Bredasdorp Snapshot
Named after Cape Town’s first mayor, Michael Van Breda, Bredasdorp is circled by wheat as far as the eye can see, and for a fairly large town is actually quite attractive – hence a property boom that has seen house prices skyrocket. But as far as weekend getaways go Bredasdorp hasn’t managed to attract much of a local audience. Most visitors tend to stop for leisurely tea, or use the town as a quick overnight base, before moving on to more enticing spots on the Overberg map – usually the southern tip of Africa and De Hoop Nature Reserve.
Things To Do
- The De Hoop Nature Reserve is an Overberg pearl and reason most pass through Bredasdorp. It is a wetland of international importance, a conservation area for rare lowland fynbos, and a sanctuary for the Southern right whale and Cape Griffen vulture. The reserve is a natural habitat for 1500 plant-, 86 mammal- and 260 bird-species. Hiking trails, shorter walks, a mountain bike trail, a circular drive and several picnic spots will deepen your appreciation of the diversity.
- Bredasdorp’s advertised highlights include the Heuningberg Nature Reserve, with walks from 2km to 15km, and the Shipwreck Museum; the latter houses a variety of interesting marine artefacts, anchors, figureheads, coins and portholes retrieved from the Graveyard of Ships, as the adjacent coastline is aptly called.
- Undeveloped and untouristed, the historic Moravian mission station of Elim is 36km from Bredasdorp. This entire village of whitewashed houses and fig trees is a national monument and worth visiting.
- Rumour once had it that the world’s largest merino sheep, weighing nearly 200kg, could be viewed on a farm owned by a Meneer Uys, 10km from Bredasdorp. Captain Getaway never managed to get to the root of the rumour, but he reckons that sheep has long since turned to mutton.
Bergen Dam Cottage
Bredasdorp, Western Cape
Bergen Dam is a very nicely renovated worker's cottage sitting stoksiel alone on the foothills of the Soetmuisberg mountains. The uninterrupted views spilling out from all sides of the cottage inclu...
Rate Guide
R430pp per night (discount for kids); minimum cottage rates apply
Haarwegskloof Renosterveld Reserve
Bredasdorp, Western Cape
Located in a remote area midships between Swellendam and Bredasdorp (40km), your accommodation at this WWF-owned nature reserve comes in the form of a converted milking shed. Accommodating a total si...
Rate Guide
R2250 nightly for the cottage (sleeps 6); minimum two nights.
Middeldam Plaashuis
Bredasdorp, Western Cape
It started seven generations ago with the first Uys arriving at Middeldam, unpacking the wagon and trying his luck with a spot of farming. His efforts paid off, 'cause today the Uys family is still fi...
Rate Guide
From R225pp nightly; minimum R1350 nightly for the house; minimum two-nights over weekends
De Melkportaal Cottage
Bredasdorp, Western Cape
Surrounded by gum trees and fronted by generous green irrigation fields, De Melkportaal Cottage is your go-to for a rustic-luxury weekend on a real macoy dairy farm in the Overberg. Startin...
Rate Guide
R395pp per night (discount for kids); minimum cottage rate applies.
Staandakkie Guest Cottage
Bredasdorp, Western Cape
Be it a last-minute country wedding invite or an aversion to the hefty chalet rates at De Hoop Nature Reserve, Staandakkie Guest Cottage clears all the hoops when it comes to a simple and compact base...
Rate Guide
R750 nightly for the cottage.
Haze Vlakte Self-Catering Accommodation
Bredasdorp, Western Cape
Perfectly placed along the lawned banks of the Nuwejaars River, and set within the wider Nuwejaars Nature Reserve, Haze Vlakte Farm offers three gorgeous, semi-detached units and a separate farm cotta...
Rate Guide
R1600 nightly for the semi-detached units; R1600 nightly for River Cottage. Check in 3pm check out 10am
Wegbreek
Bredasdorp, Western Cape
Once home to the farm hand of Middeldam Plaas, this little worker's cottage has been spruced up, and together with its big sister, Middeldam Plaashuis, offers an authentic Overberg farm stay. Ideall...
Rate Guide
From R270 per person nightly for the cottage, depending on number of guests. Minimum rate applies.
Where You'll Also Find Us
Arniston (Waenhuiskrans) • Barrydale • Beaufort West • Betty's Bay • Bonnievale • Bot River • Bredasdorp • Caledon • Calitzdorp • Cape Agulhas and Struisbaai • Cape Town area • Ceres • Citrusdal • Clanwilliam & Cederberg • Darling • De Rust • Franschhoek • Gansbaai • George • Grabouw & Elgin Valley • Greyton • Heidelberg • Hermanus • Knysna • Ladismith • Laingsburg • Lamberts Bay • Langebaan • Malgas • Matjiesfontein • McGregor • Montagu • Mossel Bay • Napier • Oudtshoorn • Paarl • Paternoster • Plettenberg Bay • Porterville • Prince Albert • Pringle Bay • Pringle Bay, Betty's Bay and Kleinmond • Riebeek West and Riebeek-Kasteel • Riversdale • Riviersonderend • Robertson • St Helena Bay • Stanford • Stilbaai • Strand, Gordon's Bay and Somerset West • Swellendam • Tulbagh • Uniondale • Velddrif • Vermaaklikheid • Wellington • Wilderness • Witsand • Worcester & Hex Valley • Yzerfontein • Baviaanskloof • Cape St Francis • Cape St Francis & St Francis Bay • East London • Graaff-Reinet • Hogsback • Jeffreys Bay • Makhanda (Grahamstown) • Middelburg • Nieu-Bethesda • Rhodes • Sutherland