LULA IN WALKER BAY NATURE RESERVE
183km from cape town, za.
34.4969° s, 19.3336° e
Just east of Hermanus, which is famous for its Southern Right Whale spotting in the winter & spring months, is the secluded & pristine nature reserve of Walker Bay. This costal reserve consists of five areas between Hermanus & Die Nam near Struisbaai. Walker Bay, stretches from Klein River to De Kelders at Gansbaai. Die Plaat is the area’s white sandy beach, with rocky limestone outcrops and the occasional southern right whale offshore.
The area is seeped with historical significance, with records of of Middle Stone Age people (65 000 to 85 000 years ago) living in Klipgat Cave. There is also evidence that Khoi and San people lived in the area about 2 000 years ago.
The mysterious Walker whom Walker Bay is named after is speculated by Dr Robin Lee of the Hermanus History Society to be Admiral Sir Baldwin Wake Walker (1802 – 1876), who was thought to join the Royal Navy at 10 years old & later in his life, was hugely influential in the design & construction of all Royal Navy warships including the HMS Warrior, which was fully restored and now serves as a Museum Ship at Portsmouth in England.
By the time Walker came to the Cape, he had been granted a baronetcy and earned the several decorations. In 1861, following immediately on his tenure as Controller of the Royal Navy, Walker was promoted to Commander-in-Chief of the Cape of Good Hope and West Coast of Africa Station of the Royal Navy, and served in Cape Town from 1861 until 1864.
There are tales of ship wrecks, hidden brandy bottles within the limestone outcrops for other washed up fishermen & even caves, thought to be the home of the last known Khoi Strandloper, who was believed to be a spiritual being with supernatural powers & the ability to communicate with animals. The spirit of Beintang, is romantically believed to attract the whales to Walker Bay each year.
LULA IN WALKER BAY
183km from cape town.
34.4969° s, 19.3336° e
Just east of Hermanus, which is famous for its Southern Right Whale spotting in the winter & spring months, is the secluded & pristine nature reserve of Walker Bay. This costal reserve consists of five areas between Hermanus & Die Nam near Struisbaai. Walker Bay, stretches from Klein River to De Kelders at Gansbaai. Die Plaat is the area’s white sandy beach, with rocky limestone outcrops and the occasional southern right whale offshore.
The area is seeped with historical significance, with records of of Middle Stone Age people (65 000 to 85 000 years ago) living in Klipgat Cave. There is also evidence that Khoi and San people lived in the area about 2 000 years ago.
The mysterious Walker whom Walker Bay is named after is speculated by Dr Robin Lee of the Hermanus History Society to be Admiral Sir Baldwin Wake Walker (1802 – 1876), who was thought to join the Royal Navy at 10 years old & later in his life, was hugely influential in the design & construction of all Royal Navy warships including the HMS Warrior, which was fully restored and now serves as a Museum Ship at Portsmouth in England.
By the time Walker came to the Cape, he had been granted a baronetcy and earned the several decorations. In 1861, following immediately on his tenure as Controller of the Royal Navy, Walker was promoted to Commander-in-Chief of the Cape of Good Hope and West Coast of Africa Station of the Royal Navy, and served in Cape Town from 1861 until 1864.
There are tales of ship wrecks, hidden brandy bottles within the limestone outcrops for other washed up fishermen & even caves, thought to be the home of the last known Khoi Strandloper, who was believed to be a spiritual being with supernatural powers & the ability to communicate with animals. The spirit of Beintang, is romantically believed to attract the whales to Walker Bay each year.
what we learned
-
Grant was very excited to test his 4×4 skills on the Walker Bay Fisherman’s 4×4 Trail, which is situated in the Die Plaat section of the reserve. It was a little smoother than he’d anticipated, with its pebbles, rocks, sand and small dunes, but we still all appreciated the loveliness of the countryside, and we were rewarded with the stunning rock formations of the Sopiesklip, the peace and tranquility, and the abundance of untamed nature.
-
Sopiesklip beach was ours alone that day. Sopie in Afrikaans means ‘sip’, so basically, ‘sipping rock.’ Legend has it that well over a century ago, fishermen washed ashore here, drenched and close to hyperthermia. Over time fishermen carved out the hole at Sopiesklip, to cache bottles of brandy. Sopiesklip of course was a welcoming shelter for stranded fishermen where they could revive and sip on a bottle or two of brandy to fight off the elements.
-
The Whale Coast of South Africa left us breathless, with its sweeping seascapes, endless beaches and mile upon mile of green vegetation.
-
The fishing villages are still in full working order and provide much of the country, even the world, with fresh seafood.
what we learned
-
- As Walker Bay isn’t too far from home, we set off early for a day trip.
- We let down our tyres to drive the sandy tracks along the beach towards Sopiesklip. You do need a 4×4 but it’s a fairly easy drive.
- The beach was deserted that day, but we imagine on a sunnier day (as photographers, we rather enjoy clouds), it would be a lovely place to fish & picnic & still feel the benefits of ‘socially distancing.’
- We stopped at Oumeul in Stanford for burgers & french toast.
what we learned
-
Grant was very excited to test his 4×4 skills on the Walker Bay Fisherman’s 4×4 Trail, which is situated in the Die Plaat section of the reserve. It was a little smoother than he’d anticipated, with its pebbles, rocks, sand and small dunes, but we still all appreciated the loveliness of the countryside, and we were rewarded with the stunning rock formations of the Sopiesklip, the peace and tranquility, and the abundance of untamed nature.
-
Sopiesklip beach was ours alone that day. Sopie in Afrikaans means ‘sip’, so basically, ‘sipping rock.’ Legend has it that well over a century ago, fishermen washed ashore here, drenched and close to hyperthermia. Over time fishermen carved out the hole at Sopiesklip, to cache bottles of brandy. Sopiesklip of course was a welcoming shelter for stranded fishermen where they could revive and sip on a bottle or two of brandy to fight off the elements.
-
The Whale Coast of South Africa left us breathless, with its sweeping seascapes, endless beaches and mile upon mile of green vegetation.
-
The fishing villages are still in full working order and provide much of the country, even the world, with fresh seafood.
our trip
- As Walker Bay isn’t too far from home, we set off early for a day trip.
- We let down our tyres to drive the sandy tracks along the beach towards Sopiesklip. You do need a 4×4 but it’s a fairly easy drive.
- The beach was deserted that day, but we imagine on a sunnier day (as photographers, we rather enjoy clouds), it would be a lovely place to fish & picnic & still feel the benefits of ‘socially distancing.’
- We stopped at Oumeul in Stanford for burgers & french toast.
