The West Coast Way
For those looking for something to do on your next holiday, why not hop in the car and go road-tripping up the West Coast? From the Blaauwberg Private Nature Reserve and the seaside village of Melkbosstrand, up past the West Coast National Park and winding its way past Shelley Point, St Helena Bay and Velddrif, the Cape West Coast has so much to offer that you may never want to go home again.
Why not start your road trip with a stop at the Farmyard Farmstall on the R27, situated at the turn-off to Melkbosstrand? Here you can enjoy a delicious and hearty breakfast (road-tripping fuel) while the kids play in the playground, and then fill up your picnic basket with locally made eats and treats that will see you well fed for the rest of your day.
From here you can head towards the Koeberg Private Nature Reserve with its 153 bird species and variety of mammals. Or try the Witzand Aquifer Nature Reserve with its white sand dunes, which are fantastic for 4X4 enthusiasts and sand boarders.
Moving on, be sure to stop in the small town of Mamre to visit the Mission Station, one of the oldest and most picturesque churches in South Africa. Surprisingly, given its religious past, wine has long been a part of Mamre’s history and you can find the region’s popular wines at the Darling Wine Cellar on Mamreweg.
And while on the topic of wine, make sure that your road trip includes a stop at Groote Post Winery, which has recently won a Klink Wild Card Award for their interesting and alternative farm drive experience. This family friendly wine farm also hosts an amazing country market on the last Sunday of every month. Here you can expect to find everything from oysters and wild mushrooms to locally brewed beer from the Darling Brewery.
Your West Coast road trip should also include a visit to the towns of Darling (home of well-known political satirist Pieter-Dirk Uys and his theatre, Evita se Perron); Yzerfontein; Langebaan (an internationally acclaimed Ramsar site); Saldanha,which is a hot spot for water sport lovers; Jacobsbaai (known as the “Namaqualand by the sea”); Paternosterand the Cape Columbine Reserve; Shelley Point with its golf course and wellness centre; St Helena Bay with its unspoilt coastline and magnificent views; and historic Hopefield with its birdlife and hiking trails.
Along the route you will discover “must visit” attractions such as the West Coast National Park, which stretches from Yzerfontein to Langebaan and is a pristine nature reserve which offers an array of activities such as bird watching, game sighting, biking and whale watching. The !Khwa ttu San Culture and Education Centre offers fascinating insight into the culture, heritage, knowledge and modern day life of the San of Southern Africa, while the West Coast Fossil Park allows a glimpse back in time to the animals and vegetation that were found in the region millions of years ago, with a visit to an actual dig sight.
CAPE WEST COAST BIODIVERSITY CORRIDOR
Most of these attractions fall within the newly proclaimed West Coast Biodiversity Corridor, while others are just a leisurely drive away. The good news for those who are keen to explore the Corridor is that these attractions are included on two new circular sightseeing routes, the Groene Kloof Route and Blue Benguela Route, which have been launched by an exciting new tourism initiative called West Coast Way.
Most of these attractions fall within the newly proclaimed West Coast Biodiversity Corridor, while others are just a leisurely drive away. The good news for those who are keen to explore the Corridor is that these attractions are included on two new circular sightseeing routes, the Groene Kloof Route and Blue Benguela Route, which have been launched by an exciting new tourism initiative called West Coast Way.
Carmen Lerm, founder of West Coast Way, says that whether your focus is sightseeing, photo opportunities, history, culture, fauna and flora, or adventure and activities, the West Coast and the West Coast Biodiversity Corridor has much to offer. “It is about the rich experience, the vibrant people, the food and colours you will find here, not to mention the beautiful unspoilt environment and the myriad of attractions and activities that can be enjoyed on the Cape West Coast.”
For more information on West Coast Way,
visit www.westcoastway.co.zaor call West Coast Way on 0861 321 777.
Connect with West Coast Way on Facebook and twitter at @WestCoastWaySA
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