Gansbaai Harbour
Gansbaai is a fishing dorp in the Western Cape with a shark problem… or is that the other way around? Whichever way, if you decide to visit Gansbaai, there is a pretty good chance that you’re about to go either cage diving, deep-sea fishing or whale watching. To get to this seaside dorp is pretty easy, with access either along the winding coastal road or off the N2 via Bredasdorp.
The Gansbaai harbor is also worth a visit, as it is pleasantly industrial in a small-scale way. There are boat repair shops and colourful hulls lying upside down; gum-booted labourers spilling from a fish-meal factory; bearded sea dogs pottering about on bobbing craft.
Seafood abounds in the area, with various great restaurants to try. They source fresh crayfish, crab, tuna, and other finfish from the surrounding waters. After a lengthy lunch, visitors can relax by the beach or lagoon with the little ones discover the beautiful marine life hiding in the rock pools. Canoers and stand-up paddleboarders will be happy to know that the calm waves and lagoon are perfect for the sport, and bodyboarders might even be able to catch a small wave or two.
Cape South Coast
Gansbaai’s settlers’ history can be traced back to the early 1880s, when a small community began to take shape around a fresh-water fountain here. The drinking hole lured many wild geese and soon became known as ‘Gansgat’ (or Goose Hole), which in time morphed to become the more respectable Gansbaai (Goose Bay).
Life here on the Cape South Coast is all about getting back to basics, and both local residents and visitors revel in the unspoilt and rugged natural beauty. Many tourists are drawn by unparalleled land-based whale watching, but the quaint traditional fishing harbour with its daily fresh catches make for a lovely family outing too. The semi-Mediterranean weather is mild, with only a moderate shift between winter and summer.
By Jacques Marais
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