Cape West Coast, Western Cape
What is still an almost undiscovered treasure trove of unspoilt beaches, incredible mountain ranges, rich geographical diversity, and the most astounding carpet of wild flowers in spring, has evolved into a major holiday route out of Cape Town along Route 27.
The Cape West Coast stretches from Cape Town as far as the border with the Northern Cape at Touws River, including within its parameters the indescribably beautiful Cederberg Mountains, famous for centuries-old rock art. All along this stretch of coastline is a series of quaint historic towns and fishing villages with names like Lambert’s Bay, Paternoster, Saldanha and Langebaan that today roll with ease off the tongue, but until fairly recently were left to languor in relative obscurity.
Salt of the earth residents make the area from Ganzekraal to Strandfontein their home, where snoek, mussels and crayfish are a way of life and ‘bokkoms’ (salted mullet strung up in bunches and left to dry) is the local delicacy. Route 27 is a seafood mecca and a number of open-air beach restaurants offer unsurpassed seafood fresh from the sea, cooked on open fires whilst you watch the sun sink slowly over the sea.
Just outside of Cape Town, the little town of Darling deserves a stop, especially in September for its Wild Flower and Orchid show and for its locally produced wines. A little further up the coast, the West Coast National Park is the closest spot outside of Cape Town where one can sample the spring flower season. The Fossil Park, which lies just next door to the park, has uncovered 200 different kinds of animals, many of them new to science.
Parallel to the R27, the N7 passes through the Swartland to the equally beautiful towns of Citrusdal and Clanwilliam. Take a detour to Ceres and travel from here to Citrusdal along the Gydo Pass. Just after you pass over the Koue Bokkeveld Mountains you reach the Koue Bokkeveld, a valley famous for its red apples, pears, peaches, plums, apricots and unpretentious hospitality.
The Cederberg Wilderness, 71 000 hectares of mountainous terrain that runs almost north to south from Clanwilliam to Citrusdal, is renowned for its stark, rugged beauty, whilst gentle walks in the Cederberg when spring transforms the landscape into a carpet of yellow, orange and purple, will not fail to bring you closer to the natural rhythms of a world where fynbos, succulents and wide open skies couldn’t be more remote from city living.
Destinations / Town & Suburbs of the Cape West Coast
Britannia Bay
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Britannia Bay
Britannia Bay is 160 km from Cape Town, an easy 90 minute drive up the Cape West Coast. Britannia Bay offers acres of unspoilt, safe beaches. The bay is very protected and the water is slightly warmer than most places on ... britannia bay information
Darling
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Darling
The charming little village of Darling lies between vineyards and golden wheat fields only 75km from Cape Town along the West Coast road and 25km from the beach at Yzerfontein. Traditionally known for its spectacular wildflowers ... darling information
Doringbaai
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Doringbaai
Doringbaai is essentially a little fishing village that used to be known as Thornbay. It's well known as a bay where the Southern Right whales enter every year to calve between May to November. It's a charming little village ... dooringbaai information
Elands Bay
Where to Stay: Accommodation Cape West Coast
Eland’s Bay is one of those gems that have managed to elude the rush of development and city dwellers to stake their claim on a piece of the coast - this is sand and sea with little else to lure the average holiday maker ... elands bay information
Jacobsbaai
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Jacobsbaai
Jacobsbaai, situated midway between Vredenburg and Saldanha Bay, is an isolated, traditional Cape West Coast Village. Strict building restrictions in the town have preserved the breathtaking 2 kilometers of coastline, boasting 7 ... jacobsbaai information
Lamberts Bay
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Lamberts Bay
The unpretentious, picturesque seaside village of Lambert’s Bay lies right up the West Coast, not far from Clanwilliam and only 2.5 hours’ drive from Cape Town. This part of the coast is quite simply beautiful, with wide expanses ... lamberts bay information
Langebaan
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Langebaan
A popular town just over 100 km from Cape Town on the Cape West Coast next to Langebaan Lagoon. Langebaan is popular among sunseekers, water sports enthusiasts, anglers and hikers. Added attractions are the thousands of ... langebaan information
Paternoster
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Paternoster
Paternoster is a small, picturesque fishing village about 145km (90 minutes drive) from Cape Town. A favourite weekend getaway destination for locals, Paternoster is one of the oldest towns along the West Coast and is famous for ... paternoster information
Port Owen
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Port Owen
Port Owen is as its name suggests - a port, with a marina and the accompanying lifestyle. A series of admittedly pretty cabanas and apartments would have a little to recommend them but a resort type feel, if it weren't for the ... port owen information
Saldanha
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Saldanha
Saldanha is a seaside village that lies in the northern most corner of Saldanha bay - the largest and deepest natural bay in the country. About 110 km up the West Coast from Cape Town, the picturesque harbour town of Saldanha is ... saldanha information
Shelley Point
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Shelley Point
Shelley Point is a beautiful part of the world, this previously undiscovered coastline, that boasts an abundance of crayfish, abalone, mussels, dolphins, cormorants, the rare oystercatcher and little to break the miles of white ... shelley point information
St Helena Bay
Where to Stay: Accommodation in St Helena Bay
St Helena Bay is one of the most popular bays for whales to visit and calve. From August to November, the Southern Right Whales come in to the bay to calve, and can be viewed from the shore all around the bay ... st helena bay information
Strandfontein
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Strandfontein
Strandfontein is a small sea side village situated at the mouth of the Olifants River. Strandfontein has become a popular holiday destination because of the excellent opportunities for the observation of whales which come ... strandfontein information
Velddrif
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Velddrif
Velddrif is one of the small fishing villages that dot this part of the 'forgotten' West Coast; villages where a visitor is greeted with silence, the space to explore, and where time slows inexplicably. This part of ... velddrif information
Vredenburg
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Vredenburg
Just 130 kilometres north of Cape Town lies Vredenburg, regarded as something of a business hub for the West Coast, and a springboard to the coastal towns of St Helena Bay, Langebaan, Paternoster and Saldanha Bay ... vredenburg information
Vredendal
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Vredendal
A prosperous, modern town set in the middle of a semi-arid region. Agriculture - especially viticulture - is practiced on an extensive scale in the region, made possible by means of the Olifants River Irrigation Scheme ... vredendal information
Yzerfontein
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Yzerfontein
Yzerfontein is a tranquil sea-side village, 80km north of Cape Town on the R27 and marks the start of the beautiful Cape West Coast. Yzerfontein offers unspoilt coastline with both rocky and sandy beaches including ... yzerfontein information
Cape West Coast
Featured and "Must See" Attractions in Cape West Coast
West Coast National Park
Just inland from the secluded harbour of Saldanha Bay one finds the azure waters of the Langebaan Lagoon, focal point of the West Coast National Park. Thousands of seabirds roost on sheltered islands, pristine golden beaches stretch endlessly into the early morning mist and brooding salt ... more information
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
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
West Coast Fossil Park
For the visitor, the highlight of the West Coast Fossil Park is the ‘live’ exhibit of an ongoing excavation of early Pliocene fossils (fossils from 5 million years ago). There are daily guided tours that give a background to the fossils and the climatic changes that happened in the region. But the park is not just about fossils ... more information
Verlorenvlei
Verlorenvlei is a long estuary stretching between the villages of Elands Bay and Redelinghuys, some 25 kilometres south of Lambert’s Bay. It is not only one of the largest lakes but one of the few coastal freshwater lakes that is at once one of the most important estuarine systems in the Western Cape ... more information
Langebaan Golf Course
The Golf Course at Langebaan Country Club is a links-type course, designed as a figure 8 winding around residential stands. Located on the unspoilt Cape west coast about 70 minutes drive from Cape Town, the elegant clubhouse offers panoramic views of the 15km (9.3 miles) long Langebaan lagoon, which is ... 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
Cape West Coast
Featured Things To Do in the Cape West Coast
Windsurfing on the Langebaan Lagoon
Where: Langebaan
How much (per person): Free
The Langebaan Lagoon on the Cape West Coast is a favourite with locals, offering some of the best windsurfing in South Africa. Langebaan off ... more information
Feast on Seafood at The Noisy Oyster
Where: Paternoster
How much (per person): On Request
The Noisy Oyster Restaurant in Paternoster serves modern South African cuisine. The chef changes the menu daily and might serve black mussel ... more information
Cape West Coast
Holiday Accommodation in Cape West Coast
For accommodation in the Cape West Coast see:
• Britannia Bay Accommodation • Darling Accommodation • Jacobsbaai Accommodation
• Langebaan Accommodation • Paternoster Accommodation • Port Owen Accommodation
• Saldanha Accommodation • Shelley Point Accommodation • St Helena Bay Accommodation
• Strandfontein Accommodation • Velddrif Accommodation • Vredenburg Accommodation
• Vredendal Accommodation • Yzerfontein Accommodation
Or to see all accommodation in this region at once, visit Cape West Coast Accommodation.
Visiting the Cape West Coast?
Also see Western Cape Events to see whats happening or check out Things To Do in Western Cape to view activities by category, including water sports, sightseeing activities, arts & crafts and many more.
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destinations / attractions in the western cape
