermanus is the true mecca for whale watching enthusiasts.
This is because Hermanus has been recognised as one of the 12 best whale watching destinations in the world.
And, whether you go whale watching by sea (on a guided, professional tour), by air or from land, Hermanus is the place to go.
I went once several years ago in October and we were fortunate to see some incredible whale sightings.
It’s hard to explain to someone who hasn’t witnessed this up close for themselves – but I truly believe whale watching is one of those incredibly special gifts of nature that we get to witness first-hand.
Hermanus usually also has a lot of markets, events and festivities that bring this humble Overberg town to life during whale season. Including the ever-popular, eco-marine Hermanus Whale Festival.Â
And the town’s famous Cliff Path, a 12-kilometre, coastal-hugging footpath, provides the perfect place to enjoy some land-based whale watching from.
If you’re keen to experience something emotive and (largely) free, then whale watching in Hermanus is one Overberg travel experience I can safely recommend for all ages.
For more information on Hermanus and the seasonal whale watching, please see here.
5) Clarence Drive (R44 between Gordon’s Bay and Rooi Els)
Clarence Drive is one of my favourite coastal drives in South Africa – in fact, I enjoy it even more than Chappies at times.
I know that’s probably a shock to some but Clarence Drive is a truly special, coastal drive, where you hug mountains on one side and admire the beautiful ocean from the other.
Spanning some 21 kilometres between Gordon’s Bay and Rooi Els, this stunning coastal drive has 77 bends, heart-in-mouth curves and corners.
If you can, take your time, pull over at the viewing spots for some photos and enjoy the beauty of this spectacular drive.
Please note: Clarence Drive sometimes faces temporary road closures due to rock falls or damage (especially in recent years, as the Overberg and Western Cape at large have experienced devastating flooding in the winter months), so always check ahead to ensure it’s open for safe travel.
For more information or updates on Clarence Drive, please see here.
6) Stony Point Nature Reserve (Betty’s Bay)
Stony Point Nature Reserve (the lesser-known sister of Boulder’s Beach as far as penguin reserves go) is located in beautiful Betty’s Bay, a small coastal village in the Overberg.
Here, at this small reserve, you can enjoy paid entry to a lovely boardwalk, which takes you through the colony of the resident African penguins.
Also found here are three species of cormorant (in the Crowned, Cape and Bank cormorants respectively), Hartlaub’s Gulls and Help Gulls and Rock Hyrax (or dassies), which forage or reside around the colony’s rocky terrain.
Stony Point Nature Reserve is a wonderful place to see the penguins up close, without being able to disrupt or interfere with them, which I love as it promotes more responsible tourism.
As far as viewing sites go, I actually found Stony Point more enjoyable than Boulders. Simply because it’s a lot less crowded and you do get the chance to really take your time, greet the penguins or snap some good shots without feeling rushed or smothered by bustling crowds of people.
For more information on Stony Point Nature Reserve and its opening times, please see here.
7) Unique Beaches (Pringle Bay, Betty’s Bay, Kleinmond, De Hoop Collection and Struisbaai)
The Overberg Region has some of my favourite beaches in the Western Cape. Growing up, my family would drive during the holiday season to Struisbaai for a day at the beach and my ocean-loving self would enjoy endless days of delight here.
But it’s not just Struisbaai that offers beautiful beaches. Almost every coastal town in the Overberg is blessed with a diverse range of beautiful, lesser-known beaches that Capetonians are either unaware of or simply overlook in favour of those closer to home in the Mother City itself.
From azure waters and soft, smooth sand to rocky, wild outcrops and deep sunsets, Overberg beaches have a touch of magic about them.
Some of my favourite Overberg beaches include the ones at Pringle Bay, Betty’s Bay, Kleinmond, those within De Hoop Nature Reserve and of course, old faithful, Struisbaai.
If you’re a beach lover like me, then you have to take some time to explore the Overberg Region’s charming coastal towns – and discover the beaches one at a time!
8) Dassiesfontein Farm Stall (N2 between Bot River and Caledon)
Dassiesfontein Farm Stall, situated along the N2 between Bot River and Caledon, is one of the quirkier farm stalls you’ll find in the Western Cape.
If the giant table and chairs don’t prompt you to stop and take a closer look, then I’m sure the seasonal fields of bright yellow canola or the labyrinth within the farm stall should do the trick.
We only briefly stopped at Dassiesfontein for some take-home goodies after a relaxing Overberg getaway. But, having explored it on the fly, I can tell the restaurant, antiques and other goods inside are definitely a hit among visitors.
For a start, the restaurant was pumping on a Sunday (and rightly so) and even the farm store was busy, stacked to the rafters with a wide assortment of goods from deliciously fragrant ground coffee to home-baked rusks, cookies and more.
If you have time to pop into Dassiesfontein Farm Stall and restaurant, it’s definitely worth your while.
For more information on Dassiesfontein, please see here.Â
9) De Hoop Collection, De Hoop Nature Reserve (near Bredasdorp)
De Hoop Nature Reserve is arguably the jewel of the Cape Overberg Region.
This pristine, well-preserved nature reserve, which is accessible from either Swellendam or Bredasdorp, spans across some 36 000 hectares, including 70 km of gorgeous coastline.
Here, fynbos flora (some of the rarest and best in the world), wildlife, a stunning vlei (wetland), seasonal whale watching, bone-white sand dunes and luxury accommodation meet in a tranquil, magical place.
Tourists and locals alike delight in the stunning De Hoop Collection’s accommodation, cuisine (which you can enjoy at the popular Fig Tree Restaurant or Bites Cafe near Koppie Alleen) and day activities.
Adventurous highlights include the eco boat cruise on the vlei, nature drives, exploring the sand dunes and nearby beach stretches at Koppie Alleen, game watching from your accommodation, guided marine walks (tide- and weather-dependent) and much more.
For families, solo travellers and couples alike, De Hoop is a truly incredible experience as both a day explorer and overnight guest.
Note: Cape Nature manages the reserve and reserve entry fees apply. The accommodation and other tourist attractions are managed separately by the De Hoop Collection.
For more information on De Hoop Collection, please see here.
For more information on the reserve itself, please see here.
10) Harold Porter National Botanical Garden (Betty’s Bay)
It may be sacrilege to some but to me, Harold Porter National Botanical Garden might even be better than Kirstenbosch.
I think what I love about this beautiful place is that you can hike, picnic, wander among the gardens or even visit the nearby beach during an outing here.
The garden is family-friendly and especially beautiful in springtime.
Read all about my day of adventure in Harold Porter National Botanical Garden here.
11) Cape Canopy Tour (Elgin)
Ziplining with Cape Canopy Tours Elgin remains one of the most exhilarating, fun outdoor experiences that I have enjoyed to date.
I never thought of myself as an adrenaline junkie till I tried ziplining – but apparently, under the right conditions, I very much am.
Another great thing about this experience is the rich nature, beautiful sights and brave moments you get to enjoy along the journey. As you soar above ravines or dangle in the air, you get to soak up the beauty around you and test your mettle at once.
The experience is weight dependent and requires a certain age limit for young kids but otherwise, it is entirely family-friendly and altogether exciting.
Read all about my thrilling Cape Canopy Tours’ experience near Elgin and Grabouw here.
12) Cape Overberg Towns
The Cape Overberg Region is home to some of my favourite inland- and coastal-towns.
Here, you can read about my journeys to some of these Overberg towns, like Struisbaai, Swellendam, Hermanus and more.
13) Cape Agulhas (L’ Agulhas)
Cape Agulhas, a cute sliver of a coastal located just past Struisbaai, has long been a favourite destination of mine.
Not least because it is where the two oceans, Indian and Atlantic, famously meet at Africa’s southernmost point.
But because the ocean views and national park here are second to none. And don’t forget the candy cane-coloured lighthouse.
The area also has some lovely seafood restaurants and cafes, which serve up fresh local fish and chips or tasty catch-of-the-day meals.
Read all about my visits to Cape Agulhas and the Cape Agulhas National Park here.
14) Kogelberg Nature Reserve
Kogelberg Nature Reserve is one of my favourites in the Western Cape.
With a host of great activities, from hiking along the Palmiet River, enjoying an eco-friendly overnight stay to swimming in rock pools and discovering a secret beach, this pristine reserve offers something for everyone.
It is a truly beautiful place to explore too, with rich birdlife, fauna and flora. Some of the best in the world, in fact, as it forms part of the unique Cape Floral Kingdom.
Read all about my experience hiking the Palmiet River trail in beautiful Kogelberg Nature Reserve here.
15) Grace + Merci Eatery and Shop (Swellendam)
If you know me well, you will know I have a deep love and appreciation of quality cafes and eateries situated in beautiful towns. And Grace + Merci is a prime example of just such a place in just such a town.
This eatery and shop (a secret shop and perfumery, more to the point) is located in central Swellendam, directly across from the town’s famously majestic NG Kerk (another worthwhile stop in this historic, leafy town).
In a treed up corner, this eatery gives off the cutest forest cafe vibes but comes with the highest quality service, food and drinks and well-rounded menu.
Decadent Pastries and Delicious Drinks
Our visit was flawless, as we sampled their baked goods (try their lemon meringue or Portuguese tarts) and divine mocktails.
From the eatery’s little shop, I also grabbed some take-home Greek pecan biscuits and I still dream about them!
Beyond this gorgeous cafe, which is dog- and child-friendly, the owner, Bev Missing, also hosts Swellendam’s lovely Saturday market, Under the Oaks Market, on-site and owns local accommodation establishment Arumvale.
No visit to stunning Swellendam is complete without a bite to eat at Grace + Merci.
While you are there, check out the beautiful hidden shop, admire the cool, old wagons and forested area on-site or explore the local gallery or NG Kerk (church) just across the way.
The Overberg Region has so many gems; I hope I have inspired you to explore it and track them all down! 🙂
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