Rooiels Voyage Tips and guide

Rooiels is a small town in the Overberg region of the Western Cape Province of South Africa. It falls within the UNESCO-recognised Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve. Rooiels is a residential community, a conservation hotspot and a holiday destination, with many opportunities for outdoor sports and nature-related pursuits.

There is a moderate number of permanent inhabitants, many of whom are retired. The local baboons roam the village frequently and should not be fed or harassed. That means not walking in public areas with food, as the baboons will be attracted to it.

Rooiels is on the eastern shore of False Bay, just to the south of the mouth of the Rooi-els River, and below the Klein Hangklip peak. There is a very pleasant little beach which is fairly sheltered from south west swells, and is generally safe for swimming. The Rooiels River flows into the bay at the south end of the beach, and is usually only inches deep and a pleasant place for kids to play.

The town is quite exposed to the south east wind in summer, which can be unpleasantly strong, but is often mild and keeps the place cool. Winter can be beautiful, if the wind is light and the weather sunny, and when the wind and waves are up, the surf pounds on the rocky shoreline and throws spray high into the air. It is a pleasant place to get away from the city for a few days, or to enjoy a quiet vacation for a week or so at almost any time of the year.

To find out more about Rooiels, visit its website.

From Cape Town or Hermanus by car on the R44 regional road. There is no public transport to or from Rooi-els

By car, bycycle or on foot. The town is small enough to walk anywhere. The roads are gravel and mostly a bit bumpy, but the locals like them that way as it keeps the traffic speed low.

• Rock and surf angling
• Lobster netting and diving in season and with a permit
• Hiking in the local mountains
• Walking, swimming or sunbathing at the beach
• Geocaching
• Kitesurfing
• Bodyboarding
• Snorkelling and Scuba diving

There is one small general store. You can find it on Facebook @rooielsvillageshop

There are two restaurants - Gossip Corner] and Bella Italia.

There is one public bar, the Drummond Arms, which also serves food and often has live music.

There are a number of private residences available for short term rent (daily rate).

• Pringle Bay
• Hangklip
• Betty's Bay
• Kleinmond
• Gordon's Bay