Arniston

Arniston, one of the gems of the Cape, is a pretty fishing village of whitewashed fishermen’s cottages set against turquoise water, rocky cliffs and rolling white sand dunes. Much of the charm of Arniston is generated from Kassiesbaai hamlet, a windswept cluster of rough-plastered and whitewashed cottages perched on a bluff overlooking the harbour. Arniston was the name of one of the numerous ships that, laden with wounded soldiers, ran aground in 1815 on its way from Ceylon to England. Visit the Bredasdorp Shipwreck Museum to hear the stories of the many other ships that have casted away on this stormy coast. The town’s local Afrikaans name ‘Waenhuiskans’ refers to the large limestone cave southwest of the town resembling a very large wagon house. At low tide, the cave is easily accessible and makes a great spot for picnics and sundowners. There are great fishing spots on shore,  fishing boat trips, which attract many anglers to the area. Beach-lovers are drawn to Roman Beach, a lovely stretch of white sand with lines of gentle waves and one of the Southern Cape coast’s prettiest beaches. The beach is perfect for children and at both ends there are caves, coves and rock pools filled with marine life. Activities to entertain holidaymakers include snorkelling, surfing, windsurfing, body boarding and mountain biking, and whale watching in spring.