Heavy rain falls mainly in winter and sometimes in summer. Snow is possible from May to September. It can be very hot and dry in summer, so carry plenty of water if you’re hiking.
- Paternoster
Paternoster and the adjacent Cape Columbine Nature Reserve are an easy drive from Cape Town - but far enough away to give a taste of true West Coast splendour.
- Darling
Small, sweet and home to some serious satire.
- Clanwilliam
Lying at the foot of the Cederberg, Clanwilliam's biggest drawcard is the Cederberg Mountains.
- Citrusdal
Citrusdal is home, as it's name suggests, to a citrus growing industry. Nestling in the beautiful Olifants River valley between fynbos clad mountains, it makes a great base for exploring the area and everything it has to offer - such as hiking, mountain biking, horse riding, spring flower hunting and the art of pure relaxation.
- Saldanha Bay
This safe natural harbour is home to a navy training base and a hub for the fishing industry. Thanks to its encircling arms, the bay is not only super safe for swimming and a top spot for sailing, but the water is also warmed by the sun, making it lekker* to swim in, unlike the rest of the West Coast, which is generally a breath-freezing temperature.
- Lambert's Bay
This large fishing village is something of a birdwatchers' paradise.
- Eland's Bay
This is a surfer's (and beach lover's) paradise with the best left hand break in S.A. according to Surf bum Geoff.
- Langebaan
Set on the coast overlooking a beautiful azure lagoon, Langebaan is a watersports paradise.
- Namaqualand
Namaqualand, on first impressions, is a harsh, relentless, arid wilderness. Its few inhabitants are burned and dehydrated by the sun and scorching winds, but far from loathing the territory, they have an intense affection for it.
- Piketberg
The high places in the mountains around Piketberg once offered sanctuary to groups of San (Bushmen) and some fine examples of their rock art can still be seen in the area.
- Richtersveld
This wilderness vastness (bounded in the north by the curve of the Orange River) offers hilly, rugged terrain distinguished by weird wind-sculptured rock pillars and spires. It's brown and bone dry except for the odd astonishingly lush greenness of irrigated lands.
- Springbok
Springbok is the largest town in Namaqualand proper and at the centre of the spectacular springtime flower show.
- Vredenburg
Founded around a bubbling spring of clear water, and an important centre for sheep and wheat farmers, "the town of peace" is situated 13km inland from Saldanha and is one of the bigger towns in the area. This is the only town with real backpacker accommodation on the West Coast.
Cederberg
The Cederberg is a wilderness area with some fantastic indigenous cedar forests, San rock paintings, magical waterfalls and bizarre rock formations. In winter, you'll find snow capped peaks and in summer you'll trade your soul for an ice cube.
The magnificent mountains of the Cederberg are coloured in shades of ochre and red and weathered by extremes of sun and cold. Extraordinary rock formations reach up to the sky and shy klipspringers, barking baboons and mysterious leopards haunt the heights. Hikers and rock climbers will be in seventh heaven - experience the wilderness, smell the fynbos*, get naked in a rock pool and be alone. Access to the Cederberg is from either Citrusdal, Clanwilliam or via the spectacular dirt road from Ceres. (Motorbike riders will love this one.) In the area there are several camping grounds, a couple of backpackers, some excellent rock climbing and miles of hikes. Rising to over 2000m at the Sneeuberg and stretching for 100km, the Cederberg is spectacularly beautiful, a gallery of natural rock sculptures, home to San paintings, rare plants and many small game species. Well known trails lead to spectacular rock formations like the Maltese cross, the Wolfberg cracks and the Wolfberg arch, but you can also go off and be an intrepid explorer. Get a map and head out into the wilderness. There are small populations of baboon, rhebok, klipspringer, grysbok, and predators like caracal, cape fox, honey badger and rarely seen leopard. Birds include sugarbirds, sunbirds, the Cape canary and francolin. The Cederberg comes alive in winter when the fynbos begins flowering after the first rains. Vegetation includes plentiful fynbos, the Clanwilliam cedar and the rare snow protea, which grows above the snow line. From May to September the weather is cooler and it’s a good time for hiking and other outdoor activities. There is less rain than in Cape Town, days are warm and sunny and nights cold.
*Fynbos - a specific type of indigenous vegetation.
Places to Stay
- Cederberg Oasis
This area is a hiker’s wet dream and rock climber’s secret fantasy.
Feeling lucky?(randomly selected service providers from all regions)
Surf, Game and Adventure tours throughout South Africa
(Coffee Bay,Wild Coast)
Take a 25-minute flight to 10,000 feet to see the Klein Karoo then jump harnessed to a pro and freefall for 35-seconds.
(Oudtshoorn,Garden Route)
Durban Backpackers - On the Beach is on the beach and within walking distance of La Lucia Mall and a bunch of city amenities.
(Durban ,Durban)
Mthatha backpackers in Mthatha offer many exciting things to do in the capital of the Wild Coast. Do not leave town without a visit to Mandela's birthplace.
(Mthatha Eastern Cape,Wild Coast)
Tours require no minimum numbers and leave once or twice a week, depending on the season.
(Windhoek,Namibia)
Cultural, historical and nature tours of Johannesburg and Soweto
(Johannesburg,Johannesburg)
MozVolunteers is a small volunteer organisation based in Xisondwe, Zavora.
(Zavora,Mozambique)
Set in a valley surrounded by rolling mountains and only five clicks from the border of Kruger Park
(Hazyview,Mpumalanga)
This backpackers in Robertson is a friendly spot and a great base for exploring Route 62.
(Robertson,Route 62)
They also do horse trails.
(Vredenburg,West Coast)
