De Kelders: Klipgat Cave and Walker Bay

De Kelders is a coastal village whose name is also associated with a special place in human history: Klipgat Cave. In addition, Walker Bay Nature Reserve’s largest section extends to De Kelders near Gansbaai. Here, nature experiences, a cave with an archaeological history, and different ways to explore the reserve come together.

Walker Bay and the 4x4 routes

The largest section of Walker Bay Nature Reserve is called Walker Bay. It stretches from the Klein River to De Kelders near Gansbaai. This geographical reach gives the reserve a clear connection to the destination, without implying that the entire reserve lies within the village. Visitors can access the reserve’s 4x4 routes through the De Kelders-Gansbaai Gate. If you want to include a drive along these routes in your holiday, you can use this entrance as a specific reference point and check the current conditions in the reserve before you travel.

The routes and Klipgat Cave offer two different ways to spend your time: driving along 4x4 routes or visiting a place with an archaeological history. The 4x4 routes are accessible through the De Kelders-Gansbaai Gate; Klipgat Cave is accessible through the De Kelders Gate of Walker Bay Nature Reserve. This makes it useful to consider what you want to focus on: would you rather spend your time exploring the routes or the cave? The access information does not replace checking current conditions before your visit.

Klipgat Cave: two chambers and a long history

Klipgat Cave is located near the coastal village of De Kelders and is accessible through Walker Bay Nature Reserve. It was a dwelling place for people during the Middle Stone Age and Late Stone Age. This makes it more than just a notable name to include in your travel plans: the site combines a visit to the cave with the history of human settlement. For families, this past can be a starting point for talking together about how people lived in earlier times.

The cave has two chambers. A circular wooden walkway runs through its main area; access also involves a short climb over rocks. These details help you get a clearer idea of what the visit involves: both the wooden walkway and the short climb are part of the described access. If you plan to visit the cave, take both into account and check the current access conditions before travelling. This allows you to treat the cave as a destination in its own right, rather than simply ticking it off as a name alongside the 4x4 routes.

Planning your stay in De Kelders

Which holiday apartment in De Kelders is right for your holiday also depends on which experiences you want to focus on. If you are mainly interested in the 4x4 routes, you can factor in the location of the De Kelders-Gansbaai Gate when planning. If you choose to visit Klipgat Cave, you can look forward to a specific combination of two chambers, a wooden walkway through the main area, and a short climb over rocks.

Planning a trip with children can also benefit from having a clear focus: the cave offers a specific historical topic to talk about, while the routes provide a different way to explore. Consider which of these experiences best suits your holiday plans, and factor the relevant access arrangements into your planning. This means that choosing accommodation in De Kelders also involves deciding which side of the destination you want to discover first.

Discover more destinations: Vermont, Hermanus, Bot River, Struis Bay, Stormsvlei, Grabouw, Oudekraal, Stanford.

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