Wildlife on the Road & Driving on the Coast

The roads along this coast run straight through wildlife habitat. Animals cross them every day, most of them slowly, and many of them are protected. Please read this before you drive here.

1. Drive slowly, especially around Gansbaai

Keep well within the speed limit and slower still at dawn, at dusk and after rain. Watch the verges as much as the road ahead. Most animals hit on this coast were visible for several seconds before the driver saw them.

2. Tortoises

Angulate tortoises live throughout Gansbaai and the surrounding fynbos and are seen on the roads daily, including hatchlings barely bigger than a matchbox. They are a protected species. It is an offence to keep, sell or remove one, and the community here takes that seriously.

If one is crossing and it is safe to stop, carry it across in the direction it was already walking and put it down off the road. Never turn it back the way it came, never take it home, and never move it to a different area — it will spend the rest of its life trying to walk back.

3. Other animals

Buck, mongoose, porcupine, snakes, birds of prey feeding on the road and baboons all use these verges. Do not feed baboons or any other wild animal, and never leave food visible in an open car.

4. Do not swerve

Brake, do not swerve. Losing control of a vehicle is far more dangerous to you, your passengers and other road users than anything in the road.

5. Sea turtles

Loggerhead, green and leatherback turtles pass along this coast, and cold snaps wash hatchlings onto the beaches in winter. If you find one, do not put it back in the sea. Keep it dry, out of the sun and away from people and dogs, and call us or a turtle rescue network so it can be collected.

6. If an animal is injured

Call us and we will put you in touch with the right local rescue — there are volunteers in Gansbaai for exactly this. Do not attempt to treat a wild animal yourself.

7. Our position

This policy is guidance for your safety and the animals’. Driving remains entirely at your own risk, and traffic fines, damage to a hired vehicle and any liability arising from an incident on the road are yours, not ours.