Area Profiles

Komatipoort is situated in the area where the Crocodile River and Komati River come together. The name Komati originated from the original native Swazi called the River Nkomwzi, which means 'river if comes'. The name poort is named after where the Crocodile River and Komati River meet through the mountain pass (poort), flows through the Lebombo Mountains into Mozambique. Marketed as "more than just a stopover", Komatipoort is essentially a quaint, border post town just three kilometres from the Lebombo border post into Mozambique. Whilst this may make it sound like a quiet little town on the way to nowhere, nothing could be further from the truth. Komatipoort lies...

Marloth Park, situated on the banks of the Crocodile River, on the boundary of the Kruger National Park, is a wildlife sanctuary and holiday township. It houses four of the "Big Five" with the exception of elephants.  Lions, buffalo and rhino are confined to Marloth's game reserve "Lionspruit". The rest of the game such as giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, kudu, impala, bush buck, duiker and warthogs are not restricted by fences and roam freely between homes on 3000 ha. Marloth Park is a stopover point for tourists travelling to the Kruger National Park with easy access to Mozambique and Swaziland. It features a humid, subtropical climate with mild winters and hot...

The greater city area of Klerksdorp today incorporates the towns of Orkney, Kanana, Stilfontein, Khuma, Hartebeesfontein and Tigane to give it a population of more than 350,000 inhabitants (Census Statistics South Africa 2001). Klerksdorp is also fondly known as "Matlosane". Together with Rustenburg, Klerksdorp forms the economic heart of North West Province. It is still one of the hubs of the South African gold mining industry, although its importance has been decreasing in recent years. A major earthquake in 2004 caused significant damage to the eastern suburb of Stilfontein and caused widespread damage to the mining activities in that part of the city. In...

This sleepy little seaside village offers visitors to South Africa gorgeous overnight accommodation in Betty's Bay on the beach, with breath-taking views and a laid-back vibe. Although less developed than her neighbour, Hermanus, the Harold Porter Botanical Gardens and the resident penguin colony at Stony Point alone make a visit to Betty's Bay worth it. Betty's Bay is named after Betty Youlden, daughter of the first developer of the area Arthur Youlden The botanical garden of Harold Porter, which stretches from the mountain-top down to the sea, is known as 'little Kirstenbosch' and contains some of the best examples of local fynbos, including proteas, restios and...

Bloubergstrand is a seaside suburb of the City of Cape Town, South Africa, along the shores of Table Bay, 15 kilometres north of the city centre of Cape Town. The name Bloubergstrand literally means "blue mountain beach" in Afrikaans, and is derived from Blaauwberg, a nearby hill. Bloubergstrand is mainly a residential area. The beach at Bloubergstrand is a popular location for a classic view of Table Mountain across the bay. Robben Island is located 6.9 kilometres west of the coast of Bloubergstrand. Sprawled along the coast of Table Bay, Bloubergstrand is an idyllic place for a day out. With water activities such as surfing, kitesurfing and stand up paddling, this...

Like in the development of many other towns in South Africa, Bredasdorp originated when the Dutch Reformed Church was built in 1838 on the farm Langefontein. Michiel van Breda, the first mayor of Cape Town's Van Breda Estate, better known as Oranjezicht, had the Zoetendals Vallei farm and is also known as the father of South Africa's merino sheep industry after introducing the animals on his farm in 1817. The Overberg may legitimately be seen as the founding region of the wool industry. Today this area is still one of the most productive providers of wool with farmers who have stud sheep. In honour of the merino sheep, a merino statue has been erected at the entrance to...

Sea Point is the only sea-side suburb of Cape Town with significant high-rise development and this, along with other factors, has made it a very popular residential area, or for investing in first or second homes and apartments. Neighbouring areas like De Waterkant, Green Point and even Mouille Point are easily accessible via the bus, or even on foot. The Main Road is thick with restaurants serving global. Adjoining Sea Point is Three Anchor Bay. The beaches along this stretch are in the main covered with mussel shells thrown up by the ocean, unlike the beaches of Clifton and Camps Bay, which are sandy. Graaf's Pool, a beachfront tidal pool partially demolished in...

Hermanus is a popular holiday town on the southern coast of the Western Cape. It is world-famous for having fantastic land and boat based whale watching. Its scenic beauty, mild climate, outdoor activities, rich floral kingdom, and its close proximity to Cape Town make it the ideal base from which to explore the Cape Overberg. Experience the charm of this fishing village for yourself. Hermanus, originally called Hermanuspietersfontein, is famous for its whale industry. One can spot Southern Right Whales during winter and mid spring from the winding cliff paths, or for the more adventurous, by boat. Hermanus hosts an annual whale festival at the end of September to...

The Cape Overberg region in the province of the Western Cape comprises some of the most scenic and popular parts of South Africa. These include the shark cage diving Mecca of Gansbaai as well as the whale watching hub of Hermanus. Onrus is part of Hermanus and showcases the peaceful ambience and holiday vibe of the little town. The town comes alive every year between about October and January, thanks to the whales that frequent the coastline at this time. These include Southern Right, Humpback and killer whales, which stage wonderfully dramatic performances for those on the shore and on whale watching tours to enjoy. Every year, between 60 and 100 of these marine...

The little village of Vermont is usually spoken of in the same breath as its immediate neighbour, Onrus, and indeed, the two lie close together on the coast where the Onrus River runs into the sea via a lagoon, just over an hour's drive from Cape Town in the Greater Hermanus area. Vermont borders on Onrus and on a number of green belts created in an effort to maintain the inherent tranquillity and endemic fynbos and bird life in the area. Its name, which is derived from the French words 'mont vert' - meaning 'green mountain' - is after the American state of the same name and probably refers to the Onrust Mountain, which serves as a backdrop to the village. Vermont,...