Perfect relaxing weekend getaway! - Claire. Date of travel: Aug 2008
Betty's Bay is a sleepy holiday town with only a couple of pubs and shops. The perfect weekend getaway! I have been here with my boyfriend a few times now and we are lucky enough to be able to stay in a friend's house. Betty's Bay is a peaceful and relaxing break just over an hour's drive out of Cape Town. Its beautiful long white sandy beach, complete with beach break, offers the occasional good surf when the wind is right and is perfect for a day of sunbathing or a lazy afternoon stroll. The exquisite Harold Porter Botanical gardens perched up against the mountain, offer some wonderful hikes and walks, the most notable being the hike up Disa Kloof to the waterfalls where the many of the Western Cape's most famous flower, the Disa (a terrestrial orchid) can be viewed. Bird watchers will have a great time here as there are many wonderful birds to spot perched in the indigenous trees. If you're lucky, you may even spot a small buck, as we did on 2 occasions. Other than that, dassies are aplenty and the occasional mongoose crossing your path reminds you to appreciate the wonderful fynbos around you. There is not an awful lot to do in Betty's Bay other than relax and enjoy the natural reserve and nature and enjoy the smells and sounds of nature. I highly recommend it to anyone wanting some time out!

Slice of Heaven - Matt. Date of travel: Aug 2008
Betty's Bay is awesome! Definitely an under-rated getaway destination, close enough to Cape Town to just slip out of the city and escape for a weekend. Stunning beaches with little hidden coves. Betty's Bay is mostly reserve so crayfishing and other seaside activities aren't permitted. Wonderful walks in the nearby mountains and botanical gardens and a small penguin colony is located closer to the Pringle Bay side. A must for fans of these wonderful little seabirds. I love returning here.