Region & Travel Info
It's Time to Start Exploring
Hessequa is the name given by the indigenous Khoi San and means ‘people of the trees’. If you’re coming from Cape Town, this is the first part of the famous Garden Route that you will encounter. The region nestles in the shadows of the Langeberg Mountains and in the embrace of the warm Indian Ocean, stretching from the Breede River in the west to the Gourits River in the east. Slow down and explore – this is one area within the Western Cape, where new discoveries can still be made.
Getting Around
Getting around in Hessequa is no hassle – once here, you’ll soon get into the pace of country life, or as South Africans call it, the platteland. Once you’ve arrived take your time, it’s important not to rush. For one, you’ll experience many agricultural treasures if you wander off the national road. Stop and ask where the cows are going or when they shear the sheep. Maybe the kids want to ride on the tractor. There are lots of discoveries to be made with Hessequa – The Explorer’s Garden Route.
Stay in Hessequa
Hessequa boasts with a variety of luxury homes, up-market tented accommodation, caravan & camping resorts, off-the-grid farm stays, beachfront holidays rentals, old-fashioned hotels, quirky guest houses, highly recommended B&B’s and some of the best self-catering units within the country – somewhere in Hessequa, there is an accommodation venue waiting for you.
Blue Flag Beaches
The iconic Blue Flag is one of the world’s most recognised voluntary awards for beaches, marinas, and sustainable boating tourism operators. In order to qualify for the Blue Flag, a series of stringent environmental, educational, safety, and accessibility criteria must be met and maintained. Hessequa Municipality is the first Municipal area within South Africa, which achieved the status of having all the proclaimed swimming beaches under its jurisdiction awarded Blue Flag status.
Estuary Management (River Control)
Where can you row your boat? Obtain a permit? Fish? Go skiing this summer? Browse the frequently asked questions below to make sure you are in the know!
Municipal Camping, Caravan & Self-Catering Facilities
The Explorer’s Garden Route offers you great value for money and well maintained Municipal Camping, Caravan & Self-Catering facilities within the coastal towns of Witsand; Jongensfontein; Stilbaai and Gouritsmond.
Travel Map
View or Download and print our tourism map if you prefer getting around with "Old School" flair. For the most comprehensive listings of things to do, places to stay and more, use our online listing service.
Reasons to Film in Hessequa
The Hessequa Municipal region is an off-the-beaten-track destination which offers authentic and scenic locations and a diverse setting with in-land and coastal towns. Hessequa consists of 10 towns, of which, four (4) offers coastal scenes, and the remaining six (6) offering inland features. Hessequa provides filming companies with support services, such as accommodation establishments, catering service providers, graphic designers and transport companies. Hessequa is the ideal location for tourism filming, commercials, and documentaries.
