Things to do near
Rooi Els
*Distances are shown as the crow flies and not necessarily the actual travelling
distance.
Beaches
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Pringle Bay (4.8 km from Rooi Els) Pringle Bay Beach is a stunning long and wide beach with sugar-white fine sand. The beach is backed by sand dunes fynbos-clad mountains. It's a great place to watch the sun set over the distant Table Mountain.
Hiking Trail
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Bettys Bay (11.2 km from Rooi Els) Rod's Trail is a hiking route which stretches along the foot of the Kogelberg Mountain range, leading you through part of the Cape floral kingdom to the Herold Porter Botanical Gardens.
It is an easy hiking trail to walk or run, for any age or fitness level. You'll be treated to magnificent views over Betty's Bay and an abundance birds and flowers.
Beaches
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Bettys Bay (11.8 km from Rooi Els) The small holiday town of Betty's Bay is fringed by a beautiful 4 km long stretch of sandy white beach. It's great for swimming and surfing.
Nick Coombe, creativecommons.org
Popular Attractions
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Bettys Bay (11.9 km from Rooi Els) The Stony Point Penguin Colony at Betty's Bay is one of only three mainland-based colonies in South Africa and for this reason it is treasured. The African penguin usually colonizes and nests on offshore islands.
Iryna Kuchma, creativecommons.org
Hiking Trail
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Gordons Bay (11.9 km from Rooi Els) This easy hike is a delightful adventure in a beautiful nature reserve. Follow the stream in the kloof (gully) between the mountians, past many crystal clear pools. Stop along the way to enjoy indiginous fynbos, to swim or bathe the sunshine on the rocks. Stop and turn back when you feel you have gone far enough - each spot along the way is beautiful enough to be the destination. You will feel spiritually refreshed.
Hiking Trail
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Kleinmond (13.6 km from Rooi Els) The Palmiet River Trail is an easy day walk along the Palmiet River in the Kogelberg Nature Reserve. The scenic out-and-return route navigates through diverse and pristine fynbos to the turnaround point at Stokoe Bridge. Plan to swim and picnic at The Beach – a beautiful white sandy spot on the riverbank. Various distance options range from 9 to 18 km. Plan to start this hike before midday.
Duration: 3 – 7 hours
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 9 – 18 km
Hiking Trail
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Kleinmond (13.6 km from Rooi Els) Kogelberg Day Trail is a circular route through diverse fynbos in the Kogelberg Nature Reserve. Hikers will also experience the shale forests and Palmiet River, where there are some great swimming spots. This wilderness trail is graded moderate to long, and hikers are advised to set off before 10:00.
Duration: 8 – 9 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 24 km
Nature Reserves
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Kleinmond (13.8 km from Rooi Els) The Kogelberg Nature Reserve has an amazing network of hiking trails along the coast and in the mountains. The trails pass through pristine fynbos and provide breathtaking views of the sea and mountains.
Nature Reserves
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Bettys Bay (15.1 km from Rooi Els) The incredibly scenic Harold Porter Botanical Garden is situated between the coast and the mountainside. The garden is renowned for its waterfalls, amber pools, deep gorges and abundant birdlife.
Deep in the heart of the fynbos region, it is one of the best places to explore coastal fynbos. And its vast – there are 10 hectares of cultivated fynbos as well as 190 hectares of natural fynbos!
Keen hikers should lace up their boots and hit the Leopard Kloof Trail. The 3 km round trip leads through fern forests and up to a waterfall. You’ll need to get a permit and pay a key deposit.
Need to know? Opens at 08:00, closes at 16:30 on weekdays and at 17:00 on weekends and public holidays. The parking area closes at 18:00 in winter and 19:00 in summer. Keen gardeners can purchase plants from the indigenous plant nursery.
Popular Attractions
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Bettys Bay (15.1 km from Rooi Els) Master the basics of sandboarding on the Blesberg Dunes of Bettys Bay. This exhilarating adventure activity is easy to learn and provides a fun introduction to snowboarding and other board sports. Purchase a permit and hire boards at Jackazz Eco-Adventures at Bettys Bay Village Centre.
Beaches
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Gordons Bay (15.8 km from Rooi Els) Situated on the Whale Coast in the little coastal village of Gordon's Bay, the family friendly Bikini Beach is one of Cape Town's six Blue Flag Beaches, indicating a high level of water quality, facilities, cleanliness and safety. Along the False Bay coastline there are four Blue Flag Beaches, these are Mnandi Beach, Muizenberg Beach, Standfontein Beach, and of course Bikini Beach at Gordon's Bay right out on the easternmost side of False Bay.
Bikini Beach is an excellent swimming beach as the water is usually warm, calm and clear. Named after the numerous bikini clad Stellies students (Stellenbosch University) who are regulars, this intimate little beach has its own particular charm. Surrounded by the craggy Hottentot's Holland mountain range on one side and the harbour breakwater on the other, Bikini Beach is a good option when the wind is howling.
From Bikini Beach you have a never-ending view of the entire False Bay which curves in a huge arc from Gordon's Bay right round to Cape Point at its westernmost extremity. The shops are not far away and there are good changing room facilities. Also on the eastern shore of False Bay is Gordon's Bay Beach and Strand Beach, which are both great family beaches.
Hiking Trail
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Kleinmond (16.6 km from Rooi Els) The Oudebosch to Leopard’s Leap route is a moderate hike through pristine fynbos. Aong the trail are rewarding views of the coast, indigenous forest and amazing rock formations.
Leave a vehicle at the start in Oudebosch and at the finish in Harold Porter Botanical Gardens near Betty's Bay. Plan to start hiking before midday as Harold Porter closes at 18:00.
Duration: 3 – 4 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 6 km
Hiking Trail
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Kleinmond (18.4 km from Rooi Els) The 16 km Three Sisters Walk is a moderate out-and-return hike that takes around 5 to 6 hours to complete. The trail meanders through varied fynbos, offering amazing views of the coast and Palmiet River valley. The best time to do the walk is from August to October during peak flowering season.
Duration: 5 – 6 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 16 km
Beaches
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Kleinmond (20.3 km from Rooi Els) Kleinmond not only sports a beautiful beach, but also a small lagoon which is fed by the Palmiet River, and runs off into the ocean. This provides a perfect location for children to splash and explore.
Boat rental is available at the lagoon, and there is opportunity to fish and spot some wildlife.
Beaches
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Strand (20.4 km from Rooi Els) With its five kilometre long stretch of white sand, Strand Beach is a perfect family beach for swimming, sunbathing and a variety of marine sports. There’s even a tidal pool for anyone who is not brave enough to plunge into the mellow surf.And if its waves you’re after, there are a number of surf spots to suit every level of surfer. Wannabee surfers can grab a lesson or two in gentle waves with Stand Surf School - 083 232 4822.Although the beach is mostly sandy, there are two rock pools frequented by rock and surf anglers at low tide.The town of Strand lies right next to the beach with a plethora of beachy restaurants and drinking spots. Access to the beach is easy and parking is never a problem.