- 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.
- 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.
The town of peace.
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. Vredenburg was founded on the site of a fresh water spring and rights to the spring led to so many quarrels that it was originally known as Twisfontein - the Fountain of Strife. It is an important centre for the sheep and wheat farming area.
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. Vredenburg was founded on the site of a fresh water spring and rights to the spring led to so many quarrels that it was originally known as Twisfontein - the Fountain of Strife. It is an important centre for the sheep and wheat farming area.
Places to Stay
- Windstone Backpackers
They also do horse trails.
Feeling lucky?(randomly selected service providers from all regions)
Cape Town's newest backpacking hostel, which is close to the Waterfront.
(Green Point,Cape Town)
Mandela Bay is a pozzie to make Madiba proud
(Port Elizabeth,Sunshine Coast)
This Cape Town tour company is your one stop shop for Cape Town tours.
(Muizenberg and Kalk Bay,Cape Town)
Adventure and cultural tours in Mozambique, Kruger and Botswana.
(Malkerns,Swaziland)
This Drakensberg backpacking hostel is surrounded by indigenous gardens and beautiful mountains.
(Northern Drakensberg,Drakensberg Backpacker Hostels)
This East london backpackers has a zany zebra striped roof you can spot from the air and bright green walls, you can't miss it.
(East London,Sunshine Coast)
Set just outside Durban, Blue Sky Mining is interesting and an unusual place with awesome views.
(Warner Beach,South Coast)
A holiday by the sea.
(Saldanha Bay,West Coast)
Check out of the rat Race and cill-out in Parys
(Parys,Free State)
This Mossel Bay backpackers is a genuine train that’s parked just a spit away from the main beach in Mossel Bay. All cabins face the sea. What more could you want?
(Mossel Bay,Garden Route)
