Jongensfontein Caravan Park in Jongensfontein near Stilbaai is a municipal caravan park with more than 120 campsites and 18 self-catering chalets.
The caravan park is in Jongensfontein bordering the sea, 10km from Stilbaai, and has grown unbelievably since we camped here for the first time 16 years ago. We were now in the fynbos area, quite different from the East where we were previously.
No dogs are allowed but there was a camper with a miniature dog for a few days.
Stilbaai and Jongensfontein Tidal Fish Traps
All around Stilbaai one encounters the remains of the Fish Traps.
It is humbling to stand next to man-made fish traps and to realise that some of these were made 2000 years ago by people who used the sea and the tides to gather their daily food. Grocery shopping sure was different in those times!
Klein Daytona
One of the pleasures of camping in different towns in South Africa is that you meet small business owners that make a difference in their community by providing services that matter.
In Jongensfontein we met Johann Crous, owner of Klein Daytona, where we bought homemade sourdough bread, and had cappuccino and mocha. The bread that Johann bakes is that real sourdough bread with the many little holes where the local fynbos honey flows in to become a taste of heaven.
When Johan and his wife retired they moved from Cape Town to Jongensfontein. He always wanted to have a coffee shop and to keep busy he started Klein Daytona.
The coffee shop became a bakery, a deli and a take-away where most products in the shop are made in Klein Daytona by Johan himself.
Every morning you will find locals and campers at the tables on the porch having their morning coffee and breakfast.
The Honey Tannie
At this time I started a new website about honey when I became aware of the interesting topic of fynbos honey and bee farming. So, it was just logical that I would ask around about local honey.
The first day we walked into the Seesig Supermarket at Jongensfontein we were told about the “tannie” who sells honey from the farm.
“Just follow the street nearest to the sea. You will find her house at the end of the street with a sign in the window”, Sanette at the supermarket said.
That is how we found tannie Maria van Noordwyk who lives in one of the original Jongensfontein houses with the thick rock walls. The house was extended years ago, but inside one can still see the original walls.
Tannie Maria (who is 81 but looks 71) sells honey from the Ceres area produced by the beehives belonging to her grandson.
We spent a most interesting time with her as she showed us the boulders which was moved from the West to right in front of her house by the storms of the previous Winter season. She recalled what it was like to live in Jongensfontein since they bought the house in 1978. Her husband passed away a few years ago.
She lives peaceful and happy and get pleasure from selling her grandson’s honey and proudly talking about him working in Hawaii for a bee farmer who breeds bee queens. Her son manages the beehives on a farm near Ceres on behalf of his son.
Just follow Strand street from the caravan park West. She lives in the brown house third from the corner near the end of the street.
That light citrus honey just flowed effortlessly into every little texture hole of the sourdough bread!
(The writing on the honey bottle is the trial and error of her son and grandson’s contact numbers for my information.)
Stilbaai Brugmark
Stilbaai Brugmark is like the name says, past the bridge over the river when you enter Stilbaai.
The community market is on every Saturday and is worth visiting.
On our first Saturday visit I met Ané of Beauty and the Bee at her bees wax and honey products stall with her son, Pieter. We had a most enjoyable conversation as one can see how much effort goes into her exquisitely made bees wax candles and jars of honey.
Ané sells her all natural handmade honey and beeswax products country wide.
Order her products at 079 514 4554
Walk on the beach
Jongensfontein boasts a cemented pedestrian path from the caravan park East for about 3km with about half of the walk on the beach.
The path starts at the museum and meanders between the sea and the houses, some of them the first houses in Jongensfontein.
It makes for a pleasurable walk which ends on the beach where people can swim and children play in the waves.
The route to the end of the beach and back is about 6km.
He is also the chairperson of the Jongensfontein Inwonersvereniging.
To the other (Western) side one walks on the road between the houses and the sea. On this route you will encounter remnants of the fish traps, the Soldier or Finger where a sheep thief was shot and killed and different small bays named after people of times gone by.
Map
At Flip se Baai the road turns back into the suburb and here you can either keep going West for more breathtaking views and tidal pools, or turn back East and walk on the main street where you may be lucky and encounter a Pufadder basking in the sun.
Cellphone reception was generally good for both MTN and Vodacom although the Vodacom tower was down for more than a day due to a real, serious highveld thunderstorm.
The next morning Eskom workers were early at the local sub station and the power went on and immediately off. When the Eskom bakkie left, I told the neighbours: if Eskom in the Western Cape works like Eskom in Gauteng, they could expect the power to go on within two hours after the end of the Eskom working day. That would be around 19:00.
At 19:06 the power went on.
The reason, I believe, is that Eskom teams can claim overtime after hours. So you just wait for after hours to arrive to switch the power on!
Dirk and Ilse
Speaking of walking on the beach.
I can’t omit to mention our camping neighbours, Dirk and Ilse.
They are not long-term campers as such because Ilse still works, but apart from being the friendliest campers I have encountered so far, Ilse has this habit of swimming in the icy Cape waters every day, come rain or shine. She doesn’t just dive in, she stays in for a while!
Most of the days she ensures that Dirk also take a swim. In the month we were there she only missed one morning swim, but still did her 5km daily brisk walk.
On the slide show (link below) is a photo I stole from quite a distance showing Ilse floating in the tidal pool at Jongensfontein (just to prove my story!).
We meet many interesting people on the long-term camping circuit.
Watch a slideshow of Jongensfontein
Jongensfontein Caravan Park offers:
Safety: Safe. No security fencing.
Wi-Fi: No.
Private ablutions: No
Standard of ablutions: Excellent. Cleaned every day. Showers. Provide own toilet paper.
Wheelchair accessible: Yes.
Plugs in bathrooms: Yes.
Laundry: Yes but no machines
Condition of access roads: Good tar road.
Nr of stands: 120
Paved stands: No.
Unpaved stands: Yes
Shade: Yes some stands. Most are out in the open.
Shop on-site: Not on site but opposite the road.
Nearest town: Jongensfontein and Stilbaai 10km.
Pet Friendly: No.
Load shedding: Yes.
Hot and cold swimming pools: No.
Pensioners rates: Yes
Long-term camping rates: Yes.
Location:
Kamposig Terrace,
Jongensfontein
Contact
Tel: 028 713 7851
Email: jft@hessequa.gov.za
Website