Betty's Bay is the Overberg's quietest coastal escape, a scatter of holiday homes between the Kogelberg mountains and the sea. The village exists for two things: penguins and solitude. Stony Point's African penguin colony and Harold Porter Botanical Garden are the headline attractions, but the real draw is the silence. Accommodation is almost exclusively self-catering holiday homes -- there are no hotels, no resorts, and barely any restaurants. You come here to cook on the braai, walk to the rock pools, and read a book on the stoep.
Clarence Drive, Betty's Bay, 7141
Modern two-bedroom cottage surrounded by fynbos with mountain views from every window. Open-plan kitchen, wood-burning fireplace, and a wraparound deck. Sleeps 4. Five-minute drive to Stony Point penguins and Harold Porter. WiFi included. From R1,100/night (peak R1,800). Minimum 2 nights.

Stony Point Rd, Betty's Bay, 7141
Three-bedroom family house 400m from Stony Point penguin colony. You can hear the penguins from the garden. Full kitchen, braai, enclosed yard (baboon-proof). Sleeps 6. Walking distance to the rocks for fishing and snorkelling. From R1,300/night (peak R1,800). Pet-friendly by arrangement.

Near Harold Porter Gardens, Betty's Bay, 7141
Simple one-bedroom cottage adjacent to the botanical garden. Sleeps 2. Basic but clean, with a kitchenette and stoep overlooking indigenous garden. The garden trails are a 2-minute walk. This is the most affordable option in Betty's Bay and books quickly in season. From R550/night (peak R850).