Winter Adventures in Gansbaai
Wondering what to do this Winter? Feeling adventurous? Visit Gansbaai for 2 excellent reasons, apart from all the obvious ones.
What we love about Gansbaai and surrounds
Our family has been living in Centurion, Gauteng, like almost forever... mostly my in-laws and then I joined them in 1996. There is a little story on how we stumbled onto the small little fishing town, we now know and love so well.
I remember we once went to a resort with the children over the December holiday, the children were still very small and the holiday didn't work out as planned as the entire resort's water was under pressure because of stringent water restrictions then. So understandably, my irritation levels were a little under pressure as well trying to keep children, dishes and apartment clean with limited water... and to top it all there was a local singer that made it's his mission to make sure we all knew the words of "Wie maak vir Gansbaai lekker" (directly translated: Who makes Gansbaai lekker) - a very popular Afrikaans song then and almost like the anthem of Gansbaai today! So needless to say, we did learn the words of the song and never thought that one day I will find myself so in love with Gansbaai! Back then not even knowing where in the world Gansbaai was...
So, years has passed since our drought-stricken holiday till we bought the house in No. 5 Long Street De Kelders, Gansbaai. A dear friend invited us to family of his in Gansbaai and the rest is history.
The house we bought was very old. Log house on top of an old garage type of design, but it had potential, perfect location and spectacular views!
With the help of our friend in Gansbaai, we managed to build the house in one year. It was completely demolished and made way for a modern 3 storey house, 6-en suite bedrooms each with 180-degree views, but that is not what I want to write about today... I want to show from my and the family's perspective what we so love about Gansbaai:
- Coming from Gauteng it is a tonic to arrive in the Overberg, taking the scenic route from CPT international via Caledon, Stanford and then Gansbaai, especially during the winter when the canola fields cover miles of endless vistas.
- The people of Gansbaai is what makes it special. The community is friendly, accommodating, relaxed and are not phased or impressed by unimportant things.
- The town is proud of what they have to offer. It's clean - no litter in the streets, buildings get wrapped in a new paint coat every so often, there is a variety of restaurants, enough supermarkets to choose from. https://xplorio.com/gansbaai/en/about/
- One of the main attractions for us is of course the old harbour with all the fishing boats with names like Kolgans and Blougans! Visiting the fish shop for the "catch of the day" and on a beautiful day also some Crayfish! https://xplorio.com/gansbaai/en/about/gallery/image-gallery/harbours/?media=image
- Being a keen hiker there is enough trails to let your feet wander for as far as you can go. Duiwelsgat hiking trail, all along the shore, has fascinating rock formations on the cliffs, small fresh waterfalls and resting points where one can just sit and let your mind drift overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. https://xplorio.com/gansbaai/en/things-to-do/outdoor-adventures/hiking-trails/
- A day exploring Die Plaat in Walker Bay Nature Reserve with its unspoiled white beach and limestone rocks stretching between Gansbaai and Hermanus is like being on your own island and nature spoiling you to the core. For the brave, at the entrance of the reserve is, what feels like a thousand stairs, that leads to the Klipgat Cave with a secluded beach, that unfolds into a canvas of caves and waves - jaw-droppingly beautiful! http://blog.sa-venues.com/provinces/western-cape/5-nature-reserves-in-gansbaai/
- The whales! Always a treat to see them emerging and if you're lucky they will show off to everyone’s amazement. https://xplorio.com/gansbaai/en/things-to-do/whale-watching/
- A drive out to Kleinbaai to see where the shark boats go out to Dyer Island to do some shark diving and then to stroll around and have lunch at the Boat House with the life-size whale skeleton hanging from the ceiling. https://www.sharkdiving.co/?gclid=CjwKCAjwnIr1BRAWEiwA6GpwNcn5AdfzNJY-r7IVlKapsHC1a26anAqtJq8heg9j-GNv_3h6U6fIohoC2qMQAvD_BwE
- Gansbaai surrounds are gems to be found. The picturesque towns of Stanford and Baardskeerdersbos have a wealth of art and history and lots of character. http://www.overberg.co.za/content/view/39/27/
- Then last but not the least is a day trip to Arniston/Waenhuiskrans via Napier and Bredasdorp and to visit the Arniston Hotel and Kassiesbaai Fishing Village with its white clay walls and thatch roofs. At the foot of the most Southern point of Africa, you can have your picture taken with the most spectacular backdrops - aquamarine water embracing the shoreline of Waenshuiskrans Nature Reserve and De Mond Nature Reserve. https://xplorio.com/arniston/
Today is 24 April 2020.
Day 29 of 35. May we never have to repeat this time in history again and may we all have the courage to face the challenges ahead with dignity, compassion and newly found inspiration and insight.
Be Safe!
"Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it" - Charles R. Swindoll
