Sedgefield

Sedgefield at a glance

Sedgefield affectionately known as "Slow Town," is a picturesque coastal village nestled in the heart of the Garden Route, Western Cape, and falls within the Knysna Municipality’s borders.

It's a haven for nature lovers and those seeking a tranquil lifestyle, characterized by its stunning beaches, serene lagoons, and lush indigenous forests. Sedgefield embraces a strong eco-conscious ethos, reflected in its weekly markets and community initiatives. The town is situated within a unique ecological zone, where the lakes, dunes, and fynbos landscapes merge seamlessly, offering a diverse natural environment. Sedgefield is almost surrounded by water. It borders on the Goukamma Nature Reserve and Marine Protected Area incorporating Lake Pleasant.

The town's main economic activity revolves around tourism, with secondary activities centered on serving the needs of residents and regional farmers. The laid-back rustic village atmosphere is reflected in the town's motto of being a place where ‘the tortoise sets the pace’. Sedgefield was the first African member of the Cittaslow movement.

The central area of Sedgefield (The Village) together with the Island (Extension 1) form part of the original town area. Since then, the extensions of Smutsville, Sizamile, Meedingsride, Groenvallei, Myoli Beach and Cola Beach were added to provide residences for the approximately 15 000 permanent inhabitants of Sedgefield. Sedgefield has an area size is 7,85 km².

Lifestyle:

Sedgefield epitomizes a relaxed, community-oriented lifestyle. The pace of life is unhurried, promoting a strong sense of well-being and connection with nature. Residents and visitors alike enjoy outdoor activities, from leisurely walks along the beach to more adventurous pursuits in the surrounding wilderness. The town's amenities cater to a range of needs, including local shops, cafes, and markets that emphasize fresh, locally sourced produce.

History of Sedgefield:

Sedgefield's history is intertwined with the natural beauty of the area. The farm Ruigtevlei was granted to the widow Meeding by Lord Charles Somerset and upon her death in 1878, the farm was divided into 9 lots. The town was renamed in 1929 to Sedgefield by John Barrington, who bought Ruigtevlei from the widow Meeding, after a village in County Durham, England. Its development was spurred by the establishment of the railway line, which facilitated trade and transport.

The area's rich history includes the presence of early Khoisan inhabitants, whose legacy is reflected in archaeological findings.

After proclamation, the town experienced organic growth by attracting families who were attracted by the ‘new winter resort’ advertised in the George and Knysna Herald from 1927 onwards. The first families to settle were the Salts, Schumachers, Browns, Barnards and Mullers. In 1921 a railway connection between George and Knysna was planned, and the project was completed in 1928 by routing the line over a new bridge crossing the adjacent Swartvlei (‘Black lake’). In 1940, the town was given a postal service outlet and in 1947 the road through Sedgefield was completed, thus fully integrating the town into the commercial route between George and Knysna.

A library was opened in 1962 and the town expanded further during the next four decades to comprise a central business district with supermarkets, pharmacies, filling stations, curio shops and other undertakings. Fresh water has been supplied from nearby Karatara River Municipal water extraction plant run by Sedgefield Municipality then Knysna Municipality but being pressed by an unusually dry summer a desalination plant was erected in 2009 to make the town totally self-sufficient in terms of water supply.

Location – Accessibility:

Sedgefield is located between Wilderness and Knysna. The village is built along the Swartvlei Estuary which follows a course around ancient sand dunes to the Indian Ocean. The N2 highway runs through the middle of Sedgefield’s business area, which is located about 23 km (19 min) from Wilderness and 29 km (28 min) from Knysna.

George Airport is 46 km (a 39 min commute) away and Plettenberg Airport, which is to be upgraded to accommodate Boeing 737 aircrafts, is about 58 km (52 min) away.

Climate:

Sitting at an elevation of 41 meters above sea level, the Sedgefield district enjoys a yearly average temperature of 20,6 ºC, which is 11% lower than South African average of 22 ºC.

Sedgefield typically receives about 791,5 mm of precipitation annually spread over 168 rainy days – higher than the South African average of around 100 to 150 rainy days. Most of the winter rain fall between April and August, with June being the wettest month (averaging 73 mm) and January the driest (averaging 10 mm).

The mean temperature in Sedgefield, during the summer, is 25ºC. February is the hottest month with July the coolest.

January offers the most daylight in Sedgefield, averaging 14 hours of sunshine per day, and July the shortest, with 8.45 hours sunshine per day.

Schools in the Area:

Sedgefield offers primary education through schools like Laerskool Sedgefield Primary School , Sedgefield Primary School Smutsville and Ruigtevlei Primary School.

The Seabridge School provides for Grades 1 -12 / SA National Curriculum and Cambridge International Examinations). Seabridge uses a globally relevant curriculum that specialises in, and promotes, Marine Science, environmental awareness, and the Blue Economy.

Sedgefield Academy of Excellence is a Home School Tutor Centre catering for learners from Grade R to Grade 12. The Academy is a dual medium, co-educational facility.

For secondary education, students can also attend schools in nearby Knysna or George which offers a range of high schools (state and private schools), providing diverse educational options.

Tertiary Education: Tertiary education is accessible in George and Knysna, with further options in larger cities like Cape Town and Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth).

Healthcare Availability:

Sedgefield has local medical practitioners and clinics to serve its residents.

Local Clinics: Sedgefield Clinic provides primary healthcare services.

Local General Practitioners: Several general practitioners serve the Sedgefield area such as Dr JC Venter, BJ Stander, F Scheffel.

Emergency Services: Emergency medical response is available, with ambulance services transporting patients to hospitals in Knysna or George.

Knysna Hospitals: Knysna offers access to more comprehensive medical facilities, including Knysna Provincial Hospital and private medical facilities.

George Hospitals: George provides access to a regional hospital and private hospitals.

Shopping Convenience:

Sedgefield provides essential shopping amenities for daily needs.

• Local Supermarkets: Sedgefield has supermarkets and local shops that cater to everyday groceries and household items – including a SUPERSPAR, Forest Lodge Shopping Centre and the Woodpecker Mall.
• Wild Oats Community Farmers' Market: A popular Saturday market which attract large numbers of tourists and residents from the region, and further afield, every Saturday morning with fresh produce, local crafts & tasty homemade foods to suit everyone.
• Mosaic Village and Saturday Market :  a vibrant market next to the N2 trading on Saturdays with over 90 food and craft stalls, live music, and a beer garden.

Knysna and George offers a wider range of shopping options, including regional shopping centers and retail stores.

Restaurants, Coffee Shops & Roasteries and Bakeries:

Sedgefield has a selection of restaurants and coffee shops catering to various tastes.

Coffee Shops & Roasteries:

• Café Humble Crumble (5* Google rating – hot beverages and a selection of cakes, with a light breakfast and lunch menu)
• Fresh Bean Coffee Roastery (5* Google rating - micro coffee roastery selling specialty coffee drinks, roasted coffee beans at the Wild Oats Community farmer's market)
• Slow Roasted Coffee Shop and Roastery (4,6* Google rating - onsite coffee roasting by a passionate Italian family) ,

Hashtag 420 Coffee, The Daily Grind Coffee Shop,  Fijnbosch Coffee Shop Streetside Café,  Deo Gratia Coffee & Book Lounge, Café Humble Crumble, MacButners Coffee, Pies and Dutch Kroketten , Sedgefield DEKLIous , Nostalgia Farm Stall, Kahuna's

Restaurants:

• La Bosca Restaurant at Luna Verde farm on Barrington Road, (4,9* Google rating -  flavours of Italy and Portugal at a garden-to-table restaurant, nestled in the heart of Elandskraal),

• PiliPili Beach Restaurant, (a beach front restaurant - a few steps from Myoli Beach),

• Oyster Edge (situated on the banks of Sedgefield's beautiful Swartvlei Lagoon with the abundance of nature and bird life)

Tiffany's Restaurant, Bar and B&B, Filo's Restaurant & Pub,  Texas Grill,  Harry’s Bar Diner, Moonshine runners Diner, Rosie’s Steak Bar, Liola Vegan Kitchen,  Montecello Restaurant, The Lounge,

Bakeries: Sedge Bakery, Crust & Crumb Bakery, Café Humble Crumble, Heritage Bakery.

Things To Do – Sedgefield Attractions:

Sedgefield lies within the Garden Route National Park. The area’s indigenous forests and the unique Cape fynbos are home to a myriad of wildlife and birds. Along the coastline, marine reserves are the domain of soft coral reefs, dolphins, seals, seahorses and more, while bays serve as nurseries to the endangered Southern Right Whale.

Sedgefield and its surrounding areas offer a wide array of activities and attractions.

Natural Attractions:

• Gericke's Point: A rocky sandstone outcrop and a scenic lookout point, of the ocean and beaches on both sides. Viewed from a certain angle, it has a likeness to a resting lion. It's a 30-minute easy beach and rock walk to the point from Swartvlei beach.

• Protected Dune Areas: The dune cliffs along Sedgefield beaches are some of the highest on South Africa's coastline and is home to Cape Fynbos plantations and rare bird species. The much older calcified / fossilised dunes formed weathered sandstone cliffs, dates to over 2 hundred million years ago, and were central to the development of the coastal lakes of the Garden Route region.

• Swartvlei Estuary. Swartvlei is the largest (9 sq.km) and deepest lake (up to 16m) in the Wilderness National Park and is ideal for water sports and birdwatching. The lake forms part of a complex estuarine system connected to the Indian Ocean through an estuary, creating a biodiverse habitat that supports a variety of bird, fish, and plant species.

• Goukamma Nature Reserve. Close to Sedgefield, it includes a 14 km long coastline, a marine protected area, an extensive dune field with some of the highest vegetated dunes in South Africa, coastal forests and fynbos vegetation, the Goukamma River and estuary, and the freshwater lake, Groenvlei, which has no in-flowing river and no link to the sea.

• Wilderness–Sedgefield Lakes Complex: supports up to 24 427 non-passerine waterbirds every month (at an average of 10 868 p.m.).

Outdoor Activities:

• Sport: An 18-hole Mashie golf course (the ‘Fynbos Links’) alongside the Swartvlei estuary and the tennis courts and bowls field at the Island Sports Club, caters to the permanent residents of the town.

• Hiking and Walking Trails: Numerous trails in the surrounding Garden Route National Park.

• Water Sports: Activities on the Swartvlei Estuary and nearby beaches, including swimming, kite-surfing kayaking, and fishing. Surfing on Swartvlei beach and snorkeling at the tidal pools of Gericke’s Point, is also popular.

• Beaches: there are 5 beaches in Sedgefield which are even in high season, never really crowded. Swartvlei beach is the most western beach and forms a panoramic bay which is almost deserted out of season. Myoli Beach and Cola Beach and the River Mouth offer opportunities for swimming and relaxation and lifeguards are present during the high season.

• Paragliders: Sedgefield is an international destination for paragliders. The tall sentinel of vegetated dune, Cloud 9 is one of the sport’s best sites on the Garden Route. Several companies offer tandem flights, but many people fly their own gliders - creating a colourful spectacle above Sedgefield.

 Residential Property Market – Sedgefield

Sedgefield offers a true village experience to families, retirees, remote working professionals, and holidaymakers. The Sedgefield residential property market includes a diverse range of properties for sale, from charming cottages to modern luxury homes, each offering its unique charm.

There are 3 094 residential properties in Sedgefield of which 3 622 are own title properties (freehold homes) and only 282 sectional title units (apartments).

During 2023, 164 residential sales worth R420 507 575 were realised in Sedgefield – of which 152 were own title properties worth R401 847 575 and 12 were sectional title units worth R18 660 000.

There are 11 suburban areas in Sedgefield : Cola Beach, Groenvallei, Kingfisher Creek, Meedigsride, Myoli Beach, Sedgefield (Central), Sedgehill, Smutsville, The Island, The Village and Zeegezicht.

Cola Beach is the most expensive area in Sedgefield. There are 258 own title homes and 24 sectional title units in Cola Beach. 12 Sales realised during 2023 and only 5 sales in 2024 (up to October 2024). The highest price achieved for a home in 2023 was R10 million for 1 Arctic Close, and the average price was about R4,8 million. Although the highest price achieved during 2024 has been lower at R7,3 million (4438 Cola Views Estate), the average price has increased to R5,358 million. The lowest prices achieved in Cola Beach during 2023 was R2,4 million (45 Bellrock Crescent) and in 2024 it was R2,945 million (58 Dover Street).

Myoli Beach achieved the second highest average sales prices during 2023 – only 3 homes sold at an average price of R4 186 667. The highest price achieved for a home in 2023 was R5,35 million for 5 Claude Urban Drive, and the average price was about R4,8 million. Although the highest price achieved during 2024 has been lower at R7,3 million (4438 Cola Views Estate), the average price has increased to R5,358 million. The lowest prices achieved in Cola Beach during 2023 was R2,4 million (45 Bellrock Crescent) and in 2024 it was R2,945 million (58 Dover Street).

Contact us today to view our properties and homes for sale in Sedgefield and get acquainted with the exceptional quality of life Sedgefield offers.