Paradise on our doorstep
The fifth instalment in our series on the city’s beaches, by focuses on Kogel Bay
WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 16
T2015 HE ROAD to Kogel Bay alone is worth the trip – a 22km stretch of spectacular scenery with rugged cliffs on one side and turquoise surf on the other.
Clarence Drive, between Gordon’s Bay and Rooi Els, rivals Chapman’s Peak for beauty – and best of all, there is no toll fee.
People flock to the resort at Kogel Bay or Koeelbaai (Cannonball Bay) over the festive season to camp next to the long, sandy beach, but fishing and swimming are dangerous, with rip currents quite common.
Kogel Bay Resort forms part of the Kogelberg Nature Reserve, which is home to a variety of animals and birds such as the Verreaux’s eagle, klipspringer and baboons.
There are also Cape grysbok, porcupine, small spotted genet, the Cape clawless otter and the Cape leopard.
The resort is situated between high mountains which shelter the beach from the south-easter in summer.
There are braai spots just metres from the sea at Kogel Bay or further along the coast at Klippies Bay and Sparks Bay for day trippers.
Cornelius Kayser, of Eerste River, says he spends a lot of time fishing at Kogel Bay. “The fishing is good here. “You get big steenbras and kabeljou.” But he says swimming is dangerous, not only because of the currents, but also the great white sharks.
There have been four sightings of sharks by shark spotters at Dappat se Gat, a surf spot near Gordon’s Bay also known as “Caves” earlier this month.
Sibusiso Myeki, 29, of Strand, was on duty last Monday, keeping a sharp eye out for sharks after one had been seen the day before.
The shark spotters have been in place since a South African bodyboarder was killed by a shark in 2012.
The spotters operate at Caves year-round, from 8am to 6pm.
They only watch the surfing spot, not further down the beach towards the resort.
A popular spot in the coastal village of Gordon’s Bay is Bikini Beach, which reportedly takes its name from the young students from Stellenbosch University who frequent it.
It is also quite sheltered from the wind, being between the Hottentots Holland mountain range on one side and the harbour breakwater on the other.
Further towards the harbour are rock pools popular with young children, and a class of youngsters from a Grabouw crèche were splashing about enjoying their Christmas party.
At the main beach, Gordon’s Bay locals Thando Magwebu and Pamela Magwa described Bikini Beach with its warm aquamarine water as their own “tropical island”.
Magwa said they often helped to pick up the seaweed to keep it looking pristine.
“The only thing lacking at the beach is a locker to rent to keep your valuables safe, like they have overseas.”
Bikini Beach has Blue Flag status, which is an international award given to beaches that meet strict criteria of excellence with respect to safety, amenities, cleanliness and environmental standards.