Rose’s Insider Guide to Hoekwil
Rose Bilbrough, from Hoekwil, is the founder of Gotravelbug, a blog dedicated to the roads less travelled, the off the beaten track wanderer and the paths less come by explorer. She discovers places forgotten, the secrets of Southern Africa on foot, horseback, Bicycle or a small Opel Corsa that pretends to be a 4 x 4. Armed with a camera, a backpack and an inquisitive mind she uncovers culture, history, food, and other interesting facts of this extremely diverse country.
5 things I love most about Hoekwil
- Long stretch of Beaches
- Fresh Rivers that run off the Mountains
- Natural Indigenous forest
- Farm grown food
- Adventure Paradise, especially being a paragliding pilot
A few quirky/cool/fun things only locals know about
My favourite hidden swimming spot near rivers and creeks…I’ll never tell. Bonfire beach spots, ok I might say. Train Tracking the old railway tracks for photos. Flying my coastal cliff inn my paraglider. Eating breakfast at the Sedgefield Market with friends. A good old fashioned Braai on the lagoon’s edge and, finally, “Beer Slip”. You’ll have to ask me about that one.
The least touristy thing to do in Hoekwil
Shop
Best place in Hoekwil to enjoy…
The water: Kaaimans River, Touw River, Beach
The mountains/countryside: Wilderness National Park – ie, Hikes, Big Trees the Seven Passes road, country Restaurants
The outdoors: Map of Africa, Paradise Ridge, Gericke’s Point, Sedgefield Mouth
The food: Wild Oats Farmers Markets, Harkerville Market, Outeniqua Market , Ile De Pain, Totties Farm Kitchen
The general vibe or nightlife: Red Bridge Brewery, Knysna, Wilderness Village Local vibe.
Good coffee/tea/wine: For coffee: Green Shed, Pause Coffee roastery Timber lake village, Slow Roast Sedgefield. For beer: Sedgefield Breweries, Redbridge Brewery Knysna, Blind Pig. For wine and/or bubbly: Bramon. For wines: Plet, Herolds, Herolt, Packwood, Knysna/Plet.
Meet locals: Fairy Knowe & Beach House Back Packers
What makes a city/town special for me
It is an adventure paradise, it is easy living with fresh air and clean water, completely natural!
My favourite small town in South Africa and why
Mine, Wilderness. I want to be in nature and live a simple, clean adventurous life.
If I were to do a 10 day road trip through South Africa, these are the stops I’d make:
Graaff Reinet & Nieu Bethesda, Bethulie, Clarens, Wakkerstroom, Jozini- Hluhluwe, Howick, Underberg, Port Shepstone, Coffee Bay, St Francis Bay.
The ultimate bush experience anyone can have in SA
Sleeping in a Bird Hide in the Kruger and watching the wild animals at close range.
The ultimate bush experience anyone can have in Southern Africa ( Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana, Namibia)
Loved the Chobe River with the Elephants in the River!
My best beach/island experience in Southern Africa
The most magical place in South Africa and why
I love the Kruger and the Southern Park of it is my favourite. I love watching and photographing wildlife and birds. The quiet of the bush, the smell of the rain on the red sand and the sitting around a bushfire is my happy place.
The best places to visit in South Africa for…
- Solo travellers: Garden Route – Cape Town
- Couples: The Bushveld and Garden Route
- Families: Definitely the Garden Route
- Luxury travellers: Kruger, Cape Town, Franschhoek and Stellenbosch
- Those seeking off-the-grid spots: Klein Karoo
Rose, founder of Gotravelbug, is a Garden Route based Blogger, Influencer and Social Media Networker entrenched in the Marketing of the area that she lives in and completely in love with her beautiful backyard ,described best as “Inspired by Nature and Driven by Adventure” as she says to many. You can see more of her on her Facebook page.
