Cracklin’ Rosie is a small passenger vessel for 6 to 23 people, which departs from the historical Bokkom Laan, Velddrif daily.
Join Wendy and Nico as they slowly travel upriver past the mud flats which are teeming with birds, even in winter. On the way, you will pass De Plaat, a protected no-go area, which is a haven for birds, and is usually full of flamingo. The bird count record by expert birders is 103 species on a 3-hour trip.
The amazing vistas of the Berg River Estuary make these trips a photographer’s paradise.
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Early morning light on the river is stunningly beautiful, especially at low tide. The water is usually flat in the morning, and the reflections take your breath away. A breakfast spread can be arranged to make this a perfect start to the day.
Evening Sunsets on the Berg River are unbeatable and combined with a West Coast oyster or two, creates an amazing experience. Sunsets turn the water and sky into fantastic hues of pink, purple and red, or golden yellow and the reflections are breathtaking. In the evening enormous flocks of Cape Cormorant pass you on their way to their evening roost on the salt pans – a truly amazing sight.
Trips can be tailor made from 1 to 3 hours for a relaxing cruise, family experience or bird watching. All give interesting background from the very knowledgeable environmental guide.
We saw many reviews describing this trip as “the highlight of our holiday”.
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Background.
The Berg River has its source in the Drakenstein mountains near Franschhoek, and winds its way down to the coast, ending in an estuary before flowing into St Helena Bay at the little town of Velddrif, a remarkable distance of 294 km.
It is also one of the largest estuaries in the country with an area of 61 km2, and is permanently open. The large floodplain surrounding the middle and upper areas of the estuary are unique. The Lower Berg River is an important Bird Area (IBA), located about 140 km north of Cape Town and has recently received Ramsar Status (a wetland site of international importance).
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Open Now~11:00 - 16:00
- Sat11:00 - 16:00
- Sun11:00 - 16:00
- Mon10:00 - 16:00
- Tue10:00 - 16:00
- Wed10:00 - 16:00
- Thu10:00 - 16:00
- Fri10:00 - 16:00
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