I Love Witsand Because …

Updated Wednesday, 9 January 2019

Hi, I’m Clair Pienaar from Whale Watchers Inn in Witsand in the Cape Overberg, Western Cape.

WITSAND IS BEST KNOWN FOR being recognised as “The Whale Nursery “of South Africa, also for being situated at the mouth of the biggest estuary in South Africa, The Breede River is well known for fishing. Kite surfing near the river mouth has become very popular and our Blue Flag long open beaches and good swimming remains a favourite.

The Witsand area has a number of large Ostrich farms and during Spring you will see large flocks of our National Bird, the Blue Crane against the back drop of bright green wheat fields and bright yellow canola fields.

GET YOUR PICTURE TAKEN on the rocks in front of the Anchorage Restaurant, overlooking the beach to catch the wonderful holiday atmosphere of Witsand.

Witsand

THE BEST scenic PICTURES CAN BE TAKEN AT the bend in Barraccuda Street which overlooks the river, the mouth and beach with the beautiful backdrop of the Infanta mountain jutting out into the sea.

OTHER HAPPY SNAPS AT the “Old Jetty” next to the river – a popular fishing spot as well as at the launching area with fishing boats going into and coming out of the river.

WHEN THE WEATHER’S GOOD, I LIKE TO go for a long walk along the the lovely beach or enjoy soaking up the sun and swimming in the sea.

WHEN THE WEATHER’S BAD, and windy I LIKE TO watch the colourful Kite-surfers on the river.

Witsand

I THINK THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT IS August to end November, BECAUSE there is so much more to see at that time. We have many whales coming into our bay, Sebastian Bay, to give birth and stay until the end of the season, You have the blue cranes as I described above which is a wonderful sight and the proteas & fynbos are at their best at that time. Those who enjoy fishing find the best time to be in Witsand is January through to April / May. December & January are two months that are very popular with beach goers. The Kite surfers prefer October to end of March. We have perfect windless and cool weather in May. In June & July we have cold mornings and nights but beautiful crisp winter days.

MY FAVOURITE BREAKFAST SPOT IS Whale Watchers Inn. We serve the best breakfast is Witsand.

FOR LUNCH, I SUGGEST The Anchorage Restaurant.

MY FAVOURITE RESTAURANT IS The Anchorage, TRY THE fresh fish.

Witsand

FOR A NIGHT OUT ON THE TOWN TRY Sebastian’s.

IF YOU WANT TO MEET LOCALS, GO TO Sebastian’s Restaurant.

Witsand’s BEST KEPT SECRET IS its unspoilt beauty and tranquility.

MY FAVOURITE THING TO DO WITH FRIENDS IS have a picnic lunch or early evening snack & drinks at the tables at the beach watching the whales and their young frolicking in the waves.

Witsand
TO RELAX AND RESTORE MY SOUL, I LIKE TO go to the beach and just sit and watch the bathers or the kite-surfers or walk alongside the waters edge enjoying the beauty around me.

IF YOU’RE FEELING ADVENTUROUS, TRY Kite-surfing on the Breede River or go hiking across the river on the Infanta mountain and enjoy sitting at the point watching the dolphins out at sea.

MY FAVOURITE WALK IS Along Barracuda Street overlooking the Breede River from the sea / mouth of the river right up, especially in the late afternoon as the sun is setting over the river and the sea-gulls are flying overhead to settle on the beach near the mouth for the night, or (b) walking along the hiking trail below Baraccuda where you have much the same view but where you can enjoy the indigenous plant life.

MY FAVOURITE gift SHOP IS The Witsand Craft Market.

Witsand

MY FAVOURITE bird WATCHING SPOT IS to sit on the wooden deck at Whale Watchers Inn, overlooking the garden, watching the Cape Sugar birds and a variety of other birds feeding at the bird feeders OR sitting on the sand dunes in front of Whale Watchers Inn and watch the water birds, especially the Black Oyster Catchers ( which were on the red alert list in 1980) busy feeding on the rocks and in the rock pools.

IF YOU’RE HERE IN September / October, JOIN IN THE FUN AT the Baby Whale Festival.

MY FAVOURITE MUSEUM IS in Swellendam. Check out the Drosdy Museum.

MY FAVOURITE BUILDINGS ARE are the old stone fisherman cottages for their architecture, some still to be seen in the old part of Witsand.

Witsand

TRAVELLING WITH CHILDREN? A FUN OUTING IS to pack a picnic and take the children to experience going over the Breede River on the last hand operated pont. The children love to try & help the men pull the pont over the river.

BEST CHEAP AND CHEERFUL OUTING IS taking the children to the old jetty armed with their fishing rods and a few snacks. The children love trying their hand at fishing off the jetty. Those too young can enjoy playing in the sandy beach area next to the jetty.

WHEN MONEY’S NO OBJECT, I LIKE TO suggest that our guests go up the river by boat to the Boat House where they can enjoy the most amazing pizzas, especially the well known fig & blue cheese pizza.

Witsand

Witsand is situated where our guests are able to have a variety of day trips. In Spring I like to send guests across the pont at Malgas to the De Hoop Nature Reserve where they will see some game, proteas & fynbos as well as good sightings of the whales.

Another option is a wine tasting round trip to Barrydale, Montagu, Ashton and Robertson. In the Ashton / Robertson area they will also enjoy seeing some beautiful thoroughbred horse farms. A third option is a trip to the hamlet of Vermaaklikheid, at the mouth of the Duivenhoks river and on to Jongensfontein and Stilbaai. Hikers & cyclists would enjoy going to the Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve.

I Love Witsand BECAUSE there are very few other seaside resorts as beautiful and unspoilt as Witsand and it is a safe unspoilt haven overlooking the beautiful Sebastain Bay.

Witsand