Stilbaai Things to Do

The small, but active fishing harbour is a wonderful attraction. The harbour is used especially by small concerns. Primarily Hake and Cob are sold here.Fresh fish may be bought at the harbour.
See the remnants of an extinct culture. The ancient fishtraps are circular stone structures that the Khoi-San created hundreds of years ago to catch fish at low tide. Some of these traps are still maintained and used. The middens are piles of shells created by the accumulation of ancient domestic refuse consisting primarily of mollusc shells. These ancient shell middens are open for close viewing. Middle Stone Age artifacts and replicas of artifacts of the world famous Blombos Cave are on display at the Tourism Bureau. Due to the sensitive nature of the cave, it is regretfully not open to the puiblic.
Conducted tours of the reachable sites on the outskirts of the town are arranged to co-incide with lowtide in order to also view the ancient fish traps.
In Jongensfontein the historic little White House serves as a local museum and information centre.
Visit the Stilbaai Tourism Bureau, housed in the Palinggat Homestead, a famous historical building which is a National Monument. It also houses a historical exhibition and adjoins a nature garden. Here you will have the rare opportunity of viewing the only tame eels in South Africa fed in the fountain adjacent to the Bureau.
These freshwater eels belong to the Anquilla genus of the family Anquillidae. The eels in the Palinggat Fountain have been living here for the past 125 years. These eels move to a specific area in the ocean to mate and spawn. The larvae are carried to the mainland of Africa by ocean. currents. The environment at the Palinggat Fountain seems to be ideal for the eels.

Nowhere else in the country are so many eels concentrated in one secluded invironment and as tame as the "Palinggat" eels. They are pampered and cherished by the staff of the Tourism Bureau. They are hand-fed daily

Come and enjoy touch rugby during december, contact tourism for dates each year( this year 2007 the touch rugby will be on 26 december, its usually on east side of the river at the river mouth, for info to write in to take part call +27 (0) 8600 86824) or see the web site
www.touchrugby.co.za

Plane flips contact Andre' +27287558303
Pedal boats contact Henk +27287542352
Blombos horse trails contact +27287131081
Walks with a guide contact +27724480604

The picture is of the tidal pool at Jongensfontein 10 km from Stilbaai.

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Reins is situated along the garden route... it has a quaint little church so you can come and get married here........how romantic!!!
The coastline here is breathtakingly beautiful.
Rein's Coastal Nature Reserve is situated between Stilbaai and Gouritsmond
Mossel Bay is only 40km from Rein's Coastal Nature Reserve

Blue Flag is an exclusive international eco-label awarded to beaches in 24 countries across Europe and South Africa, and is a symbol of high environmental standards and good sanitary and safety facilities.

It encompasses highly qualified lifesavers, management of beach activities and compliance with recreational bathing water quality, as well as environmental educational projects. Results of sea water quality has shown that Lappiesbaai beach in Stilbaai has of the cleanest bathing water in the country.

Between July and October the whales visit the coast between Stilbaai and Jongensfontein in large numbers. Excellent vantage points for whale watching are available. The whales can be observed from the restaurants at Lappiesbaai and from the harbour.

Hiking routes along the coast, next to the river and through the Nature Reserve are available and very popular. Five hiking trails of between 2 and 5 hours are available.Overnight route are presently being planned.

Explore Agulhas, the southern-most point of Africa. Go to the historical towns of Swellendam and Bredasdorp. In Bredasdorp visit a candle factory and a factory which dries and exports indigenous flowers.