Missing video
Sorry, this video could not be found.
Fishing villages to fynbos delights
The West Coast, Western Cape
Gannets roost in their 1000s
© South African Tourism
Did you know?
South Africa has the oldest wine industry outside of the Mediterranean and Eurpoe.
The West Coast of South Africa has grown to become a popular international holiday destination with its virgin beaches, dramatic mountain ranges and carpets of stunning spring flowers. Visitors can experience its diverse geology and natural life in the West Coast National Park, Rocherpan Nature Reserve and Bird Island Nature Reserve while whale and dolphin watching off the coast will give a view of the area's rich marine life.
The Cape West Coast stretches from Cape Town to the Western Cape Province's border with the Northern Cape at the Touw's River. The spectacular Cederberg Mountains can be found here and a series of picturesque fishing villages like Langebaan and Paternoster and historical towns like Darling and Citrusdal offer a range of accommodation and recreational activities. The area is especially famed for its seafood and tranquil atmosphere.
The flower season occurs in September and October and is a truly spectacular sight and the area is a bird watchers' paradise. The country's rich ancient history is displayed in San cave paintings and the renowned West Coast Fossil Park offers daily tours of its fascinating live exhibit of an ongoing excavation of fossils approximately 5 million years old.
For those with a taste for the outdoors the Western Cape coastline offers hiking trails and whale watching with golf at the Langebaan Golf Course or windsurfing for those craving a bit of exercise. In winter visitors can snuggle next to warm fires and experience the wild seas off the Cape of Storms and enjoy the rich bounty of food and wine from the area.
This jewel of a coastline is easily reached from Cape Town and enchants visitors with its unpretentious atmosphere and unique natural beauty.
Travel tips & Planning info
Who to contact
West Coast Tourism
Tel: 022 433 8505
www.capewestcoast.org
E-mail: tourism@wcdm.co.za
Cape West Coast Tourism Bureau
Tel: 022 433 2380
Around the area
The town of Darling is known for its Wild Flower and Orchid Show in September and the Darling Flora Reserve and Darling Tienie Versveld Flora Reserve are worth visiting. The Darling Wine Route and West Coast Fossil Park shows the area's present and past.
Tours to do
Apart from flower and wine routes, the West Coast kayaking route is well worth a try.
What to eat
The Noisy Oyster in Paternoster does justice to the West Coast's reputation as a seafood lovers' paradise and serves modern South African quisine.