Swellendam, located a 3-hour drive from Cape Town, is known for its beautiful surroundings. It’s a cozy little town where you can go on adventurous hikes and spend the night in a national park among the bontebok. Read below for our 7 tips on the things to do in Swellendam.
Content of this blog:
Day Trip or Overnight Stay at Bontebok National Park
The number one activity in Swellendam is a visit to Bontebok National Park. Here you can spot the beautiful antelope species known as the bontebok. In the national park, you can drive around, have a picnic, hike, and bike. Admission is about €10 per person. If you have a Wildcard, admission is free.
You can also spend the night in Bontebok National Park in Swellendam. You can do this at the Elsie’s Kraal campground. Here, you can camp with your own (roof) tent or book a cabin. You can easily make a reservation through the SANParks website. An extra treat is that the bonteboks roam freely at this campground, so you can observe them from just a few meters away. Through SANParks, you can book a wide variety of beautiful campgrounds in South Africa’s national parks. In our opinion, Bontebok National Park is the best activity in Swellendam and definitely worth a visit.
Hiking in Marloth Nature Reserve
The Marloth Nature Reserve is a beautiful stretch of unspoiled nature in Swellendam. There are countless hikes you can take here, with the two shortest trails being the most popular. At the entrance to the Marloth Nature Reserve, you’ll receive a map showing all the hikes, including the distance in kilometers and an estimated time. If you enjoy hiking, this is definitely an activity in Swellendam you’ll want to add to your itinerary.
Duiwelsbos Waterfall
The Duiwelsbos Waterfall hike is short, just 1 kilometer long, but the steep 150-meter climb along the trail can still make it challenging. It’s not difficult to follow the trail, but be sure to take plenty of breaks to catch your breath. Most people take 30 to 60 minutes to reach the waterfall.
Koloniesbos Run
From the Duiwelsbos Waterfall hike, you can continue directly onto the Koloniesbos loop. This is an additional loop of about 2 kilometers that takes you deeper into the forest. You’ll walk along the river upstream and cross the river at a number of large rocks, after which you’ll walk back downstream. This route isn’t very well marked, so keep an eye out for the white footprints as markers.
Tip: The maps.me app gives you offline access to maps, and it generally works better than Google Maps for detailed hiking trails.
Kayaking or Stand-Up Paddleboarding at Umshanti on the Buffeljags River
Umshanti is a beautiful place to stay located just outside Swellendam. You can rent a kayak or stand up paddle board here to take a wonderful trip on the Buffeljagsdam. Be sure to apply plenty of sunscreen and wear a hat, because there’s no shade anywhere. One of the best things to do in Swellendam when it’s hot.
Drostdy Museum
The Drostdy Museum is located in the heart of Swellendam and was founded in 1747 by the Dutch East India Company (VOC). Today, it offers insight into Cape-Dutch history. The buildings are well-maintained, and it’s worth stopping by to take a look around Swellendam.
NG Church
The NG Church in Swellendam immediately catches the eye with its unique architecture. When there’s no service, you can sometimes take a look inside.
0 Comments