Witsand
Witsand | |
|---|---|
A beach near Witsand. | |
| Coordinates: 34°23′42″S 20°50′28″E / 34.395°S 20.841°E | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | Western Cape |
| District | Garden Route |
| Municipality | Hessequa |
| Area | |
• Total | 2.71 km2 (1.05 sq mi) |
| Population (2011) | |
• Total | 321 |
| • Density | 120/km2 (310/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2011) | |
| • Black African | 9.7% |
| • Coloured | 2.2% |
| • White | 87.2% |
| • Other | 0.9% |
| First languages (2011) | |
| • Afrikaans | 72.3% |
| • English | 26.0% |
| • Other | 1.6% |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (SAST) |
| PO box | 6666 |
| Area code | 028 |
Witsand, located in the Western Cape of South Africa, is a small coastal town at the mouth of the Breede River estuary. Often referred to as the Whale Nursery of South Africa, the town attracts a remarkable number of southern right whales between June and November each year.
As an authentic destination for water sports and outdoor enthusiasts, Witsand offers experiences such as kite-surfing, surfing, stand-up paddleboarding, and fishing. The town lies within the Hessequa region, also known as the Explorer's Garden Route.
The Breede River near Witsand is also known for yielding some of the largest bull sharks ever recorded—though notably, there have been no reported shark attacks. Each November, Witsand hosts the finish line of the annual Vlakte Marathon, a notable event in the region.
In recent years, Witsand has also gained attention as a hub for Bitcoin adoption in Africa, with many local merchants now accepting cryptocurrency payments.