Pringle Bay, Cape Overberg

The little seaside village of Pringle Bay is one of the towns set within the natural beauty of the Kogelberg Biosphere, the only reserve in South Africa to be proclaimed by UNESCO, which supports over 1600 species of fynbos, 150 of which are endemic. The charming village is nestled at the foot of the Hangklip Mountain and jealously guarded by its residents who frown upon unnecessary developments such as tarred roads and street lights. And rightly so as the town is beautifully secluded and unspoilt - lying quite far from the main coastal road and almost entirely within the shadow of the Hangklip, which marks the south-eastern point of False Bay. The naturally beautiful environment is home to a wide variety of birdlife and animals and, although historically a holiday town, there are a growing number of people, particularly artists, those in the theatre and film industry and people on retirement, who are choosing to live here permanently. Only an hour’s drive from Cape Town, Pringle Bay offers an idyllic outdoor lifestyle: safe swimming, snorkelling around the many rock pools and crevices on the beach; diving for abalone, rock lobster and crayfish - although you will need a permit to do so - and amazing opportunities for bird watching that include the Sunbird, Sugar bird and the African Black Oystercatcher. Pringle Bay falls within a protected area - one needs a permit to fish - and all the breeding bird colonies in the area are protected. For this reason, you’re more likely to catch a glimpse of animal life such as the Cape Clawless Otter and rare birds, and you have the added wonder of the Southern Right whale that visits these shores from June through December. The scenic R44 Clarence Drive, which meanders through Rooiels, Pringle Bay, Bettys Bay and Kleinmond, offers simply magnificent views across False Bay. This steep coastal road, which follows the natural curve of the rocky sea cliffs on the coast, provides great whale watching spots along its route. Other activities in the area include hiking trails through the Kogelberg Nature Reserve, Hermanus with some of the best land-based whale watching in the world and Swellendam; a Penguin colony breeds on the mainland at Stony Point in Betty’s Bay or you can simply sit on the expansive beach at Pringle Bay and drink in the beauty of the surrounds.