Activities in Witsand

The Whales

Each year these majestic mammals come to our shores between June and late November to mate and calf. Witsand enjoys the lion’s share of this visit due to the bay being the prime nursery for cow/calf pairs.

Hike the Whale Trail, a 54 km trail renowned for its diverse fynbos vegetation, magnificent dunes and whale watching opportunities. On the trial you will experience breathtaking views of the Indian Ocean and Breede River Valley.
Fishing

Estuary fishing in the Breede River is recognised as the best in SA. The Breede River mouth is regarded as one of South Africa's top fishing locations. The upper reaches of the river are renowned for its bass, while the lower reaches are a Cob fisherman's paradise - Cob exceeding 50kg in weight are regularly caught in the river. The rock angler will also have good catches along the coastline.

Eco / Wildlife

De Hoop Nature and Marine Reserve is a popular destination for people and whales alike. The reserve hosts
3 000 ha of unspoilt Cape fynbos and a marine protected area which is home to an abundance of marine organisms. De Hoop is home to the endangered and rare Cape mountain zebras and Cape vultures, the bontebok, the De Hoop vlei and the best whale watching between July and November. De Hoop's rich diversity of wildlife, plants and culture makes it a unique experience to visitors.

De Mond Nature Reserve lies at the mouth of the Heuningnes River. The 954 ha reserve is managed as a satellite of the De Hoop Nature Reserve. It supports several species of small animals and has a rich and varied birdlife, making it ideal for birdwatching. The reserve is particularly important for the protection of breeding colonies of the threatened Damara and Caspian terns (South Africa's most endangered coastal bird) and the rare African black oystercatcher, (South Africa's second most threatened coastal bird).

Bird watching along the Breede River is spectacular. The majestic Fish Eagle, the Osprey, Fish Owl, Kingfisher, Oyster Catcher, the Blue Crane and an amazing variety of other birds are often seen along the banks of the Breede.

Beaches

Safe beaches offer tranquil walking and swimming. Beautiful in the windless and mild winter days. Bird watching (+/- 260 species) of which the Blue Crane, Flamingo, Ostrich, a variety of Herons, Fish eagle and Kingfishers are all part.

The area is renowned for all kinds of watersport. Swimming, surfing, windsurfing, deep sea and river fishing, rock, boat & fly fishing, river cruises, canoeing, sailing, spear-fishing, snorkeling and skiing are all to be enjoyed.
Water-skiing on the Breede River is allowed beyond the 5D-mark, where the Slang River flows into the Breede River, towards Malgas.
Windsurfing, kite surfing, canoeing or sailing is possible and popular on the Breede River, especially in the summer months when the wind picks up.