Spring in the Overberg is typically sold to us in shades of yellow, pink and purple. There are countless flower routes, flower fields and endless images of roads disappearing into carpets of colour. But the Overberg doesn’t have to be just about chasing the spring blooms.
Driving towards the De Hoop Nature Reserve, South Africa / John Cameron / Unsplash
Try taking the longer route through the Overberg. Follow the roads from orchard country to old country villages, stopping whenever something looks worth getting out of the car for. Spring is especially a good time for this kind of trip. The days are getting longer, the countryside is finally waking up after winter and, along the coast, southern right whales are returning to the bays.
We’re taking you on the route that gives you ample excuses to stay just a little bit longer.
Take the scenic way into the Overberg
From Cape Town head towards the Elgin Valley. Here, the landscape noticeably changes from city to farmland. Elgin Valley is a fruit-growing region, and spring brings apple and pear orchards into bloom.
And so, the valley becomes the first stop on your road trip. Enjoy a slow breakfast or simply just a warm cup of coffee, then spend some time exploring the farm stalls and food producers. Peregrine Farm Stall remains a popular stop for locally sourced produce, homemade breads and pastries.
If you have enough time, or rather, make the time to visit the Elgin Railway Market on your next stop. Housed in a former apple warehouse, the market brings together food, drinks, craft and local producers beneath the old industrial roof.
Spend your Friday night somewhere in the Elgin Valley, perhaps on a farm or somewhere surrounded by the countryside. Give yourself the experience of waking up in a place that subtly offers you the heady feeling of being free and adventurous.
Spring is when the valley starts inviting you to stay outside for longer, whether that means sitting down for lunch, walking around a farm or lingering over a glass of something local.
Trade the orchards for country roads
When you’re ready, say your goodbyes and head towards Greyton. The village sits beneath the Riviersonderend mountains and is one of those places where the pace seems to change as soon as you arrive. Its tree-lined streets, historic buildings and flowing rivers lend themselves to wandering rather than sightseeing.
You don’t need to commit to an epic hike. Greyton has everything from easy walks to more challenging mountain trails, with the landscape offering rivers and views across the mountains.
For something a little bit more ambitious, the Boesmanskloof trail begins in Greyton and passes through the dramatic gorge towards McGregor. It is a 14km route each way and is generally approached as an overnight hike, so unless you’ve planned around it, it’s best saved for your next trip.
If you’re just wanting to slow down and move with softer paces, then Greyton welcomes you as well. Walk through town. Stop for coffee. Browse the little shops. Find lunch. Then give yourself an hour or two where you have absolutely nothing planned.
Follow the Klein River to Stanford
From Greyton, continue towards Stanford. Stanford is only 23km beyond Hermanus, but it feels worlds away from the busier coastal town. This town can be explored on foot, so if you happen to arrive on a Saturday, make time for the morning market. The Stanford Hotel’s Saturday market runs from 09:00am to 12:00pm, with fresh produce, artisanal bakes, homemade cheeses and other local food.
It’s exactly the sort of market that makes sense on a road trip because it allows you to plan the rest of your day around what you’ve found.
Stanford offers river cruises, kayaking, hiking, mountain biking and heritage walks, so there is plenty to do if you feel like being active. If you don’t, the village is perfectly suited to doing very little.
Head for Hermanus
By late afternoon, begin making your way towards Hermanus. This is where the trip changes character as the agricultural landscapes give way to coastal views.
And spring brings one of the Overberg’s biggest seasonal arrivals with it. Southern right whales return to Walker Bay between June and November to mate and calve, with September, October and November generally regarded as some of the best months for sightings.
You don’t need a boat to experience this monumental sighting. The Hermanus Cliff Path stretches for around 12km along the coastline, providing you with viewpoints overlooking Walker Bay. Depending on weather conditions, whales can sometimes be seen remarkably close to shore.
If you walk part of the path around sunset and keep your eyes on the water, you might catch a whale breaching the ocean’s steely surface.
There is something remarkably satisfying about ending a day on foot with no guarantee that you’ll see anything. You might spot a whale, you might see dolphins, or you might simply stand above the ocean while the light dances across the sky and slowly disappears.
Swap the coast for the mountains
Give yourself some time to explore the natural landscape and the community before leaving. Fernkloof Nature Reserve is worthwhile if you’d like to swap the coastline for mountain views. The reserve is home to an extraordinary diversity of fynbos, with 1 474 plant species recorded there, as well as animals including grey rhebok, Cape grysbok, klipspringer, baboon and dassie.
There are also hiking and walking opportunities throughout the reserve, and this is where the trip starts to make sense. Yes, spring is visible here. But you don’t need to be a botanist, photographer or flower enthusiast to enjoy it. You can simply walk and appreciate the spectacular scenery.
Take the longer road home
If you don’t mind extending the weekend just a smidge, continue east towards the Cape Agulhas side of the Overberg instead of immediately heading back to Cape Town. De Mond Nature Reserve is located at the mouth of the Heuningnes River and offers a very different coastal experience. It is a protected coastal landscape where river, dunes and ocean meet.
Or continue towards Agulhas National Park and make the southernmost tip of Africa the last chapter of your road trip. The southernmost point of the continent is a short distance from the Cape Agulhas Lighthouse, with a coastal boardwalk connecting key attractions and viewpoints. Standing there at the end of a trip feels like an appropriate Hollywood ending.
The Overberg at your own pace
There is nothing wrong with going to the Overberg for the flowers. They are spectacular in their own right, but they are not the only reason to go.
Spring ushers in the feeling of new beginnings and nature reminds us just how spectacular that is. The days have begun to stretch, the weather has called us outdoors and nature is slowly coming alive again.
It gives you an opportunity to stop at a farm stall and try something new, walk through a village and learn its culture, hike a mountain again with the sun warming your enthusiasm, or simply spend an hour staring at the ocean waiting for a whale to surface. And perhaps you’ll find yourself experiencing the Overberg in a brand-new way.
Follow us on social media for more travel news, inspiration, and guides. You can also tag us to be featured.
Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Spotify
ALSO READ:
