Riversdale is the gem of the Garden Route, located a casual 3 hours drive from Cape Town along the N2 highway, and is the seat of the Hessequa municipality in the Eden District of the Western Cape.
Riversdale is a small, flourishing country town nestled between the Langeberg mountain range and the sea. It makes an ideal stop-over for exploring the countryside. Riversdale's location gives it the advantage of being in close proximity of the sea and the open spaces of the Klein Karoo, both a comfortable 25 minute drive away. The Klein Karoo can be reached via the scenic Garcia mountain pass adjacent to the famous Sleeping Beauty mountain peak. Riversdale serves as an ideal and safe base for day trips to explore the variety of natural beauty and places of interest.
The charming De Doornkraal Boutique Hotel and the excellent cuisine of the De Wingerdt Restaurant are not to be missed. De Doornkraal Wine Estate's award winning wine, the Aan't Vette Syrah Blanc de Noir, and other wines from the Cape South Coast region can be tasted.
From a travel and tourism perspective Riversdale's immediate surroundings offer majectic mountain scenery, and activities such as absailing alongside waterfalls, hang gliding, hiking trails, horse trails, fishing and golf. Riversdale, steeped in history and heritage, is located in a malaria free zone, 300 kilometres to the east of Cape Town and 450 km to the west of Port Elizabeth. Being a rural town it has a small population of 6000 villagers.