Cape Whale Route Residential Property Sales 2023 - Rooi-Els to Gansbaai
The residential property market along the Cape Whale Route in South Africa's Western Cape enjoyed strong property sales in 2023.
This scenic coastal route offers some of the best land-based whale watching opportunities on the planet between June and November. It's much more than just charming towns, boasting convenient proximity to Cape Town and a nature-based lifestyle that has made it a popular semi-migration destination. Bounded by mountains and the Indian Ocean, with beaches, lakes, fynbos, and wildlife within walking distance of most homes, the area has attracted not only retirees and weekend homeowners but also "work-from-home" buyers since the COVID-19 pandemic.
While the Whale Route technically starts in Gordon's Bay, Cape Town, and follows Clarence Drive through the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, many consider Rooi-Els the first town on this seven-town, 126-kilometer route stretching east to Pearly Beach (Gansbaai) on Walker Bay.
The first four seaside towns along the Whale Route - Rooi-Els, Pringle Bay, Betty's Bay, and Kleinmond - all fall within the Kogelberg Biosphere Nature Reserve's UNESCO World Heritage boundaries. This designation protects the region from overdevelopment and densification, ensuring it retains its village character. Here, you can still find affordable housing options in Kleinmond, with even premium sea-view properties costing less than comparable options across False Bay in Cape Town.
Hermanus, the main commercial hub of the Cape Whale Route, boasts well-maintained infrastructure and amenities. These include junior and senior schools, various retirement villages and care centers, quality healthcare facilities like a public hospital, a private hospital, an oncology center, multiple shopping centers, restaurants, and a local municipality known for its excellent service delivery. All these factors make Hermanus a desirable place to live and work.
Stanford offers a true village experience, complete with a charming market square, village green, diverse shops, and eateries. This family-friendly town has a pre-primary and primary school, with the nearest high school located 24 kilometres away in Hermanus. Medical facilities include the Hermanus Medi-Clinic and the new 24/7 Overberg Medical Centre, currently under construction near Gansbaai's entrance.
Gansbaai, a former fishing village with two harbours, has transformed into an international tourist destination renowned for offering some of the best shark cage diving experiences globally. The town provides various amenities, including a shopping center, cafes, eateries, and pubs. Hiking trails can be found throughout the Gansbaai and Walker Bay area, and several farms offer horseback riding lessons and beach rides along Gansbaai's white sandy beaches.
The upcoming Overstrand Medical Centre in Gansbaai is a modern facility with 20 beds, an emergency unit, operating theatres, acute care beds, diagnostic imaging, laboratory services, and a pharmacy. This 24/7 center will cater to both inpatients and outpatients.
Property Market
The Cape Whale Route's residential property market saw 1 150 sales in 2023, with a total value of R3 561 340 639.
There are 40 427 registered properties in the area.
- Rooi-Els
This town on the eastern side of False Bay has 338 properties. Most of those nestled against the mountain boast beautiful sea views and are within walking distance of the beach.
In 2023, 12 property sales were recorded with a total value of R40 163 000. This translates to an average price of R3 346 917. The highest sale saw a house on Ocean View Road fetch R5 million, while the lowest price went to an erf (undeveloped plot) on Porter Drive for R600 000.
- Pringle Bay
There are 1 755 properties in this town located on the southeastern side of False Bay.
59 Property sales realized during 2023 with a total value of R193 778 000 and at an average price of R3 284 373. The highest price achieved was R21,65 million for 6 Beach Road and the lowest price was for an erf in 9 Park Street for R1 000 000.
There are 1 372 properties in Bettys Bay.
30 Property sales realized during 2023 with a total value of R90 377 200 and at an average price of R3 012 573. The highest price achieved was R10 million for 4 Otter Close and the lowest price was for an erf at 156 Clarence Drive for R348 000.
Kleinmond has 4 548 properties, of which only 202 are sectional title units (apartments). The 264 properties of Arabella Country Estate, located next to Botriver Lagoon, have been incorporated into the Kleinmond property market data.
In 2023, Kleinmond saw 141 property sales, totalling R335 645 966. The average price for houses was R2 449 556, while apartments sold for an average of R1 231 875.
The highest price achieved in Kleinmond town itself was R5 850 000 for 14 Marine Drive, while the lowest price was R80 000 for 66 Kusaya Street.
Arabella Country Estate recorded 12 sales in 2023, with an average price of R6 500 417. The highest price achieved there was R11 million for a property at 27 Comorant Avenue. Arabella is a 113-hectare estate with 1.6 km of lagoon frontage and boasts a championship golf course consistently ranked among South Africa's top 10.
Kleinmond's property market experienced a significant decline in sales volume compared to 2022, with a 48% drop from 269 sales to 141. However, excluding properties in Arabella Country Estate, average house prices in Kleinmond increased by 13.8%, from R1 800 000 in 2022 to R2 047 818 in 2023.
Hermanus boasts 22 518 properties, of which 2 468 are sectional title units (apartments). The suburbs of Hermanus stretch for 22.5 kilometers, from Benguela Cove on the eastern side of the Botrivier Lagoon to Voelklip, adjacent to the Klein River lagoon.
In 2023, Hermanus saw 684 property sales with a total value of R2 438 521 290. The average price for houses was R3 796 559, while apartments sold for an average of R2 259 417.
Hermanus has enjoyed a steady increase in property values recently. The average price for freehold properties (own title) increased by 21% in the last two years, from R3 137 610 (2021) to R3 796 560 (2023). Similarly, the average price for sectional title properties (apartments) rose by 33.4%, from R1 693 956 (2021) to R2 259 418 (2023). Interestingly, sales volume remained relatively stable, with 686 sales in 2021 and 684 in 2023.
Hermanus's more upmarket suburbs saw higher average property prices in 2023: Kwaaiwater (R17 545 455), Benguela Cove (R13 million), Fernkloof Estate (R12,158,333), Fernkloof (R11 million), and Voelklip (R6 806 809).
In contrast, the more affordable areas offered properties at lower average prices: Sandbaai (R2 529 736), Onrus (R3 903 611), and Vermont (R3 215 771). Only Mount Pleasant (R116 977), Hawston (R175 849), and Zwelihle (R204 211) offered properties with an average price below R1 million.
The highest recorded residential property price in Hermanus during 2023 was R43 million for 296 Main Road in Kwaaiwater, while the lowest price was R17 250 for 1439 Lillian Ngoyi Street in Zwelihle.
Hermanus's natural beauty, relaxed coastal lifestyle, vibrant community, and diverse activities (hiking, surfing, golfing, whale watching, art exhibitions, music, nature reserves, and wine farms) have contributed to its emergence as one of the fastest-growing areas in South Africa for high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs). Notably, Creation Wines in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, ranked among the top 10 wine estates globally, is located nearby.
There are 1 659 properties in Stanford - all own title.
32 Property sales realized during 2023 with a total value of R96 015 600 and at an average price of R4 608 749. The highest price achieved was R11 million for 24 Moore Street and the lowest price was for 63 Melkhout Street for R26 600.
- Gansbaai
Gansbaai, a town located on the eastern side of Walker Bay, has 8,237 properties.
In 2023, Gansbaai saw 192 property sales with a total value of R366 839 583. Of these sales, 179 were freehold properties (houses and vacant plots, also known as "erfs"). The average price for freehold properties was R1 949 655, while sectional title properties (apartments) sold for an average of R1 373 173.
The highest recorded price for a house was R8 950 000 for 12 Waterkant Street in the De Kelders suburb. The lowest price was R250 000 for 2501 Pearly Beach.
Gansbaai's more upmarket suburbs, De Kelders and Van Dyks Bay, saw higher average property prices in 2023: De Kelders at R2 454 762 and Van Dyks Bay at R2 535 238. In contrast, the more affordable areas of Gansbaai (Central) and Pearly Beach offered lower average property prices: R1 232 286 and R1 632 432, respectively.
Considering investing in the Cape Whale Route or selling your property there? Contact one of the CCH member agents specializing in the area.
CCH has a satellite office in the Superspar Centre in Kleinmond, from where Mima Claasen (mima@cch.co.za / 072 394 3183) operates. You can also reach our other member agents, George Prinsloo (george@cch.co.za / 078 804 4341) and Antoinette Lotter (antoinette@cch.co.za / 082 879 9224), who live and work across the Cape Whale Route.