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Place in Western Cape, South Africa
Photo: Self, CC BY-SA 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons
Gansbaai (Goose Bay) is a town in the Overberg region, Western Cape, South Africa. Gansbaai is a quaint little fishing village that bloomed into the Great White Capital of the World. Although there's not much to the town itself, the bountiful landscapes and oceans around gives way to a multitude of outdoor activities and spectacular views to behold.
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Join Brian McFarlane on his boat - Apex Predator - on a face to face experience with the ultimate hunter, the great white shark. They offer cage diving, no previous experience needed, and surface viewing in the area surrounding Dyer Island, host to one of the densest populations of great white sharks in the world. You'll have a chance to see great white sharks, penguins, dolphins, whales, seals and a variety of marine birds.
Shark cage diving
Hike the Klipgat trail and Visit de Klipgat cave.
An empowerment farm initiayed by UNESCO and a pilot project of the Agulhas Biodiversity Initiative for sustainable harvesting of fynbos for the cut-flower industry.
Guided nature horse trails can be enjoyed along the coast of the Walker Bay and in the mountains behind Gansbaai. African Horse Company
In the hinterland of Gansbaai, guided botanical walks through pristine "fynbos" (the indigenous and colorful vegetation of the unique Cape Floral Kingdom).
4x4 trails with a clear emphasis on the local nature (fynbos and indigenous forest) are organised in the Franskraal Mountains, accumulating with a rest on the "Aasvoelkop" (Vulture-peak) with stunning views over the Agulhas Plains and the Uilkraals-estuary.
Tractor ride through the fynbos in the picturesque Mt Dyer Reserve, or take a pub crawl to the hamlet of Baardskeerdersbos. The tractor takes up to 30 people, so this is perfect for birthdays, family outings or just a good day out with friends.
APSS
The African Penguin & Seabird Sanctuary (APSS) is a Dyer Island Conservation Trust (DICT) project based in Gansbaai. A state of the art facility, designed and built by passionate experts, that strives to provide local marine avian species with a local rehabilitative center where injured, diseased or distressed birds can be treated and rehabilitated. Although the facility was purpose built for rehabilitation of marine birds, it also caters for creating awareness around the perils marine birds face out in the wild.
Shark cage diving experience. The onboard marine biologist will educate guests on all the marine life encountered while out at sea.
Join Dyer Island Cruises for a Marine Big 5 trip and experience the ocean's marine big 5 - seals, sharks, penguins, dolphins and whales. The on board marine biologist will educate guests on all the marine life encountered while out at sea.
Baardies is an informal but stylish restaurant venue where one can enjoy food, wine and art, and tranquil views of the Baardskeerdersbos valley
nature retreat & fynbos reserve
Private and secluded 4-star place in a fynbos reserve of 800 ha with sweeping views over the Agulhas Plains to the ocean. 2 rooms, 3 freestanding fynbos suites, 1 family house. All meals of the day.
Affordable farm-accommodation for groups of up to 85 in very tranquil fybos surroundings. De Uijlenes offeres tractor rides also for up to 30 people.
A country house set amidst old milkwood trees with self-catering cottages. 5 rooms, 5 cottages, all meals of the day.
A friendly place with 5 rooms and 4 self-catering units.
A modern and relaxed guesthouse with 4 contemporary rooms and 1 suite, all with sea views. Dinner served.
B&B, a stylish and intimate guesthouse with four luxury rooms and one suite all with seaview.
An upmarket 5-star lodge in a 1700-ha private nature reserve overlooking the Walker Bay. The lodge is between Hermanus and Gansbaai and provides an excellent retreat for travellers looking for luxury accommodation in the Overberg area.
A modern, small and intimate B&B in the peaceful village of De Kelders.
By road it is 165 km southeast of Cape Town. From Cape Town, follow the N2 in the direction of Hermanus then take the R43 turnoff and follow that route until you come reach Gansbaai, about two hours driving time.
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