The “Oudepost” farm boasts the country's largest orchid nursery. Darling is the second home the hilarious and ingenious genius of Pieter Dirk Uys or Evita Bezuidenhout - one of South Africa's leading theatre personalities.
- 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.
- 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.
Darling
Small, sweet and home to some serious satire.
This attractive small town is set in a countryside famed for its show of spring flowers which are best exemplified in the nearby Tienie Versfeld Wild Flower Reserve. This 22ha botanical sanctuary preserves a fragment of a typical sandveld environment and is open to visitors throughout the year although it looks its best around September.
Feeling lucky?(randomly selected service providers from all regions)
Ikhayalam Lodge is on the beachfront and has lots to offer backpackers plus guided tours
(Port Elizabeth,Sunshine Coast)
This Cape Town based car rental agency offers great deals on car hire in Cape Town.
(Cape Town City Centre,Cape Town)
A smaller lodge with a friendly owner - all rooms ensuite
(Oudtshoorn,Garden Route)
This Hazyview backpackers offers bushwalking, safari-ing, braaing or just hanging out at the pool.
(Hazyview,Mpumalanga)
“Please come and experience what life is like for my brothers and sisters in the township and I will describe to you what has changed in recent years since democracy.”
(Scarborough and Kommetjie,Cape Town)
Theyare hidden in the heart of coconut groves next to the beach.
(Inhambane and Tofo,Mozambique)
Barry’s offers upmarket accommodation (linen and towels provided) at backpacker rates.
(Witsand,Overberg )
They organise volunteer projects and can book day trips and safaris.
(Lobamba,Swaziland)
The backpackers choice of car rental agency in Cape Town.
(Cape Town City Centre,Cape Town)
This Paternoster backpackers could not get you any closer to the sea...
(Paternoster,West Coast)
