Rooiels, South Africa

Rooiels (also spelled Rooi-Els or Rooi Els) is a small coastal village about 5 km north of Pringle Bay in South Africa's Western Cape province. It lies within the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve^[2] and is home to a variety of wildlife, including Chacma baboons, which are routinely seen in and around residential areas. The village is known for its low-impact development and emphasis on environmental conservation and coexistence.

Rooiels Rooiels
Rooiels Show map of Western Cape Rooiels Show map of South Africa
Coordinates: 34°18′05″S 18°48′59″E
Country	South Africa
Province	Western Cape
District	Overberg
Municipality	Overstrand
Area [1]
• Total	1.15 km2 (0.44 sq mi)
Population  (2011)[1]
• Total	125
• Density	110/km2 (280/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011) [1]
• Black African	1.6%
• White	92.0%
• Other	6.4%
First languages (2011) [1]
• English	48.8%
• Afrikaans	47.2%
• Other	4.0%
Time zone	UTC+2 (SAST)

The village is a registered conservancy. The town roads are narrow, un-tarred and without street lights. Klein-Hangklip mountain dominates the village, and is home to a pair of Verreaux's eagles. Other animals that may be observed are African clawless otters, rock hyrax, Cape rockjumper, numerous bird species, small antelope and occasionally caracal and leopard.^[2]

Rooiels was declared a township in June 1948, and forms part of the Overberg District Municipality. The village was named after the farm and river of the same name, which in turn were named after the red alder tree known as rooiels in Afrikaans.^[3]

• 
  Klein-Hangklip on the eastern edge of False Bay as seen from Rooi-Els
• 
  A whirlpool between the large rocks characteristic for the coast line
• 
  Surf causing high breaking waves at the coastal rocks
• 
  Chacma baboon in Rooiels