vredenburg

Vredenburg, regarded as something of a business hub for the West Coast and just 130 kilometres north of Cape Town, is a springboard to the nearby coastal towns of St Helena Bay, Langebaan, Paternoster and Saldanha Bay.

As with most of the coastline along the west coast, May and June of each year bring an extravaganza of daisies and other wild flowers carpeting the surrounding hills and fields with extraordinary vivid colour almost overnight transforming the dry landscape into a floral wonderland.

Interesting is its history, for despite its name, which means ‘peace’, the town originated at the time of a water feud that ensued over a spring serving as the boundary line for the neighbouring 18th century farms of Heuningklip and Witteklip. As a result, the spring became known as Twisfontein (fountain of strife), and after legal action was taken, it was renamed Prosesfontein (lawsuit fountain)! Only once the Dutch Reformed Church built the town’s first church close to the fountain, did the dispute come to a close and the town was finally named Vredenburg in an attempt to bring the dispute to a close once and for all.

paternoster

One of the last traditional fishing villages on the West Coast, Paternoster, meaning "Our Father" ostensibly, took its name from the heartfelt prayers of shipwrecked Portuguese sailors.

This is wothout doubt the most romantic and peaceful place on this scenic and wonderful coastline and a great deal of the atmosphere of a fishing community of bygone eras is preserved..

A wonderful region and village and a place not to miss paternoster is a haven of peace while offering activities such as sea kayaking, whale, dolphin, seal, bird and penguin watching, strolls along the sandy beach or among the boulders, artistic expression through pottery and painting.                  Picture by Llewellyn Louw

St Helena Bay and Stompneus Bay

 While Saldanha lies at the southern end of a massive peninsula, within thirty kilometres of the town you'll find some of South Africa's most celebrated and romantic fishing villages, namely Jacobsbaai, Paternoster, St Helena Bay and Stompneus Bay. Over the years these fisning villages have all become must-see destinations for any visitor to the West Coast.

elandsbaai

This tiny seaside resort is a paradise.

A popular seaside resort well known for its delectable sea cuisine, it is mostly visited by dedicated birder's or surfer's.

Lying just to the north of Velddrif, Elands´ is a popular seaside resort perhaps most famous for the natural wonders of Verlorenvlei situated between Elandsbaai and Redelinghuys. For the young-of-body-and-soul, it is a surfer´s paradise and a bird watchers haven.

strandfontein

Situated very close to the Olifants River mouth Strandfontein is the ideal stop for the flower enthusiast who wants to spend a peaceful evening at the beach. 60KM north of Lambertsbay, close to Lutzville, Vredendal and Koekenaap, the town has a variety of accommodation facilities such as the famous Perdeskoen (Horseshoe) caravan park, chalets, as well as a variety of furnished guest houses.

A beautiful tide pool and playground will keep kids of all ages busy. There is a slipway for rubber boats and people enjoy walking for long distances along the pearly white beach.

Two groups, the San and Khoisan, were the earliest residents of this area and got their drinking water from a fountain on the beach which is where the name Strandfontein originated. Strandfontein literally translates to 'fountain on the beach'.

Photo by Hannes Steyn

lamberts bay

Lamberts Bay, About 290 kms from Cape Town, has quietly developed from a fishing village into a popular holiday resort.The town is named after Admiral Lambert of the British Navy who did a marine survey of the bay between 1826 and 1840.

The hotel was built by Mr Stephan in 1888! During the war of 1900 - 1902 Lamberts Bay was used as a lay-up for British warships and in 1901 the “ HMS Sybille” was wrecked opposite Steenbokfontein.
The first crayfish factory was started by Mr Lindström in 1918, the price was 1/6 and 2/6 per hundred crayfish.

Enjoying a mild Mediterranean climate. Winter, the rainy season,has nonetheless many sunny days and is generally mild. Summer is dry and sunny, with the extreme heat tempered by light sea breezes. Early autumn is idyllic(March and April).

 saldanha bay

One of the best natural harbours in the world and certainly the deepest and safest in South Africa,  Saldanha Bay Is a jewel on the West Coast.

Despite the swashbuckling past of the bay, until early in the 20th century the population comprised mostly fishermen struggling to make a living by making bokkems (dried herrings) and selling these to farmers as rations for their labourers.  

The abundance of fish in the bay, with its prodigious supply of plankton supplied by the Atlantic ocean, gradually began to attract the attention of fish canners and by the start of the Second World War a few canning plants were in operation.

doringbaai

Picturesque Doringbaai is a quaint little coastal hamlet about 300 kms from Cape Town and just south of Strandfontein and to the north of Lambert's Bay.

In days gone by when there was an abundance of pelagic fish (pilchards and sardines) there was a thriving fish processing factory. As at Strandfontein, black and white mussels and lobsters can be collected with the appropriate licence and also if there is no red tide.

Doringbay can also be reached on the N7 road turning off on the R363 at Klawer or on the R27 at Vanrhynsdorp situated next to the N7. The people of Doring Bay make a living from the packaging and export of crayfish, and the town´s economy is closely linked to the operations of the crayfish factory.

port owen

Sharing the mouth of the Berg River with Velddrif and Laaiplek, Port Owen, a sailor's ultimate utopia, is an inland marina - one of the best man-made Marinas in the countryand.

The marina is surrounded on three sides by the Great Berg River and is one kilometre from the harbour mouth where the river meets St. Helena Bay. This bay offers the finest sailing conditions on the South African coast line due to its sheltered nature and orientation to the prevailing summers wind.

Laaiplek

Situated at the mouth of the Berg River, the little village of Laaiplek is home to a colourful fishing community, proud of their heritage which they bravely fight to keep going.

The village is steeped in history and is famous for its true West Coast hospitality and cuisine..

First discovered by the Portuguese seafarer Vasco da Gama in 1497 when he entered St Helena Bay looking for water the area has been part of maritime history ever since.

In 1693 a Dutch ship Die Gouden Buys ran aground about eight miles south of the river mouth after most of her crew of 200 men had died of scurvy and related diseases while on the voyage from Holland to the Cape. Seven starving men managed to come ashore and made their way north to the Berg River where they drank salt water from the river not knowing that the river was tidal and at low tide the water would be fresh. Of these seven men only two survived after being rescued by the Hottentot clans that lived along the river banks. After being notified that a ship had run aground on the coast the Dutch authorities at the Cape sent ships to the area to rescue the seamen and salvage the cargo on board.

Velddrif

Although Velddrif, Laaiplek and Port Owen lie cheek by jowl with each other, forming a unit around the mouth and along the banks of the Berg River, each has a character and flavour of its own.

Only 150 km from Cape Town, the little village of Velddrif is situated on the north-eastern shore of the river about 2 km from where the river flows into St Helena Bay. The town stretches along the banks of the Berg River for about 8km.

First discovered by the Portuguese seafarer Vasco da Gama in 1497 when he entered St Helena Bay looking for water the area has been part of maritime history ever since.

papendorp

The people of Papendorp derive its livelihood from fishing in the estuary and from salt gathering at the nearby salt pans. Salt gathered here is still processed in the traditional way and visits to the salt pans are allowed and here bath salts can be bought. This is a great outing for kids who can see where salt really comes from.

The small settlement, 88km from the N7 and known locally as Viswater, Papendorp offers visitors a quiet, peaceful setting overlooking the wetland estuary of the Olifants River.

With recognition as a RAMSAR site pending, the wetlands of the estuary are an important habitat for migratory birds and an Important Bird Area (IBA). A recent visitor recorded 78 species in the area – including the much sought Little Blue Heron.

yzerfontein

Yzerfontein lies 85 km north of Cape Town on the R27. Situated as it is, between Cape Town and Langebaan, Yzerfontein is the perfect base from which to explore the many attractions of the Cape West Coast.

Closer inspection reveals that this really is a tourist´s paradise. In Yzerfontein, where warm, lazy days stretch into long, pleasurable evenings, you´ll find rest and adventure in equal proportions.

The town is known for its natural beauty, vast stretches of beach and tranquillity, as well as its tradition of hospitality. Basking in year round sunshine, a splendid winter climate where balmy, daytime temperatures rarely fall below 10 degrees.

Within 120km of Cape Town lies Langebaan - the “jewel of the West Coast”, an idyllic little seaside town – tranquil and magnificently beautiful. Founded in 1922, this historical town, once a whaling station has become one of the busiest holiday destinations along the West Coast - a mecca for nature-lovers and water sport enthusiasts alike.

There are few places in the world where you can have a lagoon at your feet and a national park next door. Langebaan offers the best of seaside and country rolled up into one package with the sun-soaked wine-lands of the Western Cape and the wheatlands just a stone's throw away. Enjoy fresh crayfish and wine in an unhurried, relaxed West Coast lifestyle in an unspoilt and rugged natural wonderland.

port owen

Situated along the R27 West Coast Road, just over an hour's drive from Cape Town, you will find this unique spot. Elegantly gabled dream houses in a tranquil setting facing the clear waters of the Atlantic Ocean mixed with the magnificent Berg River.

One of the gems of the South African West Coast is the Port Owen Marina development and adjoining it the very exclusive Admiral Island.

The region is home to over 1.200 species of wildflower many of which are endemic and of unequal beauty. The West Coast flower season is world renowned and many tourists come to witness this coast burst into a kaleidoscope of breathtaking colours.

The West Coast is home to plenty of game. You will find 'bokkies' along just about any road and within half an hours drive of Port Owen you can walk in the West Coast National Park with its beautiful fynbos and unspoiled beaches between ostriches, various antelopes and the blue wildebeest.

dwarskersbos

Long stretches of white beach make Dwarskersbos a favorite holiday destination. The local beach restort offers chalets, caravan and camping sites and is practically on the beach.

Only ten kilometres north of Laaiplek, Dwarskersbos, a popular holiday resort is situated in the centre of the St Helena basin. Traditionally Dwarskerbos is seen in relation to the “kersbos” (Euclea Racemosa) and it is believed that the name has been derived from this indigenous species.

However, the story is told that local farmers, transporting their goods to Laaiplek, stopped overnight at “uitspanplek” (outspan place) to water their oxen and rest at this half way point near Rosyntjie dam.