Roxanne Reid
  • Home
  • Book author
    • Travels in the Kalahari >
      • Photo gallery: Travels in the Kalahari
      • Book reviews: Travels in the Kalahari
    • A Walk in the Park >
      • Photo gallery: A Walk in the Park
      • Book reviews: A Walk in the Park
    • The Essential Guide to Self-Editing >
      • Book reviews: Essential Guide to Self-Editing
    • Betrayed
    • Book reviews online
  • Editing & proofreading
  • In the media
    • Travel features
    • Health features
    • Online media
    • Media kit
  • Blog
  • Testimonials
  • Links
  • Contact

Things to do in Gansbaai in the Overberg

2/12/2015

8 Comments

 
Klipgat Cave, De Kelders
By Roxanne Reid
​
Gansbaai won Gold for being the best destination for responsible travel in the World Responsible Tourism Awards in London in 2015, competing against destinations from across the world. So what are some of the things to do in Gansbaai in the Overberg?

​What is responsible travel? On the one hand, it's when tourism companies and travellers take responsibility to protect and conserve animals and the natural environment, respect local cultures, and contribute to a better quality of life for local communities. On the other hand, it’s also about giving travellers better, more authentic experiences.

Gansbaai, just a two-hour drive from Cape Town in South Africa's beautiful Overberg, is Adventure Central, offering some of the best boat- and shore-based whale watching and white-shark diving in the country. (See 1 below for what makes these activities 'responsible'.)
Whale-watching, Gansbaai
In the area too, the Agulhas Biodiversity Initiative promotes sustainable use of natural resources and new standards of picking indigenous flowers through its Flower Valley Conservation Trust. The locals get involved in clearing invasive aliens and there’s an early childhood development programme to benefit the local community.

Many of the local accommodation options in and around Gansbaai, from top-end luxury lodges to simple self-catering cottages, have committed to an eco-friendly, sustainable approach. For instance, they minimise their use of non-renewable power, grow their own produce and recycle water. They also contribute to poverty relief and upliftment projects that benefit the local community. Among these places to stay are Whalesong Lodge, Farm 215 and the luxury but expensive Grootbos Private Nature Reserve.

10 things to do in and around Gansbaai
Things to do in Gansbaai: whale-watching, Gansbaai
1. Go whale watching or shark cage diving. Fair Trade Tourism-certified companies like Marine Dynamics, White Shark Projects and Dyer Island Cruises offer responsible whale and shark experiences. Among other things, this means obeying the rule of keeping 300-metres away from any whales (unless they decide to come closer of their own accord) and actively contributing to research and conservation of whales and great white sharks, not to mention African penguins and other seabirds. You’ll find a marine biologist on board your whale-watching or shark-diving boat, sharing stories of the threats to marine life in the area and efforts that are being made to protect it. June to November are the best months for seeing southern right whales, though you can also see Bryde’s and humpback whales in other months.
What to do in Gansbaai: shark cage diving, Gansbaai
2. Go horse-riding. Choose between half- or full-day outride along the beach or in the mountain fynbos, or sign up for an overnight trail across private nature reserves, farms and vineyards.
3. Grab your binos and try to spot some of the area’s 250 bird species.
4. Hike along the coast from Gansbaai to Klipgat Cave in De Kelders (see photo in the intro).
5. Visit the Danger Point lighthouse where the Birkenhead was wrecked in 1852.
Danger Point lighthouse
Danger Point lighthouse
6. Join a township tour at Masakhane Township and help spread the economic benefits of tourism into the hands of its less advantaged people.
7. Find peace along a forest trail or have a picnic at Platbos, South Africa’s southernmost indigenous forest, where more than 22,000 new trees have been planted in the past decade.
Platbos forest trail
Platbos forest trail
8. Do the overnight Fynbos Trail. Hike through coastal and mountain fynbos of the Cape Floral Kingdom, which is the smallest and richest floral kingdom in the world. Some 75% of the plant species are endemic (that is, they occur nowhere else on earth). Choose two or three nights, fully catered, guided slackpacking or self-guided/self-catering.
Penguins, African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary
9. Visit the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary which treats and rehabilitates injured or diseased birds.
Honey Bee Suite, Platbos
Honey Bee Suite, Platbos
10. Stay a night or two in the area. Something a little different is the eco-friendly, off-grid Honey Bee Suite at Platbos. It’s under a tree canopy in a forest clearing, with romantic candlelight at night, separate kitchen deck and open-air shower. Walk a forest trail, enjoy the simplicity, relax in a hammock, listen to the birds; you may even meet a bushbuck or tree frog. (If you can't get into Honey Bee, try Platbos’ new Bushbuck Suite.)

Like it? Pin this image!
You may also enjoy
Agulhas National Park: everything you need to know
​Endless Vineyards: things to do in Botrivier in the Overberg


Copyright © Roxanne Reid - No words or photographs on this site may be used without permission from roxannereid.co.za
Gansbaai, responsible travel in South Africa #Gansbaai #travel #SouthAfrica
Things to do in and around Gansbaai, from whalewatching and shark cage diving, a penguin sanctuary and more
8 Comments
Shalene Pirker link
3/12/2015 11:26:14 am

Hi Roxanne,
We have a guesthouse in De Kelders near Gansbaai and we just wanted to thank you for your wonderful post about our area. Not many people know about the many treasures this region offers and it is heart-warming to see such a well researched and presented article. Shalene & Gerhard Pirker

Reply
Roxanne link
4/12/2015 08:16:44 am

You're welcome, Shalene. Thanks for taking time to leave a comment - and for the compliment.

Reply
Brenda link
3/12/2015 12:24:09 pm

What a wonderful article. We are very lucky that permitted whale watching boats are in fact allowed up to 50m to whales. It is also acceptable if whales approach the boat which is of course a fantastic moment for the people on board, as per the stunning photo. We truly are blessed to live in this very special place. Thank you promoting our beautiful town.

Reply
Roxanne link
4/12/2015 08:15:36 am

Thanks for your comments, Brenda. And thanks to Gansbaai for caring enough to operate its tourism in a responsible way. Its shining beacon for others to aspire to.

Reply
Lori from SavingWIld.com link
3/12/2015 07:04:53 pm

Ok I am drooling right about now. I have shared because I think it is great info for anyone traveling to SA. Thanks

Reply
Roxanne link
4/12/2015 08:13:29 am

It is drool-worthy, isn't it? And great to know it's being done in a responsible way. Thanks for sharing, Lori.

Reply
susan
3/12/2015 09:36:10 pm

I was surprised that a South African company would win such a prestige award. I always thought that shark diving and whale watching companies pushed the limits. Well done to them!!

Reply
Roxanne link
4/12/2015 08:12:25 am

South Africa is better in some respects than people give us credit for, Susan!

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Get email links to the latest posts

    Buy my books
    Travels in the Kalahari, amazon.com e-book
    E-book 2012​

    A Walk in the Park, amazon.com e-book
    2nd ed e-book 2015
    The Essential Guide to Self-Editing, amazon.com e-book
    E-book 2017

    About 

    I'm an independent travel writer and book editor with a passion for Africa - anything from African travel, people, safari and wildlife to adventure, heritage, road-tripping and slow travel.
    My travel buddy and husband Keith is the primary photographer for this blog.
    We're happiest in the middle of nowhere, meeting the locals, trying something new, or simply watching the grass grow.
    Use this website to discover new places to go, revisit places you've loved, or take a virtual tour of destinations you only dream about.

    Categories

    All
    Baviaanskloof
    Books
    Botswana
    Camping
    Cape Town
    Chobe
    Conservation
    Drc
    Eastern Cape
    Etosha Namibia
    Food
    Free State
    Garden Route
    Gauteng
    Issues
    Kalahari
    Karoo
    Kenya
    Kruger National Park
    Kwazulu Natal
    Lesotho
    Limpopo
    Linyanti
    Malawi
    Mozambique
    Mpumalanga
    Namaqualand
    Namibia
    Nature Parks
    Northern Cape
    Okavango
    Overberg
    People
    Photography
    Richtersveld
    Tanzania
    West Coast
    Western Cape
    Wild Creatures
    Zambia
    Zimbabwe

    Archives

    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    January 2010
    November 2009


Copyright © Roxanne Reid - No words or photographs on this site may be used without written permission from roxannereid.co.za

Privacy Policy and GDPR compliance
​* We promise that we take data safety seriously and use your private data only to offer a personalised experience
* If you subscribed to our newsletter, you will receive our newsletters. You can always unsubscribe by following the link in email or by emailing us
* If you gave us your name, it will only be used to personalise the newsletters
* We have never sold, we are not selling, and we will not sell any of your personal data provided to us
* The blog uses cookies to track activity. It is anonymous except for telling us your location and what you did on our blog
​
Photo used under Creative Commons from berniedup