• Betty's Bay
    Betty's Bay

Betty's Bay & Surrounds

A small holiday town situated in the Overberg region of the Western cape, South Africa, located 100 km from Cape Town beneath the rugged Kogelberg Mountains on the scenic R44 ocean drive between Pringle Bay and Kleinmond. This village is the longest in South Africa at over 13 km. In 1912 Betty's Bay became a formal whaling station running until the 1930s. Remains of the whaling station can still be seen at Stony Point. The area is named after Betty Youlden, daughter of the first developer of the area.
Betty's Bay offers our guests tranquility, lovely clean beaches and our own lakes. We offer our own Botanical Gardens with trails for young and old.

About Stony Point

Located in the quaint coastal town of Betty’s Bay in the Overberg, the Stony Point Nature Reserve is home to a unique colony of African Penguins. Stony Point offers the public the chance to see these wonderful flightless birds up close, via the boardwalk through the colony, which allows the public to observe the penguins go about their daily activities in their natural habitat, without disturbing or disrupting them.

Also present in the colony are three species of cormorant; the Crowned cormorant, Cape cormorant and Bank cormorant, all of which breed on the outer rocks. There are also Hartlaub’s Gulls and Kelp Gulls which forage in the colony, while the Rock Hyrax, more commonly known as the Dassie, can be seen on the surrounding rocks. From May to November whales are often spotted passing the coastline.

The Penguin colony lies on the site of the old Waaygat Whaling Station, which was used to harvest and process whale meat in the early to mid-1900s. Remnants of the infrastructure for this long-defunct industry can still be found at the site.

There is also a community restaurant adjacent to Stony Point, “On the Edge”  restaurant has the best fish and chips in the area and other great menu items, look out for the daily specials.

Betty’s Bay is also home to the rare and threatened Oyster catchers which build their nests on the beaches.

Things to do

  • Betty’s bay is a quiet village where you will find people strolling, cycling, and jogging any time of the day. Children specifically, enjoy the freedom that nature provides.
  • Stony point penguin colony – go free if you walk straight down the road into Crassula close and take the first beach path, the penguins are usually just on your right-hand side, or straight in front of you.
  • Rod’s Trail in the Koggelberg Biosphere is a lovely hiking trail.
  • Harold Porter Botanical gardens. After the devastating fires in 2019, Harold Porter botanical gardens have been restored to its previous beauty.
  • Silversands (more private) or Main beach  are perfect spots for swimming or for a sunset stroll.
  • Dune surfing boards are available to rent in Crassula road, look out for the sign on the road.
  • Kogelberg Biosphere holds 1600 different plant species. Permits to view this reserve can be obtained at the Oudebosch Office within the reserve. It stretches along the coast from Gordon’s Bay through to the town of Kleinmond and inland from the farms of the Elgin Basin through to Grabow - a total of some 100,000 ha.
  • Hemel-en-Aarde valley, on the way to Hermanus, has numerous award-winning wine estates for wine tasting and delicious meals.

Shopping for essentials

Spar in Kleinmond is the go-to for locals in terms of basic food stuffs. Deli items are available at Lemon and Lime in Pringle Bay, they make the most amazing fresh bread and rolls, pies, quiches etc. In Betty’s is a convenience store that stocks all essentials. 

Ollies Fine Meats, the local butcher, specialize in amazing meats and gluten-free sausages, salamis, and biltong.

Restaurant and shopping

Betty’s Bay

  • Gnocchi serves excellent steaks, sushi and tapas and have a selection of fine wines.
  • Coffee at Clarence just past the Botanical gardens has fresh breads and pastries etc.
  • Sea Biscuit serve excellent breakfasts and lunches and the best frozen berry milk shakes you can imagine.
  • Sitar for great curries,  toasties, samosas, and the best soft serve in Betty’s bay.
  • Betty’s Bay Laundry is open year-round should you wish to relax from those chores.
  • The Caltex garage has a mini bakery that sell freshly baked croissants over weekends. 

Kleinmond

  • Harbour Road boasts an array of eateries and coffee shops.
  • Kleinmond Harbour Café is very laid back and sells fresh fish and chips and calamari, the fish is their own freshly caught from their own boat/boats., more than affordable but you will need to be patient for service as it is almost a one-man band, call Rodney and ask him to prepare something for you or have as a takeaway. Mobile: 063 464 5749. You can also buy fresh whole fish there.

Pringle Bay

  • Hook line and sinker, (please book) is renowned far and wide as the ultimate rustic venue with the best seafood platters you can imagine. No airs and graces just phenomenal food cooked on open fires in front of you.
  • Various other restaurants and take-aways available.