Darling, Cape West Coast

I Love Darling because ...

Featured in: Visitorials: We Love South Africa

We’ve asked those in the know to share their favourites things about Darling. Find out where locals go for the best cup of coffee, lunch suggestions and much more. We’re letting you in on all of their secrets ... I Love Darling because ...

Bird Island Nature Reserve

The world’s most accessible Cape gannet colony can be found on an island, linked to Lambert’s Bay by a breakwater wall. Bird Island also gives shelter to thousands of cormorants and penguins, whilst Cape fur seals can still be found on the rocks on the sea side of the island. The three hectare Bird Island ... more information

Cape West Coast Biosphere Reserve

Stretching all the way from Diep River in Milnerton, to the Berg River close to Velddrif on the West Coast, the Cape West Coast Biosphere Reserve (CWCBR) was designated as such by UNESCO in 2000. The beautiful area of the Cape Floristic Region is deemed worthy of protecting internationally, particularly as ... more information

Cape West Coast Biosphere Trails

Cape West Coast Biosphere Trails – slackpacker trails on the West Coast! The Cape West Coast Biosphere Reserve (CWCBR) is a recognised UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, one of only 6 in South Africa and just over 600 world-wide. It extends from Diep River in Milnerton in the south, to ... more information

Darling Stagger

25 kilometres in 2 and a half days: One of five slackpacking trails in the Cape West Coast Biosphere, the Darling Stagger emphasises food and wine, together with a walk and a cycle that allow one to experience the surrounds of the gorgeous town of Darling. The Darling Stagger trail follows a route once walked ... more information

Darling Wind Farm

On the hills just outside Darling, roughly 70 kilometres from Cape Town, stand four wind-generated mills. It's known as an Eskom demonstrator site, which means it's something of a learning platform for the development of the wind energy industry in South Africa. The Darling Wind Farm is one of ... more information

Darling Wine Estates

The Darling Wine Route continues to delight more and more tourists every year. The wines produced here are of a fabulous quality, thanks to the beautiful weather and soils. Local labels include Tukulu, Darling Cellars and Groote Post. Many of the wine farms offer tastings and tours as ... more information

Darling Wine Route

Although traditionally part of the Swartland, Darling is now a demarcated wine district and home to her own wine route, including five wine cellars all of which benefit from the cool breezes off the Atlantic Ocean and the long, hot summers to produce some stunning wines with concentrated flavour, depth and intensity. more information

Elandsfontein Private Reserve

One is not even aware that there is a private game reserve on the far side of the West Coast National Park (to the right, roughly speaking, of the R27, 30 kilometres past the Yzerfontein turnoff, as opposed to the park on the right) from Cape Town. But this is indeed the case. Elandsfontein is a private nature ... more information

Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area

Groot Winterhoek Wilderness area, with its extraordinary rock formations and popular hiking routes, lies about 120 km north of Cape Town in the Western Cape. The Reserve is situated in the Groot Winterhoek mountain range, north of Tulbagh and east of Porterville. The greater Groot Winterhoek ... more information

Grotto Bay Coastal Nature Reserve

Head up the West Coast from Cape Town for roughly 60 kilometres and you will find Grotto Bay Coastal Nature Reserve. It's a 500 hectare private nature reserve filled with walking trails, birds, the possibility of sighting whales, unpolluted skies and, during spring, a bevy of wild flowers. Grotto Bay ... more information

Renosterveld Reserve

Situated in the village of Darling, the Renosterveld Reserve, which you will find at the top of the village on a hill just behind the Darling Primary School, is run by the local municipality and forms part of the Darling commanage. Donated by the local Versveld family in 1958, it is one of several pieces of land in and ... more information

Rocherpan Nature Reserve

Rocherpan enthusiasts who head off along the West Coast to visit this nature reserve near Velddrif will possibly mention to you that the bird life is incredible, but what they will not reveal is that it is also a wonderful setting in which to spot whales. The Rocherpan Nature Reserve is set a mere 25 kilometres ... more information

Tienie Versveld Reserve

The Tienie Versveld Reserve lies just outside Darling en route to Yzerfontein, part of a farm that was donated to the National Botanical Society of South Africa by none other than a Marthinus Versveld (known locally, obviously, as Oom Tienie). It is an incredibly pretty reserve of 20 hectares that because it ... more information

West Coast 3 Day Itinerary

Our suggestions for a self-drive, three day trip up the Cape West Coast with ideas on what to do and where to stay! Note that this is a Three-day itinerary for the West Coast – OUT of flower season! Leave Cape Town via the R27 – there is a lot to do en route and day one is jam-packed. Look out for the Darling Wind ... more information

West Coast 5 Day Itinerary

Anyone with any knowledge of the flowers will tell you that to see them at their best, you need to drive with the sun at your back. What this means is that you should drive all the way up to at least Vanrhynsdorp or Nieuwoudtville to start your route. The flowers are best viewed between 11h00 and 15h00 ... more information

Wheels of Time Trail

146 kilometres in 4 days: As its name suggests the Wheels of Time trail, one of five trails in the Cape West Coast Biosphere, is a back road cycling trip from Mamre to Darling, Elandsfontein Farm, the West Coast National Park and !Khwa Ttu. Aimed more at recreational cyclists than Absa Cape Epic trainees, the mountain bike ... more information

Darling Morning Market

Where: Darling
How much (per person): Free to Browse

From 09h00 on the first Saturday of every month you can visit the extremely popular Darling Morning market. Get your family up and out early ... more information

Duckitt Nurseries

Where: Darling
How much (per person): Free to Browse

Duckitt Nurseries was established in 1979, and is situated approximately 3km south of Darling on the west coast of South Africa. Duckitt Nur ... more information

Café Mosaic

Where: Darling

Cafe Mosaic has a relaxed atmosphere and offers a venue where locals and visitors enjoy a fun view over Darling's Main Road whilst playing a friendly game of pool or refreshing with a cold lager on a ... more information

Chicory Cheese Café

Where: Darling

Be it inside or outside under the trees breathing fresh clean air drifting over the hills from the Atlantic Ocean and enjoy our trademark farm fresh cuisine. Here we tantalise your taste buds while na ... more information