Overberg, Western Cape

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A sunny day in Hermanus

© South African Tourism

The Overberg region of the Western Cape is most famous for its whale watching and varied scenery. Rolling hills, orchards, fynbos, sparkling canola fields and a rugged coastline with several sandy beaches all add to the area's aesthetic appeal.

Geographically, the Overberg is south of the Cape Winelands and south-west of the Klein Karoo.

Cape Agulhas, a 3-hour drive from Cape Town, is the most southerly tip of the African continent. It is also where the Indian and Atlantic oceans meet. There is a cairn on the shoreline, where visitors can stand with one foot on the Indian Ocean side and the other on the Atlantic side - an interesting photo opportunity.

Bathers are advised to stick to the warmer waters of the Indian Ocean, on the eastern shores of Overberg - rather than brave the cold Atlantic Ocean. The town of Struisbaai boasts a long stretch of white, sandy beach; it's also a good bet for delicious fresh fish.

The Overberg coast is also known as the Whale Coast. Each year, from about June to November, southern right whales migrate to South Africa's waters to calve and nurse their young. Humpback whales also frequent the coastline and are generally spotted between May and December.

Towns like Hermanus have become famous for their whale watching viewpoints - from the shoreline and from boats. Photographers who visit the area spend hours waiting for that perfect shot of a breaching whale.

Wine connoisseurs can explore the Elgin Wine Route, Hermanus Wine Route and the various estates in the Bot River area.

History-lovers should visit Swellendam, the 3rd-oldest town in South Africa after Cape Town and Stellenbosch. The town, which lies at the foot of the Langeberg mountains, is home to more than 50 national monuments, many of them in the traditional Cape Dutch architectural style.

Nature reserves in the region include the De Hoop Nature Reserve, Agulhas National Park, Fernkloof Nature Reserve and Marloth Nature Reserve.