Heidelberg Snapshot
If you are looking for a drowsy dorp where nothing much happens, then Heidelberg (270km from Cape Town) is for you. Straddling the N2, exactly halfway between Cape Town and Knysna, it has the potential for being a convenient and calm stop-off for travellers heading in either direction. On atmosphere, it’s also far removed from Swellendam up the road, a B&B metropolis in comparison. The Duiwenhoks River skirts the town and the rolling countryside rising up around Heidelberg is picturesque - a spread of dairy farms that quickly gives way to the Langeberg mountains, which harbour the impressive Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve and Boosmansbos Wilderness Area.
Things To Do
- Heidelberg’s biggest asset is the Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve (tel 028-425 5020) and adjacent Boosmansbos Wilderness Area, which lie behind the town and contain thick swathes of rare indigenous forest. Apart from beautiful trees and dramatic mountainscape, the reserve offers a small campsite and two chalets, several day walks, a brilliant mountain bike trail, a bird hide and cool mountain pools.
- Heidelberg itself is the experience of a coma without any of the inconvenience associated with the real thing. Although there are no formal trails, the town and adjacent 9-hole golf course makes for pleasant walking. There are an unexpected number of Victorian houses dotted around town – sadly, many of these have been violated with ugly face-brick. The huge Dutch Reformed Church is the most obvious landmark.
- Apart from your local Wimpy, the Blue Crane Farmstall (tel 028-722 2651) and Aan die Kanal Coffee Shop (tel 028-722 1389) are your main options for a simple meal out. The linseed bread at Blue Crane is the best thing since, uhh… sliced bread?
Skeiding Guest Farm
Heidelberg, Western Cape
Skeiding Guest Farm covers 1200 hectares of rolling Overberg landscape near Heidelberg. Being a working farm, there’s plenty of action on Skeiding, from free-range ostriches to Nguni cows, Merin...
Rate Guide
From R270 to R2610, depending on unit, guests and time of year
Strawberry Hill Farm
Heidelberg, Western Cape
Strawberry Hill Farm offers three fully-equipped self-catering houses bordering the Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve, where you're surrounded by forests and awesome mountain views. You won't be bored w...
Rate Guide
From R1100 to R3500, depending on unit, guests and time of year
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