Clarence Drive
The R44 route begins at Gordon's Bay, the NE corner of False Bay with the high Hottentots Holland mountains towering above and winds for 50 km along a fantastic road at the edge of the sea all the way to Kleinmond. Soon after leaving Gordon's Bay harbour, you will notice a steep service road descending from the top of the mountain where the Steenbras Dam lies. This is not a public road, but merely interesting in that as you round the corner, you will cross a bridge over the Steenbras River. The water comes from the dam above.

Kogel Bay
About 13 km from Gordon's Bay you will reach Kogel Bay. The name is thought to have originated from the shape of the large round stones on the beach, reminiscent of the shape of cannonballs (kogels). The bay opens up into a lovely beach, protected from the prevailing South Easter wind and very popular with surfers. During the Christmas holidays, the camping site and tidal pool are most popular with fishermen and their families. Fishermen can be seen casting into the sea straight off the rocks all along this coast. Beware of freak waves though, this coast is notoriously dangerous, so never fish on your own! The highest peak in the mountain range above, is the Kogelberg at 1269 m and this area is the natural home to the rare Marsh Rose protea.

Baboons
The road continues south along the edge of False Bay, slowly gaining some height above sea level. Sometimes you can notice cloud pouring down from the top of the mountain range indicating that a strong South Easterly wind is blowing in the summer months. In the winter time, the wind blows predominantly from the North West and often the sea is whipped up with 'white horses' and spin drift. The views across False Bay to Cape Point and the Cape Peninsula, all the way to Table Mountain are breathtaking. All along the road there are a number of lay-byes and viewpoints where you can stretch your legs, take photographs, watch seals, dolphins and whales (June – Nov), or picnic, but remember no fires are allowed and please don't feed the baboons. They are wild animals. After about 23 km, you round the corner to approach the sea-side village of Rooi Els.

Rooi Els
The road crosses over the Rooi Els river, which snakes its way across a wide beach to the sea. Sometimes very early in the morning, you can see otters frolicking in the waves! For more information about the natural environment, stop at the small visitors’ centre next to the central shop in Rooi Els. This area is rich in Khoi history and there is still evidence of their existence. Runaway slaves are reported to taking refuge in the mountain caves. Rock anglers crowd the famous ledges in the summer months when 'geelbek' fish (Cape Salmon) are running.

Pringle Bay
Leaving Rooi Els, the R44 rises steeply away from the sea and turns inland for 5km before reaching the turnoff to Pringle Bay, which nestles under Hangklip on the most South Easterly point of False Bay. Pringle Bay was named after Rear Admiral Thomas Pringle, Commander-in-Chief of Simons town naval base during 1796-1798. The village, at the mouth of the Buffels River, was originally meant to be developed as a port so that farm produce could be transported across False Bay to Simons town. This never actually materialised, so it is now a very tranquil holiday spot with one of the best sunsets in False Bay.

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