- 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.
- Darling
Small, sweet and home to some serious satire.
- 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.
- 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.
Lambert's Bay
This large fishing village is something of a birdwatchers' paradise.
A bird watching paradise.
Bird Island (a bit of a misnomer since you can walk to it via the harbour wall) is haven to a huge colony of Cape gannets, cormorants, penguins, seagulls and "sterretjies". Altogether the islet plays host to more than 150 different seabirds species. You can visit the Longvlei Dam, which is about a dozen kilometres inland, where, after good winter rains, the flamingos gather in their thousands. Further down the coast at Eland's Bay (a 48km drive along the gravel road) you'll find a good beach, excellent surf when the south easter blows and the West Coast's only river estuary where great numbers of seabirds and waders congregate.
Bird Island (a bit of a misnomer since you can walk to it via the harbour wall) is haven to a huge colony of Cape gannets, cormorants, penguins, seagulls and "sterretjies". Altogether the islet plays host to more than 150 different seabirds species. You can visit the Longvlei Dam, which is about a dozen kilometres inland, where, after good winter rains, the flamingos gather in their thousands. Further down the coast at Eland's Bay (a 48km drive along the gravel road) you'll find a good beach, excellent surf when the south easter blows and the West Coast's only river estuary where great numbers of seabirds and waders congregate.
Fantastic open-air seafood feasts can be enjoyed at Muisbosskerm.
Feeling lucky?(randomly selected service providers from all regions)
Volunteer to help with research on dolphins and whales.
(Plettenberg Bay,Garden Route)
Aliwal Shoal is one of the world's top dive sites, so grab this opportunity to get out there and discover an awesome array of marine life.
(Umkomaas,South Coast)
This Wild coast hostel creates space and time to do absolutely nothing in, if that's what you desire.
(Coffee Bay,Wild Coast)
Marc's Camp is set in a private game reserve
(Hoedspruit,Limpopo)
This Knysna backpacking lodge is centrally located in town just 2 blocks from the action.
(Knysna,Garden Route)
Welcome to God's country at the Tsitsa Falls
(Hogsback,Eastern Cape Inland and the Karoo)
This Johannesburg Backpackers is set on a large property.
(Johannesburg,Johannesburg)
Book a holiday on-line, find loads of info or just pick their brains…
(Cape Town City Bowl,)
Your one-stop adventure centre...
(Hazyview,Mpumalanga)
Deal directly with a township guide.
(Scarborough and Kommetjie,Cape Town)
