Swellendam
Swellendam located in the Western Cape is a nice town with a rich history and the third oldest city in the country, after Cape Town and Stellenbosch, founded in 1745. Explore the village on foot and view the beautiful old buildings at your leisure. Swellendam is located in a beautiful green valley at the foot of the Langenberg Mountains, a small oasis in itself!
It is a quiet town known for its berries, architecture and history. Swellendam was once the last outpost of civilization in the east of the Western Cape, making it a lively trading place. Now strategically located between Cape Town and George, it is a place that is liked by tourists in transit. Numerous coffee shops with pleasant terraces, but also nice restaurants and small shops make your stay here more than pleasant.
Staying in Swellendam means of course a visit to the Drostdy museum, built by the VOC in 1747. Furthermore, this area is a wonderful place to go into nature. Take a walk along the Breede River and be surprised by the beauty and diversity of nature. The Cape mountain zebra, the gray roe deer but also the exuberant bird life makes your walk into something special. On the river it is possible to go canoeing or river rafting and in the nearby area you can go horse riding and mountain biking.
Nature parks in and around Swellendam that you can visit are:
The Marloth Nature Reserve, this runs from the village to the top of the Langeberg mountains. Here you walk through native forests, past the unique Cape Fynbos and wild flowers to waterfalls. You may encounter klipspringer, diver, deer and leopard along the way. The latter is of course not that easy to trace.
Bontebok National Park is located just outside the village (6 km) and a must for hiking and nature lovers. The park was established to protect the bontebok and you can find it in the park today. Other antelopes, goats and small game are also found here. You can explore the park with your own car, have a picnic or go for a nice walk.
The Marloth Nature Reserve, this runs from the village to the top of the Langeberg mountains. Here you walk through native forests, past the unique Cape Fynbos and wild flowers to waterfalls. You may encounter klipspringer, diver, deer and leopard along the way. The latter is of course not that easy to trace.
Bontebok National Park is located just outside the village (6 km) and a must for hiking and nature lovers. The park was established to protect the bontebok and you can find it in the park today. Other antelopes, goats and small game are also found here. You can explore the park with your own car, have a picnic or go for a nice walk.
In Swellendam there is also the possibility to play golf, unfortunately it is a 9-hole course but it has a beautiful view of the Langenberg Mountains.
Please note that many stores close early on Saturday afternoons and are closed all day Sunday.
