Malgas is a small town in the Western Cape, 25 km north-west of the Breede River mouth at Witsand and 30 km south-east of Swellendam. Malgas is the only place south of the N2, where the Breede River can be crossed. But this is no ordinary crossing. The town is the home of the last man-drawn pontoon in South Africa.
Today, there is only a hotel, a small country store and a campsite in Malgas, but it is a serene and beautiful place with gorgeous views out over the quietly impressive Breede River. Malgas was the inland depot of the mighty Barry and Nephews trading empire, based in Swellendam. The little historical village was originally an important inland harbour and tended to be relegated to the back end of beyond - certainly very few South Africans knew of its existence.
If you are looking for a sedate getaway, Malgas could just be it. You can also hire a houseboat at Malgas and cruise along the Breede River, fishing and swimming to your heart’s content.
South Africa’s only man-drawn pontoon is in Malgas crossing the Breede River. It’s an extraordinary system, which has been in operation ...