Welcome to Bergrivier Tourism
If you love ocean breezes, desolate beaches, and the whirling flight of seagulls, then a visit to Velddrif and Dwarskersbos is what you need. Here you can find stretches of desolate beach, ideal for a walk; in winter, and in spring there are whales and dolphins to watch. Fishing is an all year activity.
If the sea is not for you, it’s easy to find a different mood and a different landscape. Inland from the coast you can explore the region’s rural heart – dusty farm roads, endless rustling wheat fields and windmills that clatter forlornly.
Bergrivier offers visitors a diverse experience from a long stretch of clear white beaches in Velddrif and Dwarskersbos on the Atlantic, to the rural hinterland hugged by mountains between Piketberg and Porterville. The towering mountain peaks of Piketberg and Porterville are adorned with ancient and intriguing rock formations and fynbos.
The hinterland is the region’s rural heartland – and is crisscrossed by wide dusty farm roads, wheat fields, and small Sandveld villages such as Redelinghuys, Aurora, and Eendekuil. The Sandveld, known for its arid landscape, in spring blooms into a kaleidoscope of colorful flowers.
Goedverwacht is a living landscape rich in culture and heritage. Here you can mingle with the locals; take in a bit of culture and stay overnight in their homes originally built by the Moravian Church in the 1960s.
A perfect hideaway, Bergrivier boasting luxury accommodation ranging from mountain cabins to seaside camping sites.
Porterville is a quaint town nestled on the slopes of the Olifant’s River Mountains at the base of the Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area – only 150 kilometres from Cape Town along the R44.
Long known as the home of the rare Disa Uniflora flower, as well as a paragliding and hang-gliding capital – attracting enthusiasts from all over the world – this beautiful town, which was originally established in 1863, is now fast making a name for itself amongst art and food enthusiasts, as well as those looking for a memorable escape from the city surrounded by exceptional natural beauty and country charm.
The hugely popular West Coast village of Velddrif hugs the banks of the beautiful Berg River, just a few kilometres from where the river enters the ocean at St Helena Bay.
Visitors can look forward to soaking up the rich and welcoming culture and lifestyle of this coastal community, which offers an abundance of activities, accommodation options, and eateries to suite all tastes.
This historic village, which was established in 1836 and named after the impressive mountain that it clings to, is now booming as more-and-more people are drawn to its many attractions and its close proximity to the city.
Visitors frequent Piketberg to enjoy – amongst many other things – the stunning natural surrounds, the abundant outdoor activities, good food, good wine, attractive architecture (with the old town featuring gorgeously restored cottages as well as the imposing neo-gothic style Dutch Reformed Church), warm country hospitality and rich heritage.
The towering mountain peaks of Piketberg and Porterville, adorned with ancient and intriguing rock formations, and fynbos-scented mountain air sharpens the senses and inspires the soul. Accommodation in the main towns (Piketberg, Porterville and Velddrif) ranges from luxury mountain cabins to seaside camping sites. Homestays in Goedverwacht offer intimate contact with opportunites for cultural exchanges.