- 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.
West Coast
The West Coast is wild, rugged, tempestuous and untamed. If you are looking for a wild backpacking experience in South Africa, you have found it....
Re-discover yourself
The West Coast lets you rediscover yourself and touch the fingertip of God. Always through something small. Environmental conditions are harsh, the miracles minute.
Extraordinary succulents no bigger than your baby fingernail. A perfect shell smaller than a pea. The pinprick of a seagull high over head. The speed with which the wind robs you of your voice.
Fringed by the icy Atlantic and extreme mountains, this rugged landscape is one of contrasts where the angry shriek of a seagull is swallowed by a fierce wind, and once the rains have fallen, a carpet of delicate petals cover the ground in a magical tapestry of vibrant colour.
If you’re looking for wild beaches, miles of tranquil hiking and no people, then head this way…
A perfect view of Table Mountain
The West Coast starts, or ends, with a perfect view of Table Mountain and whether you’re a walker, climber, strandloper*, nature lover, photographer or artist, it will swallow you up whole.
The West Coast starts, or ends, with a perfect view of Table Mountain and whether you’re a walker, climber, strandloper*, nature lover, photographer or artist, it will swallow you up whole.
Why we love the West Coast
We love the West Coast and have discovered heaps of isolated spots that are great for surfing or just kicking back beneath the stars with a fire crackling to the beat of crickets.
We love the West Coast and have discovered heaps of isolated spots that are great for surfing or just kicking back beneath the stars with a fire crackling to the beat of crickets.
The Spring flowers
Don’t miss the Spring Flowers around August and September.
Take a camera, a bunch of spools and leave all photo-opportunity restraint at home.
Make daisy chains, get naked and take lotza photo’s.
Worship life on an altar of petals.
The flowers follow the sun so remember to turn around often.
Don’t miss the Spring Flowers around August and September.
Take a camera, a bunch of spools and leave all photo-opportunity restraint at home.
Make daisy chains, get naked and take lotza photo’s.
Worship life on an altar of petals.
The flowers follow the sun so remember to turn around often.
Explore the Cederberg
The Cederberg Mountains and all their bizarre rock formations demand dusty exploration.
The Cederberg Mountains and all their bizarre rock formations demand dusty exploration.
Warm Winters!
The West Coast is a great winter getaway because it’s usually a lot warmer than Cape Town.
The West Coast is a great winter getaway because it’s usually a lot warmer than Cape Town.
Places to Stay
- The Beach Camp™
This Paternoster backpackers could not get you any closer to the sea...
Feeling lucky?(randomly selected service providers from all regions)
A genuine opportunity to volunteer and help children in need. You don't pay anything except your own costs, there is no placement fee or any other kind of fee to be paid.
(Graaff-Reinet,Eastern Cape Inland and the Karoo)
A homely backpackers hostel near to the beach and other main attractions
(Port Elizabeth,Sunshine Coast)
Extreme adventure farm famous for their “wolfdogs” - you could soon be "dancing with wolves…" under the moonlight!
(Paddock,South Coast)
This Lesotho backpackers is set in the grounds of the original trading post and is a good base for exploring the beautiful Lesotho surroundings.
(Bloemfontein,Lesotho)
Hout Bay Backpackers behind the dunes explore Llandudno and Chapman's Peak or hop on a bus to Cape Town
(Hout Bay,Cape Town)
Stay here and they'll get you to the Delta on an affordable trip.
(MaunBotswana,Botswana)
They organise volunteer projects and can book day trips and safaris.
(Lobamba,Swaziland)
this magical playground lies beneath the towering peaks of Cleopatra and Giants Castle.
(Highmoor,Drakensberg Backpacker Hostels)
Tekweni Backpacking hostel in Durban cooks. One can’t say anything else about this ever-buzzy hostel and its hordes of people.
(Durban ,Durban)
Live with the locals and get to understand their culture
(Grahamstown,Eastern Cape Inland and the Karoo)
