Top Attractions

1. The Shipwreck Museum

Discover the gloomy yet romantic history of the 150 ships that came to their doom along the rocky outlets of the Cape Agulhas coastline. Find out more about the stories surrounding the inception of the “women and children first” maritime evacuation protocol and the fable of a stowaway playing the piano on shipwrecks. 

A walk through South Africa’s only shipwreck museum in Bredasdorp will tease your imagination and take you back in time. 

The oldest shipwreck noted dates back to 1673 and since then ships representing many different nationalities have washed up on the rocky shore. Since the wreckage and many of their precious artefacts would be taken with the ocean current to shore, a horse-drawn wagon would be sent from Cape Town to collect the valuables. These would subsequently be auctioned. Greed eventually led auctioneers to falsely imitate lighthouses and lure unknowing seamen to their untimely deaths for an early auction. You can learn about these stories and see artefacts such as portholes, jewellery, coins, figureheads, anchors, and canons at the museum which is perfect for group tours and solo travellers.

2. Historic Churches

Historic churches play an important role in Bredasdorp’s history. The town formed around the Old Dutch Reformed Church ten years after it was built, and today it is still a central feature. Other than the old church there are more than 30 churches representing many denominations dotted through the town. Glass-stained windows and stone walls are a common feature as is the old graveyard where many churches held burials.

3. Heuningberg Nature Reserve

The Heuningberg Nature Reserve was first proclaimed as the Bredasdorp Nature Reserve in 1964. At the time it was 68 hectares and was comprised of old quarries. In 1986 the reserve was named Heuningberg Nature Reserve and extended to 800 hectares. Most of the Heuningberg Mountain falls in the reserve and to the South, 400 hectares is private property. 

Eps Joubert, a local school teacher, realised the potential and natural beauty of the reserve and began the hiking trails. Joubert also put effort into removing alien vegetation and rehabilitating the indigenous vegetation. The garden terraces were initially designed to restore the land and were first planted with roses and soon replaced with indigenous plants.

Outdoor enthusiasts, adventurous walkers and avid botanists searching for the Bredasdorp lily will adore the reserve! Home to Heuningberg Mountain, it offers spectacular panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. 

To the North you can look across the Rûens to the Riviersonderend Mountains, to the South is the coastal town of Struisbaai and to the East lays quaint Arniston and Soetanysberg. 

There are more than 260 different species within the reserve and 34 are endemic. The Bredasdorp lily is hyper-endemic to the reserve and sightings of it sought-after by many keen botanists. One can also find the likes of orchids, proteas, painted ladies, everlastings, and the famous Erica on the plant list. 

There are rumours of an elusive leopard that roams the grounds but you are more likely to spot the shy grysbok, duiker and klipspringer. 

4. Farming Community Events

Michiel van Breda played several roles in Bredasdorp. The town was named after him and he was the first to bring sheep to his farm, which subsequently gave birth to the merino sheep industry. The sheep were imported to the Cape 200 years ago and have since played a major role in the area. 

Today the region is still considered the cradle of the South African wool industry, and much of it is exported to Australia. There are about 45 stud farmers, the most prolific in the country. In honour of this great accomplishment, a Merino Ram Statue was erected to honour its value to the Overberg.

Sheep farming is not the only farming however, there are grain, ostrich, wheat and fig farms to name a few. 

Agri Mega Week is an annual event that brings all farmers and agricultural stockholders together. The entire family can join the festivities as everyone celebrates the farming community and shares valuable information.