Rooiels, South Africa

Rooiels Rooiels
Rooiels Show map of Western Cape Rooiels Show map of South Africa
Coordinates: 34°18′05″S 18°48′59″E / 34.30139°S 18.81639°E / -34.30139; 18.81639
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)

Rooiels (also spelled Rooi-Els or Rooi Els) is a settlement in Overberg District Municipality in the Western Cape province of South Africa. It was declared a township in June 1948, and is situated 5 km north of Pringle Bay, on the eastern shore of False Bay.^[2] It was named after the farm and river of the same name, which were named after the red alder tree known as rooiels in Afrikaans.^[2]

It is situated beside the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve and is itself a registered conservancy.^[3] 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 noted are chacma baboons, rock hyrax, small antelope, African clawless otters and occasionally caracal and leopard.^[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

• Note: Another river by this name is situated near Knysna in the southern Cape. The red alder tree does not currently occur near Rooi-Els.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Rooi-els.