Hi, I’m Steve from beautiful Pearly Beach on the Cape Whale Coast.
PEARLY BEACH IS BEST KNOWN as the place for relaxing and the stunning, seemingly endless pearly white sandy beaches.
GET YOUR PICTURE TAKEN on the beach with the mountains as a backdrop or, if you are really lucky, with a whale or two in the background!
WHEN THE WEATHER’S GOOD, I LIKE TO wander along the beach with my dogs and explore the rock pools at low tide.
WHEN THE WEATHER’S BAD, I LIKE TO batten down the hatches and watch the stormy seas from the whale deck and catch up with my reading.
I THINK THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT IS anytime! Anytime is the best time to visit Pearly Beach, BECAUSE in season, you will see the southern right whales up close, and maybe even a penguin, dolphin or seal if you’re lucky. In the summer, the beach is definitely the place to be!
MY FAVOURITE BREAKFAST SPOT IS up on the whale deck overlooking the bay, watching the whales “performing”. What better than to start the day spotting a whale or just watching the sea?
FOR LUNCH, I SUGGEST a picnic on the beach or tucked away in the dunes.
MY FAVOURITE RESTAURANT IS the local pub and restaurant The Rooibier, TRY THE spare ribs or freshly caught fish – simply delicious! You can find The Rooibier at 9 Law Street.
MY FAVOURITE fishing SPOT IS from the rocks in front of The Ark. There is plenty to try and catch all year round – there is nothing better than a fresh piece of fish. There are also mussels to prise off the rocks. Make sure you have a license to collect mussels though – its illegal if you don’t!
IF YOU WANT TO MEET LOCALS, GO TO the beach where you will find the fishermen. They are always willing to share a story or to tell you what’s biting … and what’s best on the hook!
PEARLY BEACH’S BEST KEPT SECRET IS that it has a huge number of whales and not a lot of people! Make sure you diarise a visit for the next whale season.
MY FAVOURITE THING TO DO WITH FRIENDS IS have a braai and beer with the sound of the sea in the background! The beauty of living in a small village is you need to make your own entertainment and a braai is always the best kind!
TO RELAX AND RESTORE MY SOUL, I LIKE TO walk anywhere where I can feel I am the only person on the planet – in and around Pearly Beach! Not much beats being the first person to plant a footprint on the beach on a new morning.
IF YOU’RE FEELING ADVENTUROUS, TRY saying hello to the Great White Sharks! From a cage, of course! This adrenalin junkie activity is hugely popular and an exciting way to see a Great White up close. We can organise this for you – just ask us.
MY FAVOURITE WALK IS along the beach to the old shipwrecked trawler about 5km’s away. If you carry on along in this direction you will come to the Uilendraals River.
MY FAVOURITE whale WATCHING SPOT IS from The Ark’s whale balcony – with a glass of wine in my hand! One never tires of seeing whales play and breach in the water. It’s even more special if calves are about.
IF YOU’RE HERE IN July, JOIN IN THE FUN AT at the local Fees van die Ganse and Fynbos show. The event celebrates the origins of Gansbaai and remembers the wild geese that flocked to the freshwater spring located in the harbour. One of the highlights is the winter Fynbos show. The festival attracts more than 10 000 visitors to the area.
MY FAVOURITE MUSEUM IS the Strandveld Museum. This is a small, privately owned museum at the cliffs of Franskraal.
CHECK OUT THE local history and artefacts from the famous Birkenhead shipwreck – the museum has the largest collection of relics of the HMT Birkenhead.
TRAVELLING WITH CHILDREN? A FUN OUTING IS to go exploring in the rock pools at low tide. Or a trip up the famous Danger Point Lighthouse is not to be missed. The lighthouse was erected in 1895 and the many steps to the top of the lighthouse can be climbed.
BEST CHEAP AND CHEERFUL OUTING IS the beach! And The Ark is only 200m from it!
THE MOST UNUSUAL THING I SEE HERE IS the odd penguin waddling down the beach towards me – and the puzzled look on my dogs’ faces!
IN ORDER TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY I joined the local committees dedicated to preserving Pearly Beach and its unique way of life.
I Love Pearly Beach BECAUSE it’s my home – and there’s no place like home!
Pearly Beach Links
- Pearly Beach Attractions
- Pearly Beach Accommodation
- Cape Whale Coast Accommodation
- Western Cape Accommodation
- Accommodation South Africa
Desirable Digits
Rooibier +27 (0)28 381-9044