Bredasdorp

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.
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