According to Forbes, "recent research from San Francisco State University found that people who spent money on experiences rather than material items were happier and felt the money was better spent. The thrill of purchasing things fades quickly but the joy and memories of experiences, from epic adventures to minute encounters, can last a lifetime."
Rather than racking up debt in a difficult economy, buying things that you don’t need and then starting a new year with financial baggage creating even more stress, this holiday, take a shift in focus and invest in experiences and opt to create unforgettable memories which last forever.
The Overberg abounds with little gems of experiences which brings to heart the magic of country life.
Focusing in and around the coastal town of Gansbaai, known as the natural adventure tourism destination, we’ve put together a list of exciting and off-the-beaten-track type activities from relaxing and lazy to high energy and exhilaration.
Gansbaai is well-known for its shark cage diving and whale watching activities, but so much more lies waiting for discovery around this town.
Hike amongst the most diverse Fynbos to be found anywhere in the world and tuck into the Walkerbay Nature Reserve which is a massive 16 000 hectares of lowland Fynbos and Forest. What makes the heart of the Cape Floral Kingdom so exceptional, is that it is the smallest of the world’s six floral kingdoms and is home to more types of indigenous plants than any similar sized area on earth. 70% of the plant species found here, can be found nowhere else on our planet.
Explore ruins in Klipgat Caves left by the first human settlers, as far back as 80 000 years ago. As only one of three locations in the country where such old ruins have been unearthed, this is a very important historical site in the Western Cape and it’s open to the public, so indulge your history sense this December holiday, and travel back in time far, far away.
The sea around Danger Point hides secrets as dark as its deep blue waters and beneath lie 140 wrecks; the most famous of them being the HMS Birkenhead, which struck a rock at 02:00 on the morning of the 26th February 1851 and sank. The Strandveld Museum on the coast of Franskraal is home to a huge number of relics and artifacts from the HMS Birkenhead, where you can submerge yourself in the bravery shown by the sailors and captain where the ‘Woman and Children first’ protocol was first to carry out and has been protocol ever since.
As the Gansbaai region only has a population of about 12000, the light pollution is minimal and the dark skies which stretch across the land and sea make for the most beautiful stargazing evenings. The Southern Cape Astronomy Club in Pearly Beach regularly hosts stargazing and astronomy evenings. With their sophisticated telescopes and observatory, you’ll be able to glimpse far into the past, beyond our Milky Way and neighbouring galaxies and journey to parts of the sky only a few have ever seen.
Another bucket-list activity on almost everyone’s list is the thrill and freedom that comes from horse-riding on a large vast pristine beach. And so, we’ve added that to our list of magical experiences. Rondebosch Riding School in Pearly Beach offers a safe environment for riding instruction for all ages as well as trails in the area. With the long days of summer, opt for either an early morning beach ride or, for the hopeless romantic, the sunset rides and trails are perfect. It is an experience for the whole family which will undoubtedly create magical memories which time cannot fade.
A little beyond Gansbaai, you’ll find boutique wine estates such as Lomond, Black Oystercatcher and Strandveld Winery, all who boast a selection of cool-climate red and white wines. The wine farms in this area have a very specific terroir as well as its particular climate, due to its close proximity to the most Southern Point of Africa and bask in the cool crisp winds off the Atlantic Ocean. Definitely a must-do wine region for those who enjoy the fruits of the diverse Cape Wine Regions.
The quant mission town of Elim offers an insightful tour of this postcard-pretty town and then head off a bit further to Bredasdorp and visit the Maritime Museum, which focuses primarily on the shipwrecks along the dangerous southern Cape coast and their influence on the development of the Strandveld.
If you enjoy the wonders of wildlife and are passionate about their conservation, then Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary in Stanford is a must visit. Panthera Africa is an educational platform and a wonderfully enlightening experience about each different species, their uniqueness, and heartening personalities. Here, you’ll be able to observe, photograph and revel in the presence of the majestic brown and white lions, leopards, both spotted and black leopards, the formidable Bengal tigers and remarkable caracals. But please book in advance, as it’s a must do on everyone’s list.
And of course, tasting your way through this beautiful region is all too easy, with picturesque farms in Stanford such as Klein Rivier Cheese Farm where you can indulge in cheese tasting and picnics, and a little further up the road, tuck into the delicious selection of soft cheese from Stone House Cheese Estate.
For something a bit sweeter, the Stanford Honey Co. offers very interesting honey tasting and a vast selection of honey and wax products for the conscientious consumer wanting a more natural choice in products.
Birkenhead Brewery also found nestled along the Klein Rivier in Stanford, offers craft beer tasting as well as wine tasting from Walkerbay Wines, where you can tuck into a relaxing pub lunch under the trees on the sprawling lawns with the majestic mountains as your backdrop.
Chances are high that you’ll run out of holiday time before you run out of things to do in this beautiful region of the Western Cape with its endless sights and sounds and places to experience.
Another point to remember when visiting is that water is a very precious and scarce resource and needs to be treated with respect and sparingly. As fireworks are completely prohibited in this area, this little town will be sure to leave you starry eyes with memories which don’t fizzle out with a big bang.
The people of the region are passionate about conservation and you would find that while leaving only your footprints on the sand in the Overberg, she’ll leave her mark on your heart and send you back home rejuvenated and with a renewed vigor for the New Year.
The two-hour drive from Cape Town, with choices of driving through the rolling farms of Caledon and Stanford, or either via Botrivier and Hermanus, or a special awe-inspiring drive along the coast, you’ll start to relax before you’ve even reached your destination in the Overberg.
With the endless growth the Western Cape is experiencing, popular areas such as Hermanus, Hemel and Aarde Valley, and Vermont are busting at the seams and the Overberg is enjoying a newfound interest from those seeing the charm that comes with small towns of the Cape.
And with the stresses of day-to-day life, the need to ‘get away’ is on everybody’s lips. So while you’re exploring the magic of the Overberg, come chat with us at Romansbaai Beach and Fynbos Estate in Danger Point, about how we can assist you in owning your own piece of this charming small fishing town in the Overberg.
We look forward to welcoming you. Contact Claudine J Wheeler & Associates (Pty) Ltd to find out more.
