Still Bay, officially and locally also known as Stilbaai, is a coastal town and major holiday destination within the Hessequa Local Municipality and the Garden Route District Municipality of the Western Cape. It lies where the Goukou River enters the Indian Ocean, approximately 26 kilometres from the N2 and about 40 kilometres south-east of Riversdale. The R305 provides the principal approach from the N2, while local roads connect the town with Melkhoutfontein and Jongensfontein. Still Bay East and Still Bay West spread across opposite banks of the estuary, joined by a road bridge and surrounded by beaches, dunes, coastal fynbos and farmland.
The town’s name refers to the sheltered and often calm appearance of the bay and is commonly rendered as Stilbaai in Afrikaans and Still Bay in English. European farmers and hunters settled in the wider district during the eighteenth century, but the coastal settlement developed gradually rather than through one formal founding event. The first simple holiday cottages appeared beside the Goukou River during the late nineteenth century, with Riverina, built on the western bank in the early 1880s, remembered as the town’s oldest holiday house. Improved roads, residential subdivision and growing interest in seaside holidays transformed Still Bay into a permanent town during the twentieth century.
Human occupation of the wider Still Bay region reaches back tens of thousands of years. Archaeological discoveries at Blombos Cave, west of the town, include engraved ochre, shell beads and evidence of pigment processing dating to the Middle Stone Age, although the protected cave itself is not open to ordinary visitors. Khoekhoe pastoral communities and San hunter-gatherers later used the coastal plains, river estuary, freshwater sources and marine resources. Ancient shell middens and stone-built tidal fish traps provide visible evidence of the long relationship between people and this coastline.
The historic fish traps, locally called visvywers, consist of low stone walls arranged across rocky tidal platforms. Fish enter the enclosures at high tide and are trapped as the water recedes; some traps continue to be maintained under traditional custodianship and conservation controls. The Palinggat homestead now houses the Stilbaai Tourism Bureau and Blombos Museum of Archaeology, where visitors can learn about the region’s early inhabitants and archaeological discoveries. A nearby freshwater pond is known for protected eels that migrate between the Goukou estuary and inland water sources and are traditionally fed at scheduled times.
Still Bay has developed into a substantial regional service and retirement centre whose economy combines tourism, property, construction, retail, agriculture, fishing, hospitality and household services. The town provides supermarkets, pharmacies, medical practices, schools, banks, sports facilities and specialised shops, while Riversdale supplies additional hospital, government and professional services. Its population increases sharply during school holidays, placing extra pressure on traffic, parking, water and waste services. Level 2 municipal water restrictions applied to Still Bay from May 2026, so visitors should consult current Hessequa notices and use water responsibly.
The Goukou River estuary supports swimming, paddling, boating, fishing under applicable regulations, water-skiing in permitted areas and birdwatching. Lappiesbaai is one of the town’s principal family beaches and forms part of Hessequa’s Blue Flag beach programme for the 2025–2026 season. Geelkrans Nature Reserve protects 440 hectares east of town and offers coastal hiking, picnicking, birdwatching, whale watching, swimming and low-tide snorkelling. Its coastline borders the Stilbaai Marine Protected Area, where no angling or removal of marine life is permitted in restricted zones; visitors must use marked trails and check tides before accessing the beach.
Still Bay has an extensive choice of accommodation, including guest houses, holiday apartments, self-catering homes, caravan parks and properties inside private nature estates. Verified options include Karee Manor Guesthouse, with views towards the Goukou River and ocean, Charlotte House overlooking the bay, and numerous locally managed holiday houses listed by Stilbaai Tourism. Lappiesbaai and Preekstoel provide popular beachside accommodation and camping environments, while smaller properties are distributed through Still Bay East and West. Guests should confirm the precise address, river or beach access, parking, accessibility, linen, cleaning arrangements and cancellation conditions before booking, particularly during December and Easter.
Current dining options include Thyme to Relish in Osler Street, On the Rocks Steakhouse and Seafood Restaurant, cafés, bakeries, takeaway businesses and casual venues around the river and shopping areas. The town can be combined with visits to Jongensfontein, Melkhoutfontein, Inverroche Distillery, Geelkrans Nature Reserve and the wider Hessequa countryside; Blombos Cave should be appreciated through museum interpretation because public entry is restricted. Summers are warm, dry and frequently windy, while winters are mild and wetter. Visitors should monitor surf, estuary currents, wildfire warnings, municipal water restrictions and seasonal traffic before travelling.