The Overberg region of the Western Cape is situated to the east of Cape Town beyond the Hottentots-Holland mountains. The Overberg region lies along the Western Cape 's south coast between the Cape Peninsula and the region known as the Garden Route in the east. The region is known as the breadbasket of the Western Cape province of South Africa and is largely given to grain farming.
The boundaries of the Western Cape Overberg region are the Hottentots-Holland mountains in the West; the Riviersonderend Mountains, in the North; the Atlantic and Indian Oceans in the South and the Breede River in the East.
The Overberg region has always been considered as the breadbasket of the Western Cape province of South Africa and is largely given to grain farming. The wheat fields of the region are a major breeding ground for South Africa's national bird, the Blue Crane. Another important food farmed in the Overberg is fruit with the Elgin Valley being the second largest supplier of fruit in South Africa.
The Overberg coast forms part of the Western Cape Whale Route and there are three types of whales likely to be seen namely The Southern Right whale, Humpback and Bryde's. The whales may be viewed along the Overberg coast and especially good vantage points are along Hermanus' Walker Bay and at Koppie Alleen in the De Hoop Nature Reserve. In Hermanus a 12km stretch of cliff path provides one of the best land-based spots for whale watching world-wide.
The Overberg enjoys a Mediterranean climate with warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. The height of summer is in January with average temperatures 15°C to 32°C. The middle of winter is June with average temperatures from 5°C to 22°C.
Information on Western Cape Overberg & Whale Coast Towns
Arniston, Caledon, Gansbaai, Grabouw, Greyton, Hermanus, Kleinmond, Malgas, Pringle Bay, Stanford, Swellendam, Vermont, Witsand