Stilbaai

• Province: Western Cape
• Garden Route
• Coordinates: 34°22′06″S 21°24′40″E
• Area:25.48 km2
• Municipality:Hessequa

Stilbaai is a coastal town in the Hessequa region of the Western Cape, on the R323 south of Riversdale, located at the mouth of the Gourits River. It lies west of Mossel Bay. The surrounding landscape features sandy beaches, coastal dunes, and estuarine wetlands, which influence local agriculture and tourism.

History of Stilbaai

Bay of Sleeping Beauty

Stilbaai or Still Bay, on the banks of the Goukou River, is also known as the Bay of the Sleeping Beauty due to its proximity to the landmark Sleeping Beauty Mountain. Established in 1894, it is part of the Whale Coast that stretches all the way from the Gourits River mouth to Witsand. Unspoiled beaches, the warm waters of the Indian Ocean and natural springs have attracted people to holiday, relax, or retire in this quiet area for over two centuries. There are two parts to the town, a holiday resort on theeast bank and a fishing harbour on the west bank. The two sides were connected by a pontoon, which was replaced by a bridge in1955

Stilbaai boasts long stretches of sandy beaches, including a beach with Blue Flag status. The weather is mild, and the river is navigable for 15 km. There is also a small fishing harbour and a landing strip for small aircraft.

Freshwater springs

The unique limestone area with abundant natural springs was an ideal habitat for ancient man. There is evidence here that humans have lived here for millennia.

Ancient fish traps

The fish traps found along the coast are living examples of ancient technology. These are ancient intertidal stonewall fish traps; most were built during the past 300 years. They have been afforded National Monument status and were declared a Restricted Zone within the Stilbaai Marine Protected Area. Together with the shell middens found along the coast, as well as the Blombos cave, these are visible evidence of the Later Stone Age. The fish traps are visible at low tide. These traps are still being regularly maintained, extended, and utilised by a group of local enthusiasts. Ancient Stone Age artefacts have been discovered in the area, giving rise to the Still Bay culture. Notably, a rare Still Bay point, a finely worked bifacial lance head, was found 6 km west of the Gourits River mouth.

The license plate prefix in Stilbaai is CCC, and the postcode is 6674

WEATHER IN STILBAAI TODAY

Browse businesses and places to visit in Stilbaai

Things to see and do in Stilbaai:

• Baardbos Private Game Reserve
• Mini golf (Put Put) 750m from the main beach. 072 905 1238
• Lappiesbaai Beach has Blue Flag status
• The tourism office is at one of the town’s national monuments. The Palinggat homestead. 
• Jagersbosch is the other important historic building in Stilbaai. It houses the offices of the Stilbaai Community Care Centre, Tel 028-754-2602, stilbaai@hessequa.net
•  At the tourism office, you can see the eels being fed, or you can feed them for a small fee. This takes place every day at 11h00  (closed on Sundays), Tel 028-754- 2602,
• Soete Inval Botanical Garden in Melkhoutfontein. A flower display is available from July to October. A craft centre is also located on the property. It is run by a previously disadvantaged community. Tel: 028-754-2362.
• See murals around the town by Fourie Ackermann
• 
• See some ancient fish traps at the West Beach between the harbour and the river mouth
   visible from the Whale Lookout Point at low tide. 
• The estuary and a bird hide offer great bird-watching opportunities.
• Pauline Bohnen Nature Reserve, Find several easy circular hiking routes of 4 to 8 km. Regulations are displayed at entrance points. Take care not to disturb or annoy the bees in the beehives in the Reserve. Janet Naude cell 072 448 0604/028 754 2602 lezar1@telkomsa.net
• Noordkapper Hiking trail along the coast to Jongensfontein(Directions at the Tourism office.
• The Goukou River is navigable for 15 kilometres. You can canoe, kayak, fish, or water ski.
• Stilbaai Beach Run (Parkrun) 5 km run from West Beach. Saturday mornings @ 08:00   083 264 3071
• Open Studio art route
• There is a series of paintings, “Hessequa Voices From The Past” by Kassie van Noordwyk at the Melkhoutfontein E-Centre, which tells the story of the Indigenous Hessequa (Hessekwa) tribe. They have a QR-code function, which enables visitors to listen to recordings from locals, a testament to the authenticity of the Hessequa region.
• Anglo-Boer War Memorial  on the roadside en route to Stillbaai
• Nomad’s Overland Journal slideshow
• Outdoor gym 73 Waterkant Street and Main Beach Grass area

Resources

Practical information for the Western Cape: regulations, permits, and helpful tips. See the Colourdots coastal and nature use guide

Useful Numbers in Stilbaai

Residents and visitors can find important local contact numbers below, including police, medical services, utilities, and community facilities

• Emergency Services

• Police: 028 754 6100/ 6104/ 6109
• Fire: House / Building Fires 084 014 1828
• Veld fires 071 856 5719 – 028 713 1987 (office hours)
• Ambulance: 10177- 076 401 7066

• Medical

• Closest hospital: Riversdal Hospital – Tel: (028) 713 2445
• Carewell Clinic – 082 616 0640 028 754 1040
• Pharmacy;Arrie Nel Fynbos Pharmacy-028 754 1860

• Municipal & Utilities

• Municipality – 028 713 7831
• Water:084 014 1828
• Electricity:084 014 1828

• Transport & Roads

• Traffic department: Riversdale – 028 713 8000
• Road Emergencies / SANRAL: 0800 204 204

• Community & Safety

• NSRI 087 094 9774
• 24-hour Poisons Information Helpline of the Western Cape:  0861 555 777.
• NSRI (Stilbaai): 082 990 5978
• Vet 028 754 1834
• SPCA:082 700 2491 / 082 722 2909

• Local Contacts and Community Resources

• Post office: 028 754 1115
• Library:028 713 7839
• Stilbaai sportsground and Melkhoutfontein sportsground: 028 713 8000
• Jagersbosch Community Care  Centre: 028 754 1934
• Local radio station  063 569 9468   info@radiofynbos.co.za
• Tourism:  028 754 2602

• Museums;

• Fonteinhuisie – By Appointment- 082 630 0230-083 7337828
•   Blombos museum – 028 754-3247

• Schools in Stilbaai

• Bertie Barnard Primary School-028 754 1042
• Happy Faces Nursery  School: 028 754 2475
• Melkhoutfontein Primere: Skool: 028 754 1681
• Pikkewouters: 028 754 2173
• Sunbeam Nursery School: 028 754 3398