Lourens River Guesthouse Activities

Activities

The Big 5!  Experience the Helderberg’s five main attractions

- Vergelegen Wine Estate (with the five huge camphor trees declared as national monuments, the oldest oak tree in South Africa and an ancient mulberry tree, the Octagonal Garden, the rose garden, the Lady Phillips Restaurant, the Rose Terrace, sit down and relax for a picnic (baskets are available and have to be pre-booked), see the kooi-ponds, visit the homestead and the library.  www.vergelegen.co.za

- Helderberg Nature Reserve (picnic spots, exhibitions and hiking trails for young and old. Bontebok, sqirrels, ducks, goose and guinea fowls and watch the tortoises lazily mowing our lawns.) www.helderbergnaturereserve.co.za

- Whale & Penguin Watching (the penguins are comical, clumsy and very eye-catching in their black and white dress.one of only three breeding colonies on the mainland in South Africa. The Jackass Penguin Colony at Stony Point can be viewed from a viewing platform and the penguins are best seen in the late afternoon when they return from their day's fishing. An interesting fact is the Speniscus demersus, (African Penguin) is one of 18 species worldwide, and the only penguin specie that breeds around African coasts.) www.viewoverberg.com/PenquinPage.asp From Gordon's Bay (the best kept secret for whale watching) along the coast to Rooi Els, Hang Klip, Betty's Bay you can watch the whales during their breeding time from July to November  www.viewoverberg.com/WhaleWatching.asp or you can go on a boat from the harbour in Gordon's Bay  www.southseasafaris.co.za

- Monkey Town (get close to more 25 exotic monkey species incl. chimpanzees. There are more than 200 primates in a leavy park.) www.monkeys.co.za

- A visit to the people in Lwandle. Come and accompany Elke on a very private walk through Lwandle (Xhosa = ocean, the sea) and meet the community on a more personal level, we don't want to call it a township tour because this would not descripe it correctly. We visit the Lwandle migrant museum. This is the first township-based museum to commemorate migrancy in South Africa. Lwandle started in 1958 as single dwelling hostels for migrant workers. It is now a Community of families. The museum now exhibits the trials, tribulations and truimphs of migrant workers and hostel life in Southern africa. Situated in the former municipality beer hall you will find the arts and crafts centre that encourages creativity and artistic talent. We also visit the library, the creche/kindergarten, a local pub (shebeen) and on of the homes of our employees. You will experience that the people are very friendly and they love to have their photos taken.