Welcome to Stilbaai

Stilbaai is a beautiful and very popular seaside town at the western gateway to the Cape Garden Route. It lies along the banks of the scenic Goukou River estuary, where it meets the warm Indian Ocean on the south coast of South Africa. Close-by are the towns of Jongensfontein and Melkhoutfontein.

Stilbaai is 26 kilometres from the N2 national road, running between Mossel Bay and Riversdale. It can also be reached by air and sea. The local airstrip (gravel) can accommodate small aircraft.  George Airport, which handles normal passenger aircraft, is situated 140 km away. Stilbaai also boasts a small fishing harbour.

The shallow bay and the clean sandy beaches make Stilbaai the perfect holiday destination (there are 4 beaches with Blue Flag status during the December/January holiday season).  The Goukou River estuary is always open to the sea, and is navigable upstream for 15 kilometers. 

Almost every water-related activity is available. This includes swimming, surfing, sailing, windsurfing, canoeing, boating, water-skiing, kite surfing and angling. And of course plain old sunbathing and tidal floating (if you are not familiar with the latter, you must visit Stilbaai!)

Many sporting activities are available. These include golf, tennis, bowls, jukskei, squash, cycling and mountain biking.  For the nature lovers, there are kilometers of walking trails in the nature reserves around Stilbaai.  Coastal walks are also very popular.  Stilbaai is also famous for its’ historical fish traps and fascinating cultural heritage – visitors can observe relics and rock art from our ancient past at the famous Blombos Archaeology museum located inside the Stilbaai Tourism Bureau.

Public and commercial services include medical facilities, two franchised grocery shops, restaurants, many coffee shops, take-away food outlets, deli’s, clothing shops, beauty salons, gift shops, hairdressers, fishing and sports shops.

The Goukou River’s upstream area has become well-known for a number of olive farms, producing excellent olive oils and a variety of olive products.  These farms are all situated along the scenic “Goukou Meander” which runs parallel to the Goukou river.

Despite the rapid development in Stilbaai and Jongensfontein, well-balanced commercial interests are maintained, and our natural environment is fervently protected. Stilbaai remains a pollution-free, safe and delightful place to spend your holiday. 

The permanent population of Stilbaai and the two adjacent villages, Jongensfontein and Melkhoutfontein, amounts to approximately 7500.

The popularity of Stilbaai, as one of the finest tourist destinations along the Garden Route, continues to grow, and a diverse assortment of quality accommodation establishments is available.