Walker Bay Nature Reserve

Walker Bay Nature Reserve is a string of five coastal sections managed by CapeNature along the Overberg shore between Hermanus and Die Dam near Struisbaai. The main piece runs from the Klein River mouth to De Kelders above Gansbaai: about 1,000 hectares of limestone, dune and strandveld with 17 km of coastline. It is known for the long white beach called Die Plaat, for Klipgat Cave, where people lived 65,000 to 85,000 years ago, and for whales close to shore.

Getting there

The reserve is about 160 km from Cape Town, a little over two hours. Take the N2, leave at the Hermanus R43 off-ramp and follow the R43 through Stanford towards Gansbaai. There are three ways in: the De Kelders gate on the northern edge of that village, the Uilkraalsmond gate further south, and the Stanford side via Mierkom. Permits are sold at the De Kelders and Uilkraalsmond gatehouses. Gates are open 07:00 to 19:00 daily and the office keeps 07:30 to 16:00. Note that the old access road to Die Polle has been closed for good because the dunes have moved over it.

When to go

Southern right whales arrive to calve and mate from about August to November, and De Kelders’ cliffs put you almost on top of them. Bryde’s whales, humpbacks and several dolphin species are around through the year. Summer brings warm, windy beach weather and the best swimming at Die Plaat. Spring is the moment for the coastal fynbos, when the blombos, sour fig and bietou are flowering. Winter is quieter and wetter, with fewer people on the beach.

What to do

Klipgat Cave is reached from the De Kelders gate by a boardwalk, a set of steps and a short scramble over rocks. There are two chambers; the first opens onto the sea, and a small passage leads into the main site where the Middle Stone Age layers were excavated. Khoi and San people used it again about 2,000 years ago. The view back along the bay to Hermanus is a good reason to go even if archaeology leaves you cold. Day hikes follow the coast along Die Plaat for as far as the tide allows. Angling for galjoen, kabeljou and steenbras is permitted, as is swimming and picnicking. A 4x4 fishing trail runs 07:00 to 19:00 for genuine 4x4 vehicles only; driving or walking on the dunes is banned. Keep an eye out for Cape clawless otter, bushbuck and African black oystercatcher.

Good to know

No fires and no overnight camping anywhere in the reserve. Bring water and food; De Kelders and Gansbaai are minutes away for anything else. Take your rubbish out, stay off dune vegetation and give the shorebirds room. The reserve received a Green Coast award for 2025/26 as one of the Western Cape’s best-managed stretches of coast. The Klein River lagoon at the Stanford end opens to the sea from time to time, which changes the walking at that end.

Last updated 6 October 2026. Sources: CapeNature, CapeNature (Klipgat Cave), Wikipedia, South African History Online, SA-Venues, Whale Coast Info.