The small seaside town voted the second best in South Africa
Gansbaai, a tiny fishing village in the Western Cape, was a finalist in kykNET’s annual Town of the Year competition.
In July 2026, Afrikaans magazine show Kwêla on kykNET announced its finalists for its annual Town of the Year award.
The award is based on a competition for towns in South Africa and Namibia with a population under 500,000.
The initiative celebrates small-town charm, community resilience, local hospitality, and civic pride across South Africa and Namibia.
This year, the finalists were Gansbaai, Secunda, Hopetown, Mokopane, Keimond, Bethlehem, Howick, Hartbeespoort, and Gobabis.
Hartbeespoort was named Town of the Year, winning a R1 million investment from Lottoland and another R1 million in airtime from kykNET.
Being recognised as one of the country’s finalists shows that Gansbaai, which started as a small fishing settlement 145 years ago, is one of South Africa’s top small towns.
Gansbaai was founded in 1881 after 18-year-old fisherman Johannes Cornelis Wessels walked across the dunes from Stanford and discovered good fishing grounds.
He settled in the area, and other families soon followed. The town was named Gansbaai, meaning “Goose Bay”, after Egyptian geese that gathered around a freshwater fountain near what is now the harbour.
For much of its early history, Gansbaai remained an isolated fishing village. Its growth was linked to the surrounding fishing grounds and the two harbours that supported the local industry.
Over time, the town developed a second identity as a tourism destination. Today, Gansbaai is well known for its marine attractions.
The area is home to the Marine Big Five and attracts visitors for whale watching, shark cage diving, boat trips and other wildlife experiences.
Southern right whales visit Walker Bay during the winter and spring months, while the waters around Dyer Island and Geyser Rock have long attracted marine tourism operators.
The town is also close to the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary and the Klipgat Caves at De Kelders. The surrounding area offers hiking, mountain biking, fishing, horse riding, kayaking and bird watching.
Life in Gansbaai
Gansbaai is home to 8,665 residents and has developed into a popular destination alongside its tourism industry.
Its location is one of its main attractions. Gansbaai is 45km from Hermanus and 150km from Cape Town International Airport.
Cape Town can be reached in roughly two hours by car, making the town accessible for weekend and holiday homes as well as permanent residents.
The town offers a range of amenities, including shops, restaurants, schools and healthcare facilities. Gansbaai Primary School, Gansbaai Academia and other local schools serve families in the area.
Property is another important part of Gansbaai’s economy. It offers a wide range of homes, from smaller cottages and entry-level properties to large coastal houses and luxury homes.
The wider Gansbaai area includes suburbs such as De Kelders, Kleinbaai, Franskraal, Perlemoenbaai, Pearly Beach and Van Dyksbaai.
Property prices vary considerably between these areas, with more affordable homes available further from the coast and higher prices for properties with sea views or direct access to the shoreline.
De Kelders is among the more sought-after areas, particularly because of its coastal position and views across Walker Bay. Romansbaai Estate and other developments also attract buyers looking for homes close to nature.
Much of the town’s appeal comes from the balance between its natural environment and everyday amenities. Residents can enjoy beaches, mountains, and fynbos while still having access to schools, shops, and restaurants.
Photos of Gansbaai
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That Secunda and Bethlehem were even in the running as finalists, goes to show what a load of cobblers this competition was. They are both ratholes, with Secunda having some of the worst pollution levels in the country.