Riversdale Travel Information (2024)

Geography and History

The town of Riversdale (Western Cape) rests comfortably in the shade of Sleeping Beauty, a peak in the Langeberg Mountain where the dreamer can picture the silhouette of a maiden with long eyelashes brushing her cheeks and her lips puckering prettily. Slow down when in Riversdale and live your passions! The town of the Sleeping Beauty offers you a sense of exhilaration – experience wine tasting; fresh coffee; history; mountain bike rides, hiking and a camping experience second to none.

Riversdale is well known in South Africa as one of the towns along the Floral Kingdom with the most diverse floral offering and is thus the Floral Paradise of the Garden Route.

Riversdale is a popular motorcycle and cycling destination within the Western Cape and Garden Route, with the town connecting with the R62 using the well-maintained Garcia’s Mountain Pass. Travel off-the-beaten-track gravel roads – Riversdale connects with Heidelberg, van Wyksdorp, Herbertsdale and Albertinia through fantastic gravel roads.

Activities

Riversdale is wellknown for it's abundance of indigenous Fynbos. During the colder winter months, the landscape becomes a floral displays to treat your senses! This hasearned the town recognition as being the Floral Paradise of the Garden Route. Proteas and Ericas are harvested here for export.

Riversdale hosts a popular flower show every September. Upon entering Riversdale in the Spring, you will becomeimmediately aware of a rather strong odour which is caused by therather smelly Agathosma (a type of Buchu plant). Buchu was oiginally used by the San as a relief for stomach complaints, kidney and urinary tract diseases, relieving rheumatism and minor digestive disturbances.

Other activities in the areainclude several hiking Trailsand walks that will take you through this magnificent floral kingdom. For those who feel like taking on something a little more strenuous,there are acitivities such asmountain biking and abseiling, 4 x 4 trails, canoeing etc

The Klein Karoo Nature Reserve at Ladismith and the Boosmansbos Wilderness Area north of Heidelbergare both less than 1 hour’s drive.

ACTIVITIES AND EXPERIENCES:

• Sleeping Beauty Day Hiking Trail
• Baleia Wines
• Julius Gordon Africana Centre
• Ukrainian Museum
• Historical Old Jail & Coffee Shop

Accommodation

Accommodation options in Riversdaleinclude Guesthouses, lodges, self-catering, bed and breakfasts, hotels and farm stays

Business

The economy is primarily driven by farming which includes wild flowers for export, honeybush tea, dairy, wool, fruit, grapes and grain.