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.

In 1693 seven starving men managed to come ashorea from the Dutch ship Die Gouden Buys when it ran aground about eight miles south of the river mouth. Most of her crew of 200 men had died of scurvy and related diseases while on the voyage from Holland to the Cape.

The survivors made their way north to the Berg River where they drank salt water from the river, little knowing that the river was tidal and that at low tide the water would be fresh.

Two of the seven men, survived by being rescued by the Hottentot clans that lived along the river banks. Dutch authorities at the Cape were notified that a ship had run aground and ships were sent to the area to rescue the seamen and salvage the cargo.

This opened the way for other visitors from the Cape and over the next few years, visitors discovered that St Helena bay was a fisherman's paradise. One of the first Europeans to arrive and settle at Laaiplek at the mouth of the Berg river was Carl Stephan, a Norwegian. He was a fish merchant who had been brought up on the fjords and knew a thing or two about fishing. Soon he and his brothers had a flourishing shipping, fishing and farming enterprise going.

The town is inundated with people when The Berg River Canoe Marathon is staged in Velddrif each year. The marathon starts near Paarl making its way downstream and ending near the mouth of the Berg River.

Along the banks of the Berg River is a dirt road that is regarded, unofficially, as a national monument. Here large schools of Harders are netted and turned into bokkoms. Bokkoms are Harders (Mullet) that are salted, then strung into bunches and hung up to dry. They are unique to this part of the West Coast and no visitor should leave before visiting this trail.

All along this road there are rows of fish strung on ropes under reed shelters. The little fish are salted and then tied up with needle and string, hanging them to dry in the wind. Small fishing boats with oars, used for setting the harder net, lie alongside dilapidated old, wooden quays, adding to the quaintness and charm of this area.

Bokkoms are synonymous with Velddrif. These dried fish are the biltong of the area. This unique, traditional delicacy is highly prized by initiates and best enjoyed with white wine, or with bread, apricot jam and black coffee.

For those who are just looking for a beach holiday with safe swimming the beaches in and around Velddrif are pristine and safe. Just one word of warning however, the water along the west coast is cold and not for the feint hearted.