History of Grotto Bay

• Province: Western Cape
• West Coast
• Coordinates:33°30′05″S 18°19′09″E
• Area:0.80 km2
• Municipality: Swartland

Grotto Bay is just 45 minutes from Cape Town on the Route 27 West Coast Road. This is the area between Koeberg Private Nature Reserve and Yzerfontein. Incorporating 378 000 hectares, it stretches from the mouth of the Diep River at Milnerton and covers the entire coastal lowlands to far north of the Berg River at Velddrift. The Coastal Reserve is part of the far larger Cape West Coast Biosphere Reserve, which was proclaimed by UNESCO in 2000. This aims to ensure that any development remains ecologically sustainable. Also, the landscape is conserved for future generations.

The area is covered with Fynbos and masses of wildflowers in spring. Stretches of strandveld are home to a vast array of birds and other animals, including tortoises, steenbok, and duiker, and there is also an African Black Oystercatcher Conservation and Breeding programme in place.

Grotto Bay’s history is marked by its early use as a fishing and farming area. The name “Grotto Bay” reflects the natural grottoes or caves found along the coastline. The region has long attracted people for its natural resources and scenic beauty,

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Browse businesses and places to visit in Grotto Bay

Things to see and do in Grotto Bay:

Ostrich Trail is 10 km: From the waterhole through Long Pan to the Long Beach/River fire track crossing, north to the river mouth, then south along Long Beach and the Oystercatcher Trail to Kabeljoubank.

Bokkie Trail  6 km: From the gate via the waterhole to Pan 2, through Long Pan to the Skuinsrots track crossing, then south along the fire track to the signal towers.

Black Oystercatcher Coastal Hiking Trails. The African Black Oystercatcher conservation and breeding programme is run in partnership with the University of Cape Town and supported by estate property owners. The species is listed as Vulnerable in the International Red Data Book.

A coastal trail runs north from Kabeljoubank along the shoreline to the river mouth. Beach access north of the river mouth is discouraged to protect breeding areas.

Walkers will encounter pebble beaches, sandy bays, foam bays, cliffs, and long stretches of white sand. Licensed anglers may catch seasonal species such as stumpnose, kute, and kabeljou.

Fishing in the Western Cape

Fishing code of practice

Coastal Nature Reserve

Useful Numbers

Refer to Darling’s numbers.
Police: Darling 022 492 2314
Traffic department:
Fire:
`Water:
Electricity:
Ambulance: 10177
Post office; Closest Mamre Post Office-021 576 1001
Library: closest is Mamre Public Library-021 576 1661.
Closest hospital; Wesfleur Hospital-021 571 8040
Pharmacy;
SPCA:

Towns in the Swartland district include: Chatsworth; Darling;   Jakkalsfontein; Kalbaskraal;  Koringberg;  Malmesbury;   Moorreesburg; Riebeek Kasteel and Yzerfontein;

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