Pringle Bay

PRINGLE BAY | Between the mouth of the Buffels river and a small peninsula (the Point), lies Pringle Bay, named after Rear Admiral Thomas Pringle, the Commander-in-Chief of Simons Town Naval Base from 1796 to 1798. The town was originally meant to be a port for shipping farm produce across False Bay to Simons Town. This region was a haven for many army deserters and an inlet in the northern corner of the bay is still called Drostergat or Deserters Cave. Beautiful sunsets over False Bay and the tranquil isolation of Pringle Bay’s quaint village are two of the main reasons for visitors to return each year.

HANGKLIP | During World War II British servicewomen of the armed services used the hotel buildings at Hangklip as quarters when they manned a secret radar station from the mountain behind the hotel to keep track of enemy craft.

Pringle Bay is surrounded by mountains on three sides and overlooks the Ocean with Cape Point in the distance. It abounds with wildlife and beautiful flora and is part of the Sixth Floral Kingdom of the planet. The silver beaches are pristine and spotless and the air is clean and unpolluted. There is a small lagoon with clear and warm water where the Buffels River enters the sea. Pringle Bay is one of the few bays in South Africa that face north, and the sunsets are spectacular.

Activities
Bodysurf at the beach before feasting on fresh fish and local cuisine. Enjoy sundowners while watching the sun set over False Bay or dive for crayfish when in season. The rocks along the sea are perfect for angling and even to see whales playing in the water. Remember to keep your eyes open for the baboons, while searching for the Cape Clawless otter and rare birds. Chacma baboons living in the Biosphere area have the “right of way” when crossing roads and it is advisable to drive carefully when you encounter a troop. Even though the baboons may “look cute”, it is best never to approach, excite or feed them, as they are wild animals after all. Residents in the Biosphere have learned to live in fragile accord with the baboons and the villagers have developed warning systems to alert home and shop owners of potential visits by a troop.