The runway at the SA Air Force's Training School in Agulhas is able to land the largest and fastest aircraft in the world and is the only place in the southern hemisphere where the US space shuttle can land should the window over America itself close for some or other reason. And there's also OTB - a test facility specialising in the in-flight testing and evaluation of missiles and aviation systems for the local and international aerospace industries.
The world famous cape floral kingdom, tall blue mountains, spectacular bays and beaches and some of the best whale watching site on earth.
The name Overberg, in the language of the early Dutch settlers, means roughly 'the other side of the mountain', and refers to the then unknown, always gentle and beautiful countryside of hill, dale ,forest plantation, green pasture, orchard, vineyard and scenically lovely seashore that lies to the east of the high Helderberg mountain range. The Southern Cape and Overberg link Cape Town with the Garden Route, and take in much of the famed Cape Floral Kingdom, high, blue-hued mountains, and the bays and beaches of the Atlantic coastline, which charm the senses with their beauty.
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Romantic Getaway
Luxury holiday on South Africa's Coastline, including the Winelands AND safari - from £1075.00 per person sharing
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Southern Cape & Overberg
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Luxury
Hotels
Blue Gum Country Estate Hidden in an undiscovered valley ascending through rolling wheat fields from the town of Stanford, is Blue Gum, a 130-acre private country estate comprising vineyards, pastures, river frontage and private mountain reserve.>>
Grootbos Private Nature Reserve When world-renowned British conservationist David Bellamy says 'The best example of conservation of biodiversity I have ever seen - Grootbos says it with flowers' then one knows that he has discovered a truly exceptional nature destination.>>
The Marine Hermanus This five-star Relais & Chataeux hotel is unique in its position, perched atop the cliffs, in one of the most beautiful landscapes in Africa.>>
Quality
Hotels
Agulhas Country Lodge The southern most tip of the mighty African continent is only two hours drive from Cape Town and is the place where the Atlantic and Indian oceans meet. The ruggedness of the area is mirrored in the name "Agulhas", meaning "place of needles".>>
Auberge Burgundy Set in the heart of the quaint fishing village of Hermanus and 70km from Cape Town International Airport, The Auberge Burgundy Guest House is a charming Provencal-style guest house with fragrant courtyards and stone terraces. >>
Bay Haven Bay Haven Penthouse & Luxury Apartments promises a home from home atmosphere with unsurpassed luxury and exquisite attention to detail. >>
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about Southern Cape & Overberg
From Cape Town there are two equally spectacular routes - the majestic Sir Lowry's Pass over the Helderberg mountain range, and the coastal Clarens Drive past Gordon's Bay - leading to Kleinmond, home of the Peter Matkovich-designed golf courses on the Arabella Country Club Estate, along with an exclusive hotel and spa development. The nearby African penguin colony at Stony Point is also worth a visit.
The main centre of the Overberg region is the nearby coastal town of Hermanus, ranked among the world's most rewarding whale-watching venues. The town is also one of the Cape's most popular holiday destinations.
It plays host, in particular, to the giant southern right whales - so called because early whalers considered them the 'right' sighting - is actually hearing the whales - sounds include the resounding slap of a fluke striking the water, a roaring or grunting to be heard at night, and their remarkable song. Another enthralling sight, usually greeted by whoops of delight from the shoreside audience, is the whales leaping from the water with arched backs, known as breaching.
During the whale-watching season - July to November - the 'whale crier' of Hermanus takes up his vigil and tells all within earshot of the arrival and location of these enormous ocean mammals. The Pavilion restaurant at The Marine Hotel and Bientang's Cave are two restaurants serving excellent food with views of the whales while dining. Annually in September, Hermanus is the venue for the hugely popular Whale Festival, a celebration that encompasses food, music, markets, sports, crafts, flower exhibitions and more.
Another worthwhile attraction in this area is the Old Harbour in Hermanus, once the lively centre of the fishing industry, and now maintained as an unofficial open-air museum full of veteran working boats lovingly restored to their original condition, and a haven to the endearing resident Cape Fur Seal.
The newly established Hermanus Wine Route winds it's way through the scenic Hemel-en-Arde (Heaven and Earth) Valley, with notable estates including the vineyards and cellars of Hamilton-Russel and Bouchard-Finlayson.
The charming inland village of Stanford is home to the Blue Gum Country Estate, while coastal De Kelders and Gansbaai are to be found a little further along the Walker Bay coast. Here, too, is the Grootbos Private Nature Reserve, named after the reserve's indigenous white milkwood trees, the largest forest in the world of this species. The reserve extends over 17 000ha of unspoilt natural environment, and is home to South Africa's largest private fynbos garden, with medicinal herbs and an indigenous nursery.
Walker Bay's cliffs provide fine vantage points for land-based whale-watching, but should the visitor prefer a closer acquaintance with these great, gentle and oddly graceful marine giants, boat-based excursions with specifically licensed operators can be arranged.
Another marina drawcard in this area is the fearsome Great White Shark. A number of operators offer boat trips to the aptly named Shark Alley near Dyer Island. Cage-diving offers an up-close and personal experience with a magnificent yet misunderstood, protected species that was, for many years, mistakenly thought to be a 'monster' of the deep.
Cape Agulhas, the southern-most point of the African continent and the official meeting place of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, is another attraction of the Overberg regions. The lighthouse museum, the only one of its kind in the country, offers fascinating displays tracing lighthouse development from ancient times to the present. Another museum is the nearby shipwreck museum in Bredasdorp. The white-washed fisherman's cottages of Arniston have been the inspiration for many a local artist and the nearby De Hoop Nature Reserve, with its many hiking and mountain biking trails, is a popular destination for local and foreign visitors.
Aside from whale and dolphin-spotting, other leisure activities in this area include horse-riding, country walks, mountain biking, kloofing, sandboarding, surfing, fly-fishing, eco-friendly quad-biking and scuba-diving the Shipwreck Route.
HERMANUS WHALE WATCH TOURFull day Private / group Each year the Southern Right Whale makes a journey to our coastlines to give birth to their offspring and enjoy their annual mating ritual.
Highlights: - A scenic coastal drive to Hermanus to enjoy the best land-based whale watching location in the Cape - African Penguin colony at Betty's Bay - Harold Porter Botanical gardens which is rich in indigenous local fynbos - Southern Right Whale watching from the cliff path in Hermanus
Optional activities: Wine tasting in the Hemel-en-Aarde region which is home to our top chardonnay and pinot noir wines. Note: Tour best from Sept - end Nov.
SHARK DIVING IN GANSBAAIFull day Private / group The perfect tour for those who want to get up close and personal with a great white shark.
Highlights: - Educational briefing prior to departure on the anatomy and behaviour patterns of Great White sharks - Scenic boat trip out to Dyer Island from Gansbaai which is an excellent area to successfully view Great White Sharks - Diving in specially designed cage so that you can get up close and personal with the sharks!
This trip caters for qualified divers as well as non-divers (bring your diving card with you) Tour departs at 6am and returns around 6pm. Gansbaai is 2 hours from Cape Town.
Activties
in and around Southern Cape & Overberg Region
Birding / Botanical South Africa has one of the widest diversity of bird types in the world, boasting more than 900 different species and is very...
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Whale Watching Although at least 37 species of whales and dolphins can be found in the waters off South Africa, the Route is most famous for...
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Special
Interest Tours in Southern Cape & Overberg region
Harold Porter Botanical Gardens This beautiful, secluded garden is set between mountain and sea, in the heart of the Cape fynbos region and encompasses 10 hectares of cultivated fynbos garden and 190.5 hectares of pristine natural fynbos.
It is only 100 km from Cape Town and on the coastal road of the Garden Route. Situated in the centre of the coastal fynbos where the flora is at its richest,...
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SOUTHERN AFRICA TRAVEL The Oak Suite, Guardian House,
Borough Road, Godalming, Surrey, GU7 2AE Tel: 01483 425533 Fax: 01483 860391 The air holiday packages on this website are ATOL protected
by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is 4795. Please see our booking
conditions for more information. Click on the ATOL logo above for more information.
Many thanks and credit to the following
photographers whose images have been used in this site: Michael Poliza, Colin
Bell, Dana Allen, David Ross, Nick Melidonas and Wilderness Safaris.
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HERMANUS WHALE WATCH TOUR
Full day
SHARK DIVING IN GANSBAAI
Full day
