- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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.
The best left hand break…
This is a surfer's (and beach lover's) paradise with the best left hand break in S.A. according to Surf bum Geoff. Elands also has some very fine seafood and lots of kreef*. In fact, a while back millions (and I mean millions) of kreef crawled out of the sea in a desperate attempt to escape a bad Red Tide (which starves them of oxygen) only to die on the beaches. It was an unforgettable spectacle which made environmentalists weep as they desperately tried to loads the creatures in bulldozer tips and transport them to healthier sea. Ask the locals about it - someone will have pictures. Very freaky stuff.
This is a surfer's (and beach lover's) paradise with the best left hand break in S.A. according to Surf bum Geoff. Elands also has some very fine seafood and lots of kreef*. In fact, a while back millions (and I mean millions) of kreef crawled out of the sea in a desperate attempt to escape a bad Red Tide (which starves them of oxygen) only to die on the beaches. It was an unforgettable spectacle which made environmentalists weep as they desperately tried to loads the creatures in bulldozer tips and transport them to healthier sea. Ask the locals about it - someone will have pictures. Very freaky stuff.
* Kreef - lobster, crayfish.
Surf report.
For surfing enthusiasts, Eland's Bay is a place of pilgrimage. The majestic, fast moving waves which roll into the bay in summer when the south easter blows are world famous. Surfers can work into the sea from a headland to catch the waves early and enjoy a long ride.
For surfing enthusiasts, Eland's Bay is a place of pilgrimage. The majestic, fast moving waves which roll into the bay in summer when the south easter blows are world famous. Surfers can work into the sea from a headland to catch the waves early and enjoy a long ride.
Check out Baboon Point and the Elands Bay Cave which houses San paintings that date back 15 000 years. Excellent camping is available right on the beachfront.
Places to Stay
- Elandsbay Backpackers
Chill on the West Coast.
Feeling lucky?(randomly selected service providers from all regions)
Chameleon backpackers is a stylish, funky backpackers lodge in the centre of Windhoek.
(Windhoek,Namibia)
Find this wonderful Montagu backpackers a short stroll from the centre of town.
(Montagu Western Cape,Overberg )
Rent a camper in South Africa
(Port Elizabeth,Sunshine Coast)
An up-market Backpackers lodge at affordable prices
(Stormsriver,Garden Route)
Easy Rider tours offer great tours of the wine farms in and around Stellenbosch.
(Stellenbosch,Wine Region)
Situated in a milkwood forest on large grounds, the Beach House has an incredible view of the coastline and Dolphin’s Point.
(Wilderness,Garden Route)
This Paternoster backpackers could not get you any closer to the sea...
(Paternoster,West Coast)
For the best Scuba diving on the South Coast and some of the best scuba in the world.
(Umkomaas,South Coast)
A backpackers for adventure activities
(Sedgefield,Garden Route)
This owner run hostel has all the essentials for play mode - on the spot or out in the bush.
(Victoria Falls,Zimbabwe and Zambia)
