Video by Aerial Impressions, www.aerialimpressions.co.za
Heart of the Cape Fynbos Floral Kingdom
The scenic coastal Clarence Drive (R44) links the towns of Rooiels, Pringle Bay, Betty’s Bay and Kleinmond. The route ribbons through a stretch of fynbos linking mountains with the Atlantic Ocean. The Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, South Africa’s first UNESCO recognised biosphere, dominates the landscape with indigenous forest, fynbos and a variety of birds and animals. Here you escape to nature!
The scenic coastal Clarence Drive (R44) links the towns Rooiels, Pringle Bay, Betty’s Bay and Kleinmond. The route ribbons through a stretch of fynbos linking mountains with the Atlantic Ocean.
Stony Point Nature Reserve, located in the quaint coastal town of Betty’s Bay, is home to one of the largest successful breeding colonies of African Penguins in the world.
Harold Porter National Botanical Garden in Betty’s Bay is situated in the centre of the coastal fynbos where the flora is at its richest. The Garden is home to the Betty’s Bay ParkRun and renowned for its waterfalls and amber pools.
Kogelberg Nature Reserve is considered the heart of the Cape Floral Kingdom because of the exceptional quality of its fynbos. The glass fronted eco-cabins afford occupants breath-taking views of the reserve, which is a Word Heritage Site.
Harbour Road is a distinctive waterfront destination with a special character, lifestyle and design. The secure lifestyle shopping environment provides ample parking and boasts a wide selection of restaurants and colourful shops. The harbour is situated on a relatively wind-free, small coastal plain between sea and mountains and is today still a working fishing harbour, and also a popular leisure area.
As the vlei is also a birding paradise, one can combine horse-and bird watching. In summer one often sees the white cattle egrets riding piggyback on the horses. Hangklip-Kleinmond boasts many other beautiful and quiet places in which a wide variety of birdlife abounds. Seashore, coastlands, wetlands and fynbos covered mountains are home to many small and large birds some of which are becoming endangered.
Maps and brochures available at the Tourism office in Main Road.
FLORA
King Protea; Yellowwood Tree; Red Elder; Cape Beach; Erica; Milkwood; Tree; Conebush; Pincushion; Restios; Painted Lady
FEATHERED FRIENDS
African Penguin; Greater Flamingo; Black Eagle; Bank Cormorant; Cape Rockjumper; Cape Spurfowl; Cape Sugarbird; Orange-breasted Sunbird; Cape Bulbul; African Black Oystercatcher
FAUNA
Southern Right Whale; Genet; Chacma Baboon; Mountain Rhebuck; Cape Clawless Otter; Grey Mongoose; Wild Vlei Horses; Cape Dassie; Leopard Tortoise; Klipspringer
PLACES
Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve Core; Harold Porter Botanical Gardens; Stony Point Penguin Colony; Silversands Beach; Harbour Road, Kleinmond; Gustav Adolf Memorial Site; “Die Preekboom”; Khoi-San fish traps; Biosphere Eco-Centre, Rooiels; Singletons Kafee; VLV Tapisterie in Kleinmond Library