Redelinghuys

Redelinghuys is a village at the head of the Verlorenvlei, which was established around 1866 and is still a place where time stands still. In the old days, ships used to travel up the vlei to Redelinghuys to trade in spices. Today, the Victorian architecture sets the stage, and the friendly people are the players.  From late July to September, the fields are covered with a colourful array of beautiful flowers.

Verlorenvlei, renowned for its bird life and a RAMSAR site, is fed by a perennial river that starts in the Cederberg. It is one of the largest natural wetlands along southern Africa’s West Coast and supports in excess of 5000 birds increasing to 20000 in the summer. This National treasure, regarded as a coastal lake, is surrounded by marshlands and connected to the sea via a small estuary.

To preserve this area, motorised water sports are prohibited, and a community project to remove alien fish and reed overgrowth is being managed by Cape Nature.

Redelinghuys is conveniently close to the Rocherpan Nature Reserve, also renowned for its bird life.