Western Cape Article - South African Vacations

ELIMMoravian missionaries founded Elim in 1824 and the whitewashed, thatched dwellings arereminiscent of this period. The quaint village is a national monument and today only membersof the Moravian Church live in it. The fynbos in the area is truly magnificent.ADVENTURE AND SPORTSpookdraai: The Spookdraai (“Ghost’s Corner”) Hiking Trail takes the hiker on a short journeythrough a landscape of fynbos, abundant bird life and historical sites. Several lookout pointsprovide breathtaking views over the town and sea.FAUNA AND FLORAFlower Shows: Elim hosts an annual flower show to showcase its unique fynbos.Geelkop Nature Reserve: The Protea Prudens plant species is unique to the Geelkop(“Yellow Head”) Nature Reserve.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREMoravian Church: The church, the heart of the town, dates back to 1824. The clock, some200 years old, is the oldest working clock in South Africa.Watermill: The beautifully constructed watermill was built in 1833 and is the largest woodenwaterwheel in the country.GANSBAAI (including Pearly Beach and Buffelsjagbaai)The village, whose name means “Goose Bay”, looks out over beautiful Walker Bay. Thename refers to the colony of Egyptian geese that once nested in the nearby freshwaterfountain. Several conservation areas have been established to protect the considerablenatural attractions of the area.ADVENTURE AND SPORTAngling: Gansbaai is a popular rock- and land-based angling spot.Diving: Private operators conduct shark tours to examine these magnificent creatures. Greatwhite sharks frequent these waters.Hiking: Several hiking trails can be used to explore the areas of Bosluis, Byeneskrans andDuiwelsgat.Surfing and Swimming: Enjoy safe swimming and surfing conditions at Pearly Beach,Uilenkraalsmond and Stanford’s Cove.ARCHAEOLOGY AND PALAEONTOLOGYStone Age and San remains at Klipgat Caves: Excavations have uncovered artefacts datingfrom the Middle Stone Age, as well as remains left by Khoisan groups who used the cavesabout 2 000 years ago.FAUNA AND FLORADyer Island: This island is situated 6 km off the Gansbaai shore. It is a breedingcolony for jackass penguins. The island was named after Samson Dyer, an African American140