Bot River

Bot River at a glance

Botrivier, a tranquil village nestled on the eastern slopes of the Houw Hoek Mountains in the Western Cape, is approximately 150km east of Cape Town. Known for its picturesque landscapes and rich natural heritage, Botrivier offers a peaceful country lifestyle while remaining conveniently accessible to urban amenities.

Botrivier’s diverse fauna and flora includes the unique phenomenon of wild horses roaming a wetland habitat in the Bot River wetlands. The town is a hub for wine production, with several acclaimed estates contributing to the area's reputation for high-quality, cool-climate wines. The annual Bot River Barrels & Blocks Festival celebrates this rich wine heritage and culture. Botrivier boasts a strong sense of community, a relatively low cost of living, and a welcoming atmosphere, making it an appealing destination for both residents and tourists. The village also gained national recognition as the setting for the popular 1979 television series "Nommer Asseblief."

There are 4 984 adults in Botrivier – of which 4 098 are economically active. The middle-income group (earning between R12 000 and R48 000) forms 42,2% of the population, while the low-income grouping (earning less than R12 000) forms 57,8%.

History of Botrivier:

The area's history is deeply rooted in its natural resources. The Khoi-Khoi tribes, who pastured their cattle here, named the meandering river "Couga," meaning "rich in fat" or "lots of butter," due to the abundance of butter they produced. This fresh water source was vital in the often water-scarce Cape. Early European settlers adopted this name, initially calling it "Botter River," which later became "Botrivier," a nod to the butter bartering that took place here as early as 1672 between the Khoisan and Dutch East India Company traders.

Botrivier was officially established in the 1890s with the construction of a hotel. The arrival of a railway line from Cape Town to Caledon in 1902 was a significant engineering feat, forging tracks through the Hottentots Holland Mountain Range and dramatically increasing commerce by allowing faster trade with Cape Town. The historic farm Compagnes Drift, once an outpost for the Dutch East India Company, was revitalized in 1974 by Jayne and Raoul Beaumont, becoming the renowned Beaumont Wine Estate, one of the Cape's most respected wineries. The Botrivier Hotel, built in the 1890s, stands as one of the oldest buildings in the town and the Overberg.

Location – Accessibility:

Botrivier is strategically located along the N2 National Road, conveniently situated en route to Hermanus (Mall 29km) and Caledon (24km). For those seeking coastal relaxation, Kleinmond is only 15 minutes (22km) away, and the Arabella Golf Estate is also a short 13-minute (13 km) drive. Somerset Mall in Somerset West is a mere 30 minutes away, accessible via the scenic Sir Lowry's Pass, providing access to more extensive shopping and amenities. Cape Town International Airport is 78 km away.

Climate:

Bot River's climate is influenced by its proximity to the Bot River Lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean, resulting in cool, maritime conditions. This creates a mild, frost-free winter with rainfall and warm summers that are offset by cooling breezes.

Social Infrastructure:

Schools in the Area:

• State Schools:

Botrivier Primary School in park Street is a public combined (intermediate) school with about 772 learners and 25 teachers. The closest high schools to Botrivier are in Caledon (Hoerskool Overberg - 24km) and in Hermanus (Hoerskool Hermanus – 33 km) .

• Private Schools:

Sophie’s Child care and Aftercare offers professional childcare and aftercare services for children from the ages of six months to 5 years old – between 7 am to 5 pm.

Applewoord Prep School (22km) offers custom-made education aimed at the individual child. School has 160 children with 35 staff members and boasts with a good infrastructure which includes an aquatic centre and a mountain biking track.

De Rust Futura Academy (17 km) supply children with education from crèche to grade 12.

Curro Hermanus (30 km) is an IEB, combined, parallel-medium school for learners 4 months to Grade 12 with a wide variety of subjects, including Robotics. Class sizes are limited to 25 scholars.

Healthcare Availability:

Botrivier’s medical facilities includes the Bot River Community Health Centre and the Bot River Public Clinic which offers primary healthcare services such as women's health, child health, rehabilitation services, curative and chronic care.

Shopping Convenience:

Botrivier offers access to essential amenities, including supermarkets such as Usave, Botrivier Mini Market & Butcher, Botrivier Boeremark Koop and the Fiori Minimarket.

Additionally, the area is known for its many farm stalls where visitors can purchase fresh produce, locally baked goods, preserves, and specialty products such as homemade liqueurs. Notable farm stalls include Houwhoek Farm Stall and the must-visit Dassiesfontein, known for its wide variety of knick-knacks and excellent restaurant.

For larger shopping needs, the Whale Coast Mall in Hermanus is a 30-minute drive away and Somerset Mall in the Helderberg (46 min).

Restaurants, Coffee Shops & Distillery:

Botrivier's culinary scene is often enhanced / coupled with the tasting rooms of its many wine estates. Visitors can also enjoy local cuisine at various restaurants and coffee shops.

• In Town:
• • Bot River Hotel: A popular meeting spot for locals and visitors, offering accommodation, food, and a chance to experience the town's history.
  • Manny's Portuguese Restaurant: Known for its fabulous food, drawing visitors from afar.
  • Shuntin' Shed restaurant: Located at the station, offering good food and atmosphere.
  • Beaumont Family Wines’ restaurant offers homemade, seasonal dishes alongside wonderful handcrafted wines, deli produce, frozen meals and great gifts.
• In the vicinity:
• • Honingklip Brewery - Craft brewery brewing Belgian inspired Ales – on offer with pizzas and platters. Honingklip Farm is open from Monday to Sunday for 4 x 4, MTB, trail running, hiking, quad bike tours & horse riding.
  • Wildekrans: Features excellent restaurant, events, and accommodation.
  • Gabriëlskloof: Known for its wines, fantastic restaurant wines and beautiful views from a little hilltop just outside Botrivier.
  • Paul Cluver: Offers a good restaurant and an open-air amphitheatre.
  • Houwhoek Farm Stall and restaurant: Known for its very good cuisine.
  • Houwhoek Hotel: The oldest hotel in the area, boasting the biggest eucalyptus tree in Africa, an unbelievable ambiance, a fantastic restaurant with a garden setting, and family-friendly activities.
  • Dassiesfontein: A must-visit with the biggest variety of knick-knacks and an excellent restaurant.
  • Protea Nursery: Features a restaurant in a fantastic setting.
  • Salandra Farm Stall and restaurant: Under new ownership.
  • Harold Porter Botanical Gardens (Betties Bay): Offers a good restaurant and famous pecan pie.

Things To Do – Botrivier Attractions:

Botrivier, despite its small size, offers a diverse range of activities for outdoor enthusiasts and those seeking cultural experiences:

• Outdoor Adventures: The Houw Hoek Mountain Range provides ample opportunities for hiking (including the Houwhoek Pass), mountain biking, quad biking, kayaking, rafting, fishing, and bird watching. Guided tours are available, particularly in the biodiverse Kogelberg Nature Reserve, a 100,000-hectare UNESCO-registered biodiversity hotspot part of the Cape Floral Kingdom World Heritage Site. Fly fishing is popular in and around the lagoon.
• Wine Tasting: The Bot River Wine Route meanders through a handful of Western Cape wineries that make up the Bot River Vineyard Association. Clustered at the foot of the Houwhoek Pass, these wine farms are the gateway to the Walker Bay wine-growing district. Bot River is one of the only areas in the world with a Wine Route established within a protected biodiversity zone. Wineries are often small, family-run affairs, prioritizing hospitality and quality.

Notable wine farms include:

• • Beaumont on Companjesdrift: The oldest winery in the region and the heart of Botrivier, featuring a working water mill and offering events, catering, and accommodation.
  • Wildekrans: Just outside town, offering excellent wines, restaurants, events, and accommodation.
  • Luddite: Located on the Van der Stel Pass.
  • Goedvertrouw Estate: Also on the Van der Stel Pass, offering meals on order.
  • Gabriëlskloof: 5km outside Botrivier, known for its fantastic restaurant and events.
  • Paul Cluver: Behind Appletiser on the N2, featuring an open-air amphitheatre and good restaurant.
  • Bartons: On the R43, offering top-quality accommodation. Bot River wines, particularly Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz, and Cabernet Sauvignon, are internationally acclaimed due to the cool, maritime climate and unique terroir.
  • Arcangeli Wines:  A boutique winery offering an authentic Italian experience, food and accommodation available.
• Wild Horses: A unique attraction is South Africa's only herd of wild horses that roams in a wetland habitat within the Bot River wetlands.
• Historical Exploration: Visitors can explore the historic Botrivier Hotel, one of the oldest buildings in the Overberg, and witness the semaphore signal at the old railway station, a proud showpiece dating back to the era of steam locomotives.
• Equestrian Activities: The Klein Paradys Equestrian Centre offers horse riding lessons and scenic trail rides to Houw Hoek, Kleinmond, Hawston, and Dassiesfontein.
• Festivals and Events: The annual Bot River Barrels & Blocks Festival celebrates the area's wine heritage. Various other events and festivals are regularly held in the area.
• Golf: The Arabella Golf Estate, consistently ranked as one of South Africa’s top 10 golf courses, is just 15 minutes away for golf enthusiasts.
• Dassiesfontein: A highly recommended visit for its wide variety of unique items and excellent restaurant.
• Van der Stel Pass: Offers breathtaking views and photo opportunities, perfect for soul-searching due to its overwhelming silence.
• Cornellskop: A farm where wild animals are tamed for TV and movies, offering opportunities to feed young animals and enjoy the farm setting, with accommodation available.
• Caledon Casino: Located 20km from Botrivier.
• Harold Porter Botanical Gardens (Betties Bay): A wonderful setting with a good restaurant and the only National Botanical Garden in South Africa that stretches from mountains to the sea. Contains a variety of fynbos specific to the Kogelberg.
• Stoney Point Penguin Colony (Betties Bay)  is home to a unique colony of African Penguins. Stony Point offers the public the chance to see these wonderful flightless birds up close, via the boardwalk
• Accommodation: Botrivier offers a variety of accommodation options, including guest houses, bed and breakfasts, and self-catering units like Kol-Kol (famous for its coal-heated outdoor tubs) and Basterkloof farm accommodation.

Botrivier Residential Property Market:

To own property in Botrivier signifies an escape from the city, offering a quiet and safe country lifestyle while remaining close to necessary urban amenities. The area is increasingly recognized for its attractive property offerings, reflecting its growing appeal as a residential destination.

There are according to Lightstone, 1 621 residential properties in Botrivier (2025) : 1 536 (freehold / 94,76%), 10 (0,62%) freeholds in estate4s, and 75 (4,63%) sectional title units.

Median freehold prices have increased from R367 000 (2015) to R975 000 (June R2025) and for sectional title from R497 000 (2015) to R957 000 – that is respectively by 165,7% (freehold) and 92,6% (sectional title) during the last decade or on average by 16,6% and 9,3% per year.

The number of annual registrations in Botrivier has increased slightly from 2015 (28 freehold / 4 sectional title) to 39 and 7 in 2024 – reaching a height of 132 freehold registrations in 2017.

Period of Ownership (2025):

According to Lightstone, 55% of the existing property owners have been living for more than 11 years in their houses, 14% (8-10 years), 15% (5-7 years) and 17% for less than 5 years.

Age of Homeowners (2025):

Stable owners: 37,95% is older than 65  /  38,377% is between 50 & 64  /  21,8% is between 36 & 49, while only 1,88% is between 18 & 35.

Recent buyers: 20,9% is older than 65  /  35,82% is between 50 & 64  /  29,85% is between 36 & 49, while 13,43% is between 18 & 35.

Recent Sellers: 35,82% is older than 65  /  35,82% is between 50 & 64  /  10,45% is between 36 & 49, while 17,91% is between 18 & 35.