Mzanzi Travel - Local Travel Inspiration (Issue 5)

Explore Discover Africa
Superb eco-cabins
lesser flamingos, all three being endangered species, as well as kelp gull and the
Cape shoveller. Wild ostriches roam the flats surrounding the vlei. The area is
one of the Cape shoveller’s most important breeding and moulting sites.
This abundant bird life can be comfortably watched from three bird hides, two
being on the south-western side of the vlei, and one on the north-western
side. A bird list and map is available from the CapeNature website or from the
reserve’s main office. Note that the vlei is currently dry because of the drought,
and under normal conditions it is also usually dry between March and June.
Between June and November visitors can watch southern right whales
frolicking behind the breakers, enjoying the warm water – by their standard
– after their long migration from the icy Antarctica. In addition dolphins and
seals are also often spotted from the beach. The reserve’s lush growth of
pristine coastal fynbos is complimented by a large array of wildflowers that
produce a spectacular kaleidoscope of colour in spring, with butterflies darting
from flower to flower. The Rocherpan reserve is also one of only two known
locations where the critically endangered aquatic plant, the Cape horned
pondweed, survives.
All of this complimented by the luxurious and superbly appointed eco-cabins,
broad wooden boardwalks that provide universal access, a swimming pool,
picnic and braai areas, cycling and hiking paths, a jeep track for cyclists, and
a 4.7km stretch of sandy Atlantic coastline with snow-white beaches. There
are two short hiking trails, the 9km Rocherpan Trail around the vlei and the
7km Beach Trail. Activities in the reserve include whale watching, picnicking,
swimming, hiking, mountain-biking and cycling, bid watching and recreational
fishing.
Although we doubt you’d want to leave the reserve, for those visitors who want
more activities and things to see, the picturesque fishing harbour villages of
Velddrif and Laaiplek at the mouth of the Berg River are just a short distance
away, as are St Helena Bay, Stompneus Bay, Shelly Point, Paternoster and
the town of Vredenburg. Here you will find plenty of restaurants, pubs and
interesting things to do and see.
Rates for the self-catering eco-cabins start at R850, while hiking permits for
Rocherpan cost R40 for adults and R20 for children.
54 |ISSUE 5|www.mzanzitravel.co.za | MZANZI TRAVEL