Flat water, quite choppy in strong winds.

There isn't much of a beach. There is a sandy area where you can rig up on. After that there's plenty of sharp rocks. If you don't have someone to catch your kite, either you or your kite is going to eat some dirt.

The wind can get extremely strong here. 35-40 knots is not uncommon. Most of the times it blows about 25 knots. The wind is gusty as the dam lies between a mountain range. It is this mountain range that compresses the airflow and creates the wind. Brandvlei works year round. It works best in a westerly wind (NW, SW, W). Often in Cape Town when there is barely a breeze and it is raining, you can go to Brandvlei only to find sunshine, 25 knots of wind and flat water.

Take the N1 from Cape Town towards Worcester. Go through the tunnel, and about 30 km before Worcester there is a turn to the right that says Rawsonville. Take that turn, and as soon as you hit the town ask the locals where the Brandvlei dam is. It is about 5 km outside the town.

Rule 1: no kiting or windsurfing without indemnity forms. Rule 2: no swimming allowed without indemnity. Rule 3: Key for the gate is available from the house on the hill at R100 deposit. A minimal fee is payable for day visitors. Kitesurfing is controlled by Boland Kiteboarding Club, which is affiliated to Worcester Yacht Club which controls the dam. Indemnity forms must be signed and rules followed. No person is allowed to climb over a fence to go to kite or swim. You will be kicked off the water and loose your equipment. Camping sites available at the mountain adjacent to kite spot.

SkiBa, 143 Voortrekker rd., Ceres, 45 min drive.