The Kleinmond area in the Overberg district comprise Kleinmond, Betty's Bay, Pringle Bay and Rooiels. It has been a summer resort for farmers from the Caledon and Elgin areas since 1861. In 1948, a town council was elected, a highway constructed and the town developed.
Kleinmond is a popular holiday resort within Sandown Bay and situated 3 km from the Palmiet River. The name comes from the `small mouth' of the lagoon of the Bot River. Attractions include "Hans die Skipper", home of the well-known late Afrikaans author, DF Malherbe.
The Botriver Marsh is home to thousands of water fowl. Sailing is allowed on the marsh, but a permit is needed for fishing. In this area are the graves of two men who died at sea - Captain Gustaf Adolf and a passenger on a Norwegian ship, wrecked off the coast.
The famous Harold Porter Boatanical Gardens, renowned for its wild flowers and particularly the rare Disa stretch up the mountainside, to the waterfall at Disa Kloof.
The Kleinmond Coastal and Mountain resort has more than 1500 species of coastal and mountain fynbos, a milkwood scrub forest and 40 other tree species. There are several trails through the reserve as well as a 18 km hike, leading to tidal pools and inlets with a variety of marine life. It is also an ideal place from which to do some whale watching.
And for the nature-lovers there is also the Kogelberg Nature Reserve, and the Penguin Reserve at Stoney Point. This was the first Penguin Reserve on the South African mainland, a breeding sanctuary for Jackass Penguins.
