# Swellendam Municipality, Overberg District – Population > Source: https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/western-cape/overberg/swellendam/ Local municipality · Overberg District # Swellendam Swellendam is a local municipality of South Africa in Overberg District, Western Cape Province. It had an estimated **41,962 people** in 2020 on 3,835 km² (about 11 per km²). 26 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 231 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools. - 41,962people (2020) - 3,835km² - 231mapped services - 126 mtypical elevation ## How many people live in Swellendam? Swellendam had an estimated **41,962 people** in 2020 — 13.8% of Overberg District, 159th of 190 local municipalities. There are 968 women for every 1,000 men (above the Overberg District figure of 957). Spread over 3,835 km², that is about **11 people per km²**, 143rd of 190 local municipalities. 25.1% of people are children under 15 and 8.5% are 65 or older; the median age is about 32 years (it is 33 across Overberg District). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 51 children and older people. 0–4 ****3,330** 5–9 ****3,474** 10–14 ****3,745** 15–19 ****3,096** 20–24 ****2,830** 25–29 ****3,088** 30–34 ****3,466** 35–39 ****3,532** 40–44 ****3,076** 45–49 ****2,838** 50–54 ****2,260** 55–59 ****1,925** 60–64 ****1,756** 65–69 ****1,450** 70–74 ****990** 75–79 ****651** 80+ ****455** Source: [Statistics South Africa 2016 Community Survey Population via OCHA HDX, population 2020 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ps-zaf). ## Where is Swellendam? Swellendam lies in [Overberg District](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/western-cape/overberg/), [Western Cape Province](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/western-cape/), [South Africa](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/). It borders 5 other local municipalities: [Cape Agulhas](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/western-cape/overberg/cape-agulhas/), [Hessequa](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/western-cape/eden/hessequa/), [Kannaland](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/western-cape/eden/kannaland/), [Langeberg](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/western-cape/cape-winelands/langeberg/) and [Theewaterskloof](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/western-cape/overberg/theewaterskloof/). By area it is the 101st largest of 213 local municipalities in South Africa. It covers 31.3% of [Overberg District](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/western-cape/overberg/). The centre of Swellendam is about 1,182 km in a straight line from Pretoria, the capital. It is about 69 km from Bredasdorp, the main town of Overberg District. The centre point is at 34.0372° S, 20.4972° E. Local names: WC034 . Source: [South African Municipal Demarcation Board via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-zaf). ## Things to see in and around Swellendam OpenStreetMap lists 23 named sights in Swellendam: 8 nature reserves; 3 viewpoints; 3 galleries; 2 attractions; 2 waterfalls; 2 museums; 1 monument; 1 hot spring; 1 memorial. - Drostdy Museum · museum - Mayville drostdy museum · museum - Barrydale Waterfall · waterfall - Duiwelsbos · waterfall - Bontebok National Park · nature reserve - Hasekraal Private Nature Reserve · nature reserve - Marloth Nature Reserve · nature reserve - San Sebastian Private Nature Reserve · nature reserve - Sanbona Wildlife Reserve · nature reserve - Stonehaven Private Nature Reserve · nature reserve - Warmwaterberg Nature Reserve · nature reserve - Zuurbraak Forest Reserve · nature reserve - Rusboom · viewpoint - The Poimt · viewpoint - Viewing Deck · viewpoint - Fairy Sanctuary · attraction - Swellendam Milestone · attraction - Art de Olivia Emporium · gallery - Artysan Gallery · gallery - Hot spring · hot spring - King George V Coronation · monument - Magnolia Tree From Scotland · memorial - Magpie Art Collective · gallery Source: [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright). Named attractions, museums, viewpoints, historic sites and natural features mapped in OpenStreetMap. Places of worship are not listed. ## Know before you go: Swellendam - Time zoneUTC+2, no daylight saving · Africa/Johannesburg - CurrencyRand (ZAR) - Country calling code+27 - LanguagesZulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Pedi, English, Tswana - Plug typesType C, D · 230 V - Driving sideLeft - Postcode format4 digits (####) ### Nearest airports - George Airport (GRJ) · George173 km - Cape Town International Airport (CPT) · Cape Town175 km ### Nearest railway station Buffeljagsrivier (Swellendam), about 4.0 km from the centre. ### Daylight Days are longest in Dec (about 14.4 hours, sunrise around 05:21) and shortest in Jun (about 9.9 hours, sunrise around 07:41, sunset around 17:35). Source: [GeoNames country and time-zone files (CC BY 4.0)](https://www.geonames.org/); [Wikidata (CC0) — plug types, mains voltage, driving side; retrieved 2026-11-03](https://www.wikidata.org/); [OurAirports (public domain)](https://ourairports.com/data/). Airports with scheduled passenger flights; straight-line distances. Daylight is calculated for the 15th of each month in local standard time. Check entry and visa rules with official government sources before travelling. ## Villages and localities in Swellendam Open gazetteers list **26 villages, towns and localities** in Swellendam. The largest with a recorded population: Swellendam (20,993), Barrydale (4,979), Suurbraak (2,698) and Buffeljagsrivier (1,724). Settlements here lie between about 5 m and 742 m above sea level (median 126 m). - Bakklysdrift - Barrydale - Boerboonfontein - Buffeljagsrivier - Bushman Drannings - Cloeteskraal - Doornrivier - Doornriviervlei - Goedgeloof - Infanta - Kontiki - Lang Elsie's Kraal Rest Camp - Malgas - Matjieskloof - Newtown - Ouplaas - Ouplass - Railton - Sanbona Wildlife Reserve - Smitsville - Spitskop - Stormsvlei - Suurbraak - Swellendam - Warmwaterberg - Wydgeleë Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/); [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright). ## Landscape and landmarks of Swellendam Named natural and historic features inside Swellendam, from the GeoNames gazetteer. ### Water 19 rivers and streams; 1 reservoir or tank. - Bellair Dam - Bietourivier - Brakrivier - Brakrivier - Breë - Buffeljagsrivier - Diptkarivier - Jacobsrivier - Kinkorivier - Kliprivier - Kluitjieskraal - Kwassiedierivier - Leeurivier - Melkhoutrivier - Muurivier - Napkeirivier - Potbergrivier - Sandleegte - Soutrivier - Tradourivier ### Coast and islands 1 headland. - Saint Sebastian Point ### Hills and mountains 39 hills; 12 mountains; 9 peaks; 2 mountain passes. - Grootberg · 1,603 m - Zuurbrak High Site · 1,491 m - Horingberg · 1,476 m - Clock Peaks · 1,391 m - Middelrivierberg · 1,379 m - Twaalfuurkop · 1,367 m - Elfuurkop · 1,327 m - Vaalkop · 1,315 m - Eenuurkop · 1,292 m - Warmwaterberg · 1,277 m - Noukranspiek · 1,276 m - Kopberg · 1,247 m - Tienuurkop · 1,164 m - Zuurbrak · 1,009 m - Spitskop · 992 m - Brandkop · 899 m - Bulberg · 838 m - Hoëfontein se Koppe · 832 m - Hoeksberg · 743 m - Aasvoëlkrans · 742 m - Koedoeskop · 740 m - Swartkop · 729 m - Klein-Kopberg · 713 m - Graskop · 682 m …and 38 more. ### Forests and nature 1 forest; 1 nature reserve; 1 park. - Appelbos - Marloth Nature Reserve - Nasionale Bontebokpark ### Getting around 2 airfields; 1 railway station. - Buffeljagsrivier - Elandspad - Hendrik Swellengrebel Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/). Places of worship are not listed. Elevations are from the GeoNames terrain model and are approximate. ## Weather in Swellendam and the best time to visit Using the climate of Overberg District, the warmest month is Feb (average 23 °C) and the coolest is Jul (11 °C). About 559 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Aug (72 mm) and the driest Feb (27 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **January to December**. - Jan - Feb - Mar - Apr - May - Jun - Jul - Aug - Sep - Oct - Nov - Dec Month Average °C Rain mm Jan 23 32 Feb 23 27 Mar 21 39 Apr 18 46 May 15 39 Jun 12 59 Jul 11 61 Aug 11 72 Sep 13 41 Oct 16 51 Nov 18 59 Dec 21 33 Source: [NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/). ## Nearest hospital, bank and fuel from Swellendam Need Nearest mapped Distance Hospital Swellendam Provincial Hospital · Swellendam 4.6 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-34.01883&mlon=20.45292#map=17/-34.01883/20.45292) Bank Capitec Bank · Swellendam 5.2 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-34.01898&mlon=20.44586#map=17/-34.01898/20.44586) ATM Swellen Mark Mall · Swellendam 5.2 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-34.01863&mlon=20.44551#map=17/-34.01863/20.44551) Petrol pump BP Buffeljagsrivier · Swellendam 4.5 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-34.03897&mlon=20.54609#map=17/-34.03897/20.54609) Hotel Chris-Elle Selfcatering · Swellendam 3.6 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-34.04504&mlon=20.53525#map=17/-34.04504/20.53525) Mall SwellenMark Regional Shopping Center · Swellendam 5.2 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-34.01898&mlon=20.44581#map=17/-34.01898/20.44581) School Fraai Viooltjies Speelgroep · Swellendam 2.9 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-34.04549&mlon=20.52695#map=17/-34.04549/20.52695) College Swellendam High School · Swellendam 6.0 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-34.02037&mlon=20.43562#map=17/-34.02037/20.43562) Police station Stock Theft Unit - Swellendam · Swellendam 5.1 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-34.01858&mlon=20.44645#map=17/-34.01858/20.44645) Source: [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/). Straight-line distance from the centre of the division, within 40 km. ## Hospitals, banks and other services in Swellendam Places mapped inside Swellendam in open map data, by type. - Hospitals4 - Banks9 - ATMs3 - Petrol pumps9 - Hotels86 - Shopping malls5 - Schools36 - Colleges and universities2 - Pharmacies3 - Restaurants71 - Police stations3 Source: [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/). Coverage depends on what has been mapped; contact details are not shown. ## Other local municipalities in Overberg District - Cape Agulhas - Overstrand - Theewaterskloof ## Quick answers - Where is Swellendam?In Overberg District, Western Cape Province, South Africa - What is the population of Swellendam?41,962 (2020 estimate) - What is the median age in Swellendam?About 32 years (2020 estimate) - What is the population density of Swellendam?About 11 people per km² - What borders Swellendam?Cape Agulhas, Hessequa, Kannaland, Langeberg and Theewaterskloof - What is there to see in Swellendam?Art de Olivia Emporium, Artysan Gallery, Barrydale Waterfall, Bontebok National Park - What time zone is Swellendam in?UTC+2 - What currency is used in Swellendam?Rand (ZAR) - What language is spoken in Swellendam?Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans (main languages nationally) - How many villages are in Swellendam?26 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap) - What is the elevation of Swellendam?Settlements lie between 5 m and 742 m - How many reservoirs and tanks are in Swellendam?1 named in GeoNames - What is the highest point in Swellendam?Grootberg (1,603 m, GeoNames elevation model) - What is the best time to visit Swellendam?January to December - Where is the nearest hospital to Swellendam?Swellendam Provincial Hospital, about 4.6 km from the centre - Where is the nearest bank to Swellendam?Capitec Bank, about 5.2 km from the centre - Where is the nearest ATM to Swellendam?Swellen Mark Mall, about 5.2 km from the centre - Where is the nearest petrol pump to Swellendam?BP Buffeljagsrivier, about 4.5 km from the centre - How many hospitals are in Swellendam?4 mapped - How many banks are in Swellendam?9 mapped - How many ATMs are in Swellendam?3 mapped - How many petrol pumps are in Swellendam?9 mapped - What is the P-code of Swellendam?ZA1034 (OCHA common operational dataset)