Near Piketberg, the mission village of Goedverwacht is located off the R399. A charming little town with a history to match, with gardens and fruit trees lining its main street. And it is one of the best places to visit in Cape West Coast.
Originally known as Burgershoek, Goedverwacht was a farm owned by Hendrik Schalk Burger. In his final years, Christiana Maniesa, one of his slaves, and her five children took care of him. She received the farm as thanks to him. Despite his children’s attempts to contest the contents of the will, which were quite unambiguous, it was upheld in court.
She would own the farm till she passed away. While they were waiting to purchase the land, the Moravian missionaries established Wittewater, a small settlement just outside of Goedverwacht, in 1845.
The mission bought Goedverwacht in 1889, and they then constructed the stunning church that is still standing today. The village is surrounded by both traditional and contemporary homes, many of which have thatched or tin roofs.
The annual Snoek and Pattat Fees, which are typically conducted in June, have contributed to the town’s notoriety. The event, which was started 12 years ago, features a funfair, games, a classical symphony in a stone cathedral, an art show, a beer tent, and food vendors.
The event’s theme pays homage to the time when the majority of the village’s residents were subsistence farmers who relied on sweet potatoes to carry them through the winter. They would deal with the fisherman of Laaiplek and St Helena Bay, exchanging their patats (sweet potatoes) for snoek.
As a result, a plate of braaied snoek, baked sweet potato, and rooster brood (grilled bread on the braai) with homemade jam is a key component of the festival.
Peerboom and Klok e Poort are two hiking trails in the Goedverwacht area. There is also a flower festival throughout Easter, a guided tour of the Mill Museum, and access to local vegetable, fruit, and flower gardens. To learn more, only go to the community’s coffee shop, which is located at the end of Main Road.
Goedverwacht Map
Goedverwacht is a village off the R399 road close to Piketberg in the West Coast District Municipality in the Western Cape region of South Africa.
Things To Do In Goedverwacht
Visit Berg River Canooze
The Berg River Canooze is one of five paths that go through the Cape West Coast Biosphere, and it’s a reasonably simple downstream kayak trip with farm stays from Hopefield to Velddrif.
This trail places a strong emphasis on relaxation. Since there are no rapids and everything is downstream, it is suitable for the entire family. The Berg River in particular is home to thousands of waterfowl every spring, while the veld is abundant with wildflowers in the late winter. Kayaking on the river is an exhilarating opportunity to experience the stunning splendour and great biodiversity of the West Coast.
In the area of Hopefield, the Berg River Canooze route begins with an overnight farm stay. Following breakfast, you go off along the Berg River, through reed beds, woods, and rural vistas. Find some time with your guide to relax on the grass by the river, row through tall blue gum trees as you listen for fish eagle calls, and search for small kingfishers sitting on branches near the water. Probably a fish barbecue for a late lunch.
Best Accommodation Options In Goedverwacht
Phoenix Two
One of the three flats in Paternoster with a separate entrance is Phoenix Two. The bathroom has a bath, shower, hand basin, and toilet, while the bedroom is furnished with a double bed.
The kitchen, living room, and dining area are all open to one another. The stove, oven, refrigerator/freezer, and microwave are all included in the well-appointed kitchen.
There are eight seats in the dining room, and there are comfortable chairs and a TV with a few DStv channels in the lounge. There is a seating and a braai area outside.
Starfish View
For a weekend getaway, Grotto Bay Private Nature Reserve is excellent. Here, Starfish View provides Cape West Coast self-catering that is just a few steps from Pebble Beach and seven minutes from our lovely white sand beach. A very calm visit is ensured by round-the-clock security.
Six people can stay in the self-catering vacation property known as Starfish View. Three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a sizable open-concept living and dining area with a fireplace, and an indoor braai are all included. Queen-size beds and private bathrooms are found in bedrooms one and two. A double bed is in bedroom three. A complete separate bathroom is available.
A tiny splash pool with stunning views of the fynbos and the Atlantic Ocean may be found on the north-facing deck. On the deck or inside, braai. Additionally available are Wi-Fi and a TV with satellite channels. A gas stovetop, microwave, dishwasher, double-door refrigerator, and washing machine are all included in the fully equipped kitchen.
Croeso Guest House
The serene lagoon hamlet of Langebaan, the Jewel of the West Coast, is 130 kilometres from Cape Town and home to Croeso Guest House. By automobile, it takes just five minutes to get to the beach, restaurants, golf course, yacht club, and West Coast National Park; it takes two to three kilometres to walk into town.
They may customize a package to fit your needs for lodging and cater to corporate and leisure travellers, fans of windsurfing and kiteboarding, birders, and vacationers. Three distinct, self-contained flats of varying sizes that are furnished for self-catering are available at the guest home.
Each unit has its own entry and exit to a private patio with a separate braai area. Smokers are permitted to smoke on their private patios, which look out onto our lovely, walled rear yard, even though all units are non-smoking.