Kleinmond, reached by a stunning coastal road, is situated between the Palmiet River and Bot River Lagoons on the Atlantic Ocean. Backed by the Palmietberg Mountains, it is central to a wide variety of natural features, offering a range of top class eco-activities.
For this reason, Kleinmond has been the preferred holiday spot for the inland farmers of Elgin and Caledon since 1861 and has developed an excellent infrastructure, whilst still retaining its peaceful lifestyle.
Kleinmond has small fishing harbour – the place to fish for snoek in June. Harbour Road offers art galleries, décor shops, and other interesting retail outlets, a wide selection of restaurants with outstanding views and excellent seafood, plus an Abalone factory and museum.
Kleinmond is an excellent whale haven, and from May to November, whales come close to the shoreline to calve and nurse their young. Southern Right and Humpback whales are seen from the harbour, Palmiet Beach, Beach Road, Sandown Bay Beach and other vantage points along the coast. Dolphins play in the bay year round.
If you are an angler, this coastline has so many spots with excellent catches, that you could fish for weeks without going to the same place twice. In summer, enjoy the added luxury of catching crayfish.
The pristine beaches attract many visitors, with the beautiful Blue Flag Sandown Bay Beach, which stretches for kilometres, and is monitored by lifeguards in season. Please note that the beaches do have strong currents. Safer for swimming and canoeing are the Palmiet and Bot River Lagoons, and Jocks Bay, a small protected bay, ideal for children and toddlers. Explore the many tidal pools along the coast or just walk and relax on the beach.
The Palmiet River (by the bridge) has become a popular picnic site. Try jumping from the 6m high rocks into the river. White water rafting and tubing, surfing and diving or horse riding along the beach, make for more active water choices, or stroll along a scenic 2km walkway from Sandown Bay beach to the Harbour Waterfront for great views.
But, hold on, Kleinmond still has all the land based eco activities on offer. It lies within the UNESCO declared Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, which supports over 1600 species of fynbos, of which 150 are endemic. The reserve provides nature lovers with numerous hikes, especially the Palmiet River Hike, offering solitude and remarkably pristine wilderness with rugged kloofs, valleys, mountain peaks and of course, the extraordinary floral kingdom with the birdlife it attracts.
Talking of birds, the Rooisand Nature Reserve around the Bot River Wetland, is well known for its thousands of water birds, and now a boardwalk has been constructed to enjoy birding there. You may even catch a glimpse of the wild horses, living in the wetland habitat.
The Kasteelkop 4 x 4 trail leads to a picnic area in the reserve, that offers magnificent views of the sea, mountains and town and is ideal to do some whale watching. Spectacular flora and fauna species are found in this small area, that forms part of the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, so the MTB and hiking trails are most enjoyable. The road is only suitable for 4 x 4 vehicles. Permits are required and obtainable at the Tourism Bureau.
Nearby attractions
If you are an adrenalin junkie, sandboarding the Blesberg Dune above Silversands Beach in Betty’s Bay, is a must. Also near Betty’s Bay is the very worthwhile Harold Porter Botanical Gardens. This Little Kirstenbosch, on the slopes of the Kogelberg Mountains, is not only a great place to stop for tea or lunch, but the walks and birding are top notch too. The Penguin Reserve at Stony Point near Betty’s Bay, just off the R44, is great for close up penguin encounters.
Hermanus, renowned for world’s best land-based whale watching, is only 20 minutes’ drive from Kleinmond. Hermanus has restaurants, nature reserves, an amazing cliff walk, and plenty of interesting shops to browse. If you are a golfer, the Arabella Golf Estate, one of the top courses in South Africa, is just down the road.
There is plenty opportunity for wine tasting, in Bot River, Elgin and Grabouw. Stanford, just around the corner, has a micro-brewery and cheese factory where you can enjoy a picnic along the Klein River.
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