Eco Tourism

From the whales derived the ability to host an annual festival, called the Baby Whale Festival.  This event takes place over the weekend of 24 till 26 September 2010 in the heart of Witsand.
The main object of the festival is to attract tourists to the area for whale watching.
Some of the funds derived from this festival will be put towards the supporting of Huis Zenobia du Toit in Heidelberg (Old Age Home), the Vondeling Primary School and the NSRI of Witsand.

WHALE WATCHING - “THE” WHALE NURSERY OF SOUTHERN AFRICA

It was the Southern Right Whales that put Witsand on the map, especially in the 90’s, because St. Sebastian Bay is considered the “Whale Nursery of South Africa”. Investigating from a helicopter in October 1999, Dr Best, a whale expert, confirmed a count of 233 whales in the bay. An official helicopter count done in October 2000 revealed 34 cow-calf pairs in the Bay, and 74 off De Hoop. Another whale count done from a helicopter in 2009 resulted in a count of as many as 117 adults and 49 calves, confirming Witsand’s reputation as THE whale nursery of South Africa. Whale watching season starts in June and lasts until November each year. On a good day, a whale watcher may observe up to 70 capering whales.   

In spring, calving Southern Right whales cruise up and down the coastline, close to shore. 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. Southern Right whales are the least understood of all the world’s great whales. Weighing up to 58 tons, and with the largest and most highly evolved mammalian brains on earth; Southern Right Whales have inhabited the great southern oceans for about 60 million years.

They are now becoming the focus of intense scientific and tourist interest, and are set to play a major role in the global, multi-billion dollar whale watching industry.

4 x 4 Routes

The route originated in the middle 80’s when tractors used the road. The present 9 kilometers can be seen as a nature route due to the fact that there are various points on the farm where you can look out onto the sea. An extra special treat is to be on the dunes from May till November when the whales come to Witsand to calf. A tougher route is a grade 3 to 4 route. This route can only be tried under the guidance of a trained guide. Contact: Guy/Lorraine Moodie: 028 537 1911

Ostrich Trails

Waterkloof Guest House was the very first free range ostrich show farm on the Garden Route. The world’s largest bird in its natural environment can be experienced. Have you ever seen 500 ostriches come sprinting across a field toward you or held a day old chick in your hand? Then our farm is the best place to experience this. Our ostriches are gathered up by Border Collies.
We are set amongst the magnificent backdrop of the Langeberg mountain range, combined with typical farming activities of the area. Words do not do justice to this truly unique farming method. Come and experience South African hospitality with ostrich cuisine at its best as well as ostrich products for sale. Contact:  Hannes/Christine Uys: 028 722 1811.

Municipal camping facilities

Witsand offers the above facility with easy accessibility to the sea. The site is situated in a quiet area of Witsand, yet close to nature and in easy reach of the small, friendly village. Here you will find a supermarket, post office, petrol pump and a choice of churches. All of these are in walking distance from your campsite.