Though you might not find a pumping nightlife and shopping malls in Arniston, there are still a myriad of outdoor activities to keep you occupied. Blissfully ignorant of the hustle and bustle of city life, this is truly where you can leave everything behind and head into the fields.

The historical coastline makes for great hiking trails that meander off into neighbouring fynbos fields. Filling your sights with endless skies and clear blue seas, the trails are the perfect way to discover the landscape. You can decide to discover on your own or let the knowledgeable guides lead the way through the rich area.

Eager to learn more about the local fishing culture? Why not arrange a walking tour of the Arniston shoreline and Kassiesbaai village. The tours can be accompanied by a guide or you can choose to let your imagination lead the way. Known as one of the oldest fishing villages in the country and declared a National Heritage Site, Kassiesbaai is not to be missed on your journey through the Overberg.

If you’re feeling up for a bit of a challenge, there is always the Sterna hiking trail. The trail leads you through the De Mond Nature Reserve and takes about 3 hours to complete. The hike showcases the changing vegetation of milkwood thickets to various types of fynbos all the way to the beach. 

Preferring to stick to the coastline, you can tackle the De Mond to Arniston trail instead. This criss-crossing trek starts off in Arniston leading you past nearby fishtraps, rock pools and the Waenhuiskrans cave. Supplying hikers with a real coastal treat of the area, the trail takes about 4 hours to complete.

Travelling with the family, you might rather prefer to hit the beach. The pure sandy beaches of Arniston resemble those of Mozambique and provide the perfect excuse for camping out and soaking up the sun all day long. The beautiful aquamarine water, just like its counterpart, is safe for swimming and delightfully warm thanks to the coast-hugging Mozambique ocean current. The sun-kissed sand offers up hours of fun for the whole family. Whether it’s building sandcastles or heading into the dunes for some dune-surfing, the golden sand of Arniston will keep you entertained. Following the lead of the locals, you can also do some angling from the cliffs while the kids play around in the rock pools scattered along the shoreline.  

The highlight of everyone’s outdoor adventure is of course a visit to the famous Waenhuiskrans Cave. Once the claim to the town’s very name, the awe-inspiring cave, no doubt the hide-out for many a weary creature, seems to make the outside world a brighter place. Looking out over the calm Indian Ocean, it truly gives you a sense of being transported back in time. And maybe, if you’re lucky, you might even see the flash of green light as the sun sets behind the easy waves.

Arniston holds true to its name as a town lost in time and as you trek through the landscapes, you feel the untouched nature pulling you in and persuading you to stay.  And who wouldn’t want to stay and spend the days soaking up the sun in this paradise, following in the footprints of the generations before?

For a change in scenery head into any direction and discover the neighbouring towns of Cape Agulhas.