Rooi Els

“Here Nature will be Nurtured"

Located approximately 20 km from Gordon's Bay, Rooi Els is the first village of the Hangklip-Kleinmond coast to be encountered when arriving via the R44 (Clarence Drive) from Cape Town. Enter the village shortly after crossing the bridge over the Rooi Els estuary.

The village was established in the late 1930's and for many years remained a scattering of fishing cottages. By now most of its 324 erven are developed. Although not as wild as it was before the advent of mainline electricity in 1993, Rooi Els still remains a place of great natural beauty boasting a huge diversity of fynbos plant species as well as some breathtaking views of the Peninsula and coastline.

The villagers of Rooi Els are distinguished by their overiding unity in caring for their town and a determination to conserve and preserve the natural splendour of Rooi Els and its environment. The first village within the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve to form a Conservancy with the prime objective to sustain indigenous wildlife in all its formats and thereby increasing the aesthetic and economic value of the area.

Rooi Els offers a few restaurants, bed & breakfasts and holiday homes. There is a country shop located at the entrance of the town.

The beach offers safe swimming and leasurely walks with possibe sightings of the Cape Clawless Otter in the vicinity of the Estuary.

Dive for crayfish, angle from the rocks or catch a glimpse of whales. There is a lot on offer for nature lovers.

This is birding paradise. Rooi-Els is one of the best places to find the Cape Rock-jumper. Other birds include the Peregrine Falcon, Jackal Buzzard & Fiscal Flycatcher.