WEST COAST TOWNS & SISTER TOWNS

​The West Coast region of the Western Cape of South Africa, a town called Aurora, is home to a small, unspoiled community at the foot of the Piketberge, about 185 kilometers from Cape Town. Aurora was founded in 1906 and was named after the Roman goddess of the dawn.

Bek Bay, also known as Bek Bay, is a small coastal suburb of the fishing town of Paternoster on the West Coast of South Africa. It is located about 160 kilometers northwest of Cape Town.

Bek Bay is known for its beautiful beaches, crystal clear water and breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean. It is a popular destination for swimming, sunbathing, fishing and other water sports. The area is also home to a variety of marine life, including dolphins, whales and seals.

320 kilometers (200 miles) north of Cape Town, in the Knersvlakte, the northernmost region of the Western Cape province of South Africa, is the settlement of Bitterfontein. It serves as the railhead for a line originating in Cape Town, where ore from the Okiep copper mines is transported from road to rail.

Britannia Bay is a small coastal town in the West Coast District Municipality, about 141 kilometers from Cape Town in the South African province of Western Cape. The hamlet is named after a British East India ship which suffered considerable damage from a reef in the bay.

​The West Coast National Park contains the small, traditional fishing community of Churchhaven. A natural haven of pristine waterways, undeveloped coastline, native fynbos and vibrant wildflowers, this region is world-renowned for its seasonal flowers that bloom in the month of August to September, known as the West Coast Flower Splendor.

In the Olifants River Valley of the Western Cape Province of South Africa, the town of Citrusdal has a population of 5,000 people. It is located approximately 160 kilometers (100 miles) north of Cape Town, at the foot of the Ceder Mountains. Citrus fruit cultivation is the main form of agriculture in the region, hence the name of the town, Citrusdal.

Clanwilliam is one of the ten oldest towns in South Africa, and home to seven national monuments. These include the original farmhouse of Jan Disselsvalleij, after whom the town was originally named before it changed its name to Clanwilliam in 1814, the former jail house which is now a museum, and a house built by early settlers in the 1820s is, is still standing today.

About 75 kilometers (46.6 miles) outside Cape Town, in the Western Cape's west coast region, is the town of Darling. A place called Groenkloof had about 29 farmers at the beginning of the 18th century, and Darling was built there on Langfontein in 1853. It's home to Darling Brew, a sought-after alcoholic beverage.

The town of Doringbaai is located in the South African Western Cape province's West Coast District Municipality.

A small fishing community called Doringbaai was formerly called Doornbaai. The primary source of income comes from packing and exporting lobsters. Historically, the bay at Doringbaai served as an anchorage for the trade route; supplies were left there and brought to Vanrhynsdorp by camel. Built in 1963, the lighthouse is a well-known landmark in the area.

Tourists like to visit the peaceful fishing community of Dwarskersbos. It is located about 11 kilometers north of Laaiplek in the South African Western Cape province's West Coast District Municipality. One of the few places where the unusual Heaviside dolphin can be seen, this part of the Cape West Coast is famous for its whale watching.

Elands Bay is a settlement in South Africa located at 32°18′S 18°19′E on the Atlantic Ocean in the Western Cape Province. The village can be reached in about two and a half hours by car from Cape Town by traveling 220 kilometers north. It is known for its world-class surfing and for caves with numerous rock paintings.

The Elands Bay Cave and a large part of Bobbejaan Point (Cape Deseada), where it is located, were designated by "Heritage Western Cape" as provincial heritage sites in 2009. A significant part of this coastline, including Elands Bay, is an "important" bird habitat. Verlorenvlei, a nearby wetland, is a Ramsar wetland.

According to Marzahn Botha, the lovely town of Jacobsbaai, also known as Namakwaland by the Sea or just the Village of Baie Baaie, is a pleasant resort that attracts tourists who value nature over artificial entertainment.

On the terrace of the Abalone guest house many years ago, when Jacobsbaai still hosted the Oppiwa festival, actor Koos Kombuis sang the song "Everyone wants a house by the sea".

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Gonnemanskraal is certainly one of the most sought-after neighborhoods in Jacobs Bay.

On the Vredendal road, 25 kilometers from Graafwater, is the Heerenlogement cave, which visitors used as accommodation in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Graafwater was built in 1910 as a railway junction for the movement of agricultural products from Clanwilliam and seafood products from Lamberts Bay. It is located halfway between Clanwilliam and Lamberts Bay. On the north road to Vredendal, about 25 kilometers from Graafwater, is the famous Heerenlogement (or "gentleman's lodging"). About 170 carvings of names or initials of travelers from the 1700s who stayed overnight in the cave are recorded in this rocky "visitor's book" on the walls of this rock shelter.

The Cape West Coast Biosphere Reserve, established by UNESCO in 2000, includes Grotto Bay. It covers 378,000 hectares and stretches from Milnerton, near the mouth of the Deep River, to Velddrift, north of the Berg River.

Hannas Bay in Saint Helena Bay, also known as St. Helena Bay in Afrikaans, is a town in South Africa's Western Cape province's West Coast District Municipality.

The South African town, known locally as Agterbaai, is about 150 km north of Cape Town and is located on the shores of the bay from which it gets its name. It is across the harbor from Laaiplek.

Largely due to the more than 500 different fynbos species that thrive here and attract swarms of bees, the Cape West Coast town of Hopefield is also widely known for its honey. Hopefield was founded in 1853 on a farm called Langkuil which was located next to the Zoute River.

The town is known for its abundance of fish and lobster ("crayfish" but tourists also refer to lobster as "lobster") as well as its typical West Coast style of whitewashed cottages, some of which use local rock. The majority of dirt roads in the sleepy little town add to the festive atmosphere.

  Jacobuskraal is a small town in the West Coast region of South Africa, about 20 kilometers from the town of Yzerfontein.

It is located on the R27 road, which connects the West Coast with the rest of the country. Jacobuskraal is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike, who are attracted to its beautiful scenery and relaxed atmosphere. The town is surrounded by rolling hills and farmland, and is home to a number of nature reserves, including the Jacobuskraal Nature Reserve.

​In South Africa's Western Cape province, in the Matzikama Municipality, is the town of Klawer. It is located on the right bank of the Olifants River, 240 kilometers (150 miles) north of Cape Town and 17 kilometers (11 miles) south-east of Vredendal. There are 1,680 dwellings there, with a total population of 6,234 people, according to the 2011 census. The Afrikaans word for a particular variety of wild clover that blooms here after rain, is where the name Klawer originates.

Koringberg is a town in South Africa's Western Cape province's West Coast District Municipality.

The town is located about 17 miles north of Moorreesburg and 118 km north-northeast of Cape Town.
It was founded in 1923 at Warren's Camp and got this name because it is located in a region where wheat is grown. The name, which translates as "wheat mountain", is Afrikaans.

Just before you approach the closed gates of the Postberg section of the West Coast National Park, you find Kraalbaai beach. Families of all sizes and shapes can relax and frolic in the lagoon's emerald waters on any given weekend.

The earliest fish factory was located in Laaiplek's Hawe, and the fishing industry and canning of fish can still be seen there. Drive through Bokkom Avenue in Velddrif to see evidence of the Fish Biltong hanging on shelves; called Bokkoms, the majority of fish caught here are Sardines or Haarders, which are then salted and dried.

Located 280 kilometers (170 miles) north of Cape Town in the South African province of the Western Cape is the small fishing village of Lambertsbaai. The Cederberg Municipality owns and administers it.

Because of its animals, wildlife viewing opportunities and lobstering, the coastal community has been called "the Diamond of the West Coast". Despite being largely a fishing community, it has grown into a prominent West Coast tourist destination thanks to its mild year-round temperature.

On the east side of Langebaan Lagoon, in the Western Cape province of South Africa, is the town of Langebaan.

Langebaan is located just off the R27, 120 kilometers north of Cape Town, 28 kilometers from Vredenburg, and 20 kilometers from Saldanha Bay. From Saldanha Bay, over Langebaan, to Geelbek in the south, the lagoon stretches over 17 kilometers. It is up to 4 km wide in certain places.

Langebaan is also very famous for "kite-surfing" and Club Mykonos Vacation resort.

Those who have visited this region of South Africa will always have a special place in their hearts for the Western Cape's wide coastline and amazing beauty. It is known for its hospitable people and fishing villages.

The modest coastal community of Lutzville is close to the fresh waters of the Atlantic Ocean. This community is located along the beautiful Olifants River, which offers breathtaking views and great backdrops for photos.

​Malmesbury is a town in South Africa's Western Cape province with approximately 36,000 inhabitants, 65 kilometers north of Cape Town.

The town is the largest in the Swartland, which takes its name from the native plant known as the Renosterbos, which turns black during the hot, dry summers. The region is particularly known for its sheep and poultry farming, as well as its grape and wine production.

A small rural town called Moorreesburg can be found in South Africa's Western Cape region, about 90 kilometers (60 mi) north of Cape Town. On the property Hooikraal it was planned in 1879. From 1882 to 1909, a community management board oversaw its activities. It currently belongs to the West Coast District Municipality's Swartland Local Municipality. The West Coast District Municipality is run from this town.

One of the most sought-after neighborhoods in Langebaan is Myburgh Park, located at the further end of town next to the West Coast National Park, which is full of walking, cycling and running paths and has a contemporary feel to it.

​Just south of the similarly tiny Bitterfontein, the hamlet of Nuwerus can be found at the N7 and Route 363 junction between Garies and Vanrhynsdorp.

Residents describe it as a small, rural community located in the Hardeveld, a region of the Succulent Karoo Biome that is home to a variety of rare species. This place has a quiet beauty that is not immediately apparent, but can be appreciated with time and silence.

On the east side of Langebaan Lagoon, in the Western Cape province of South Africa, is the town of Langebaan, of which Olifantskop is a sought-after neighbourhood.

Langebaan is located just off the R27, 120 kilometers north of Cape Town, 28 kilometers from Vredenburg, and 20 kilometers from Saldanha Bay. From Saldanha Bay, over Langebaan, to Geelbek in the south, the lagoon stretches over 17 kilometers. It is up to 4 km wide in certain places.

The lobster and whitewashed fishing huts of Paternoster make it a popular tourist attraction. It is one of the most stunning beaches on South Africa's West Coast, thanks to the coastline's spectacular collection of steep cliffs and white rocks.

The region is important to South Africa's commercial fishing sector. The town itself contains a lobster industry and a recently built Cod farm, while the locals collect clams from the rocks or catch and sell herring. More commercial activities, such as deep-sea fishing, pike fishing, cod farming, oyster farming, sardine canning and mussel farming, are carried out in the surrounding area.

Piketberg, formerly spelled Piquetberg, is a town in the Western Cape region of South Africa, about 80 kilometers east of Saldanha Bay. The name was initially spelled "Piquetberg". The village is located in the foothills of the Table Mountain sandstone-formed Piketberg mountain range.

If you meander through town, you can pop in at the Piketberg Museum (Historical Route No. 9) in Kerkstr next to the old Jewish Synagogue where Marié will be more than happy to share some of the hidden Piketberg museum stories.

From here drive a little deeper into the historic heart of Piketberg where you will find Berg Coffee and Piquet Collective at Historic route no 2 in Kerkstraat. As you sit down to enjoy your cup of coffee, your eyes will be amazed by the towering NG Church in front of you. The Church also happens to be no1 on the Piketberg Historical route. A good strong cup of coffee will be just what you need to start your hike through the Historic Route of Piketberg, while meeting the locals or to calm the nerves for the trip up the Versfeld Pass.

The Versfeld Pass will lead you to Piket-Bo-Berg.

The first deep sea residential marina built in South Africa was Port Owen. The Port Owen Marina Authority is in charge of the waterways. It served as the permanent home of Bob Burn's boat, Roamer, which he used to become the 32nd person to circumnavigate the world alone. At Gideon Estates you may see the clock.

South Africa's Western Cape province is home to the town of Porterville.

The village is located 155 kilometers north-east of Cape Town and 27 kilometers south-east of Piketberg.

It is located at the foot of the Olifants River Mountains 140 kilometers north of Cape Town on the R44 road. The Dasklip Pass, which leads to the Groot Winterhoek mountains that surround the town, is located 14 kilometers away. The Soom Shale, a famous fossil deposit from the Late Ordovician period, is located near the town. Wheat farming is the main industry in the region. Piketberg in the west, Saron in the south, Eendekuil and Citrusdal in the north are the nearest towns.

The 'potato capital' of the Sandveld, Redelinghuys, is located about two hours' drive from Cape Town. It is located on the R366 north of Aurora, between Piketberg and Velorenvlei, and on the way to Elandsbaai (if you enjoy detours).

The town is small and cute, surrounded by lovely countryside, and, like other South African towns, it is dominated by a beautiful church on its main street. It also has an abundance of Victorian architecture, which will fulfill your desire for opulent, historic surroundings.

​One of the oldest towns in South Africa is Riebeek-Kasteel, which is located in the Riebeek Valley next to its sister city, Riebeek-Wes, 80 kilometers north-east of Cape Town. After setting off in the direction of Paardeberg, they reached the fertile perspective of the Riebeek Valley on 3 February 1661 after climbing a lonely peak. To pay tribute to the Commander, they gave it the name Riebeek Kasteel.

On 24 May 1870, Jan Smuts was born in Bovenplaatz, near Riebeek-Wes. Daniel Malan was born in 1874 in Riebeeck-Wes. Later both men were appointed as South African prime ministers.

​The Riebeek valley is known for its picturesque and rural surroundings. There are numerous wineries and olive oil producers in the region, which is mostly recognized for its wines, wheat and olives. Visitors are welcome to view and taste the vaults.

Riebeek-Wes, is a tiny town in the Swartland region of the Western Cape, South Africa, located about 75 kilometers north-east of Cape Town and 5 kilometers north of its twin town Riebeek Kasteel.

The Riebeek Valley was probably already known to the local Khoi population, but Pieter Cruythoff's group of Cape Dutch explorers wrote the first account of it in 1661.

A town of 21,636 inhabitants, Saldanha, also referred to as Saldanha Bay, is located on the northern shore of Saldanha Bay, 110 kilometers (70 mi) north of Cape Town in the South African province of the Western Cape. Its origin as a port for the export of iron ore from Sishen in the Northern Cape, transported on the Sishen-Saldanha railway, is due to its location as a naturally protected port.

The port, which can accommodate ships up to 200,000 tons deadweight, is one of the largest ore export ports in all of Africa. António de Saldanha, the captain of a ship in Albuquerque's fleet that visited South Africa in 1503, is honored by having Saldanha Bay bear his name.

An important fishing village is Saint Helena Bay, and Shelley Point is extremely popular with tourists visiting our lovely West Coast region. Many fishing activities take place there in winter, and its waters are home to an endangered species of rock lobster and lobster, as well as pike.

Dit maak sin in Afrikaans, want lange beteken "lang" en baan beteken "pad", "pad" of "aanloopbaan," wat verwys na die strook land wat die strandmeer vorm. Die Langebaan-strandmeer is 'n lang, vlak stuk soutwater wat deur 'n smal strook land van die see geskei word, waarvan Skiathos een van Langebaan se gesogte woonbuurte is.

Die Afrikaanse spreekwoord "iets op die lange baan skuif," wat beteken "om iets af te stel," moet nie gevolg word wanneer daar gedink word aan hierdie klein maar lewendige dorpie met grootstadsgeriewe nie, dit is van kardinale belang om te noem.

Hierdie lewendige dorp, wat net 90 minute van Kaapstad af is en 'n gewilde vakansieplek, lok 'n groot aantal naweek- en vakansietoeriste.

​An important fishing village is Saint Helena Bay. On South Africa's West Coast, it is home to Sandy Point Harbour, one of the bay's two harbors (the other is near Laaiplek). Many fishing activities take place there in winter, and its waters are home to an endangered species of rock lobster and lobster, as well as pike.

East of Shelley Bay Point, 7 kilometers northwest of St Helena Bay, and 20 kilometers north of Vredenburg is the settlement of Stompneus Bay (Afrikaans: Stompneusbaai) named after the Chrysophrys globiceps species of fish.

In South Africa's Western Cape province, in the Matzikama Municipality, sits the beach town of Strandfontein. The 2011 census shows that there are 431 people living in 92 households. It is located 300 kilometers (190 miles) north of Cape Town, on the Atlantic coast, south of the Olifants River mouth. The word means "beach spring" in Afrikaans.

Tieties Bay is a popular destination for birdwatchers as the reserve is home to over 250 species of birds, including the endangered African penguin.

Other wildlife that can be seen in the reserve includes dolphins, whales, seals and a variety of marine life.

Visitors to Tieties Bay should note that there are no shops or restaurants in the reserve, so it is important to bring all necessary supplies with you. Camping is also allowed in the reserve, but reservations must be made in advance.

Van Rhynsdorp, also known as Vanrhynsdorp in Afrikaans, is a town in South Africa's Western Cape province's West Coast District Municipality.

After Pieter van Meerhoff's exploration of the region in 1661 as the first Europeans, Trutro (pronounced "TroeTroe") was the original name of Van Rhynsdorp. The Trutro homestead at Van Rhynsdorp was completed in 1751, and the same year the Troe-Troe Zending ("Mission") was founded. In 1881 the town's name was changed to Van Rhynsdorp (Vanrhynsdorp in Afrikaans).

The coastal fishing village of Velddrif is located in the Bergrivier Local Municipality in the Western Cape, South Africa. Velddrif is also the name of the farm on which the town was founded. The settlement, which is located at the mouth of the river where the Mountain River in St. Helena Bay mouth, has a population of 7,800 in 2007.

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Velddrif is described by many as the last truly "quintessential" West Coast village of old.

In the South African province of Western Cape, the town of Vredenburg is located on the Cape West Coast.

It serves as the commercial and transport center of the West Coast region as well as the Saldanha Bay Local Municipality's administrative hub.

The village is located on the "Cape Columbine Peninsula", 138 kilometers north of Cape Town, 12 kilometers inland from the coast.

The small town of Vredendal, located at the southernmost tip of Namaqualand, is named after a "peaceful settlement" that restored harmony between two feuding parties, as its name suggests. This relatively new town is located in the Olifants River Valley's Groen Rand.

The largest winery in South Africa, as well as a number of boutique wineries and a dry fruit pot, are all located within the built infrastructure of Vredendal. Once part of the old Vredendal estate and dating from 1748, the present town is situated on the banks of the Olifants River and has developed into something of a hub for the Matzikama region, recognized for its striking sand flats, rocky mountains, and some of the most diversified specimens of native vegetation.

The West Coast National Park is a coastal wetland area located on the West Coast of South Africa, about 120 kilometers north of Cape Town.

It is known for its beautiful scenery, diverse wildlife and rich cultural heritage. The park is home to a variety of habitats, including sand dunes, beaches, rocky beaches, lagoons and estuaries.

This diversity of habitats supports a wide variety of plants and animals, including more than 250 species of birds, 50 species of mammals and 30 species of reptiles.

The small town of Wupperthal, sometimes spelled Wuppertal, is located in South Africa's Western Cape region in the Cederberge. About 100 years before the city of Wuppertal was formally created, it was founded in 1830 by two German missionaries of the Rhenish Mission Society (Rheinische Mission), Theobald von Wurmb and Johann Gottlieb Leipoldt, the grandfather of C. Louis Leipoldt. The decision was made in 1965 to integrate Wupperthal into the Moravian Church, which by then had already transformed from a mission to an autonomous church in South Africa as the Rhine Mission gradually scaled back its activities there over a period of 40 years . The community is still a Moravian mission station.

On South Africa's west coast, 90 kilometers north of Cape Town, is the small port town of Yzerfontein, also known as Ysterfontein, which has a population of around 1,200. The name translates to "Ysterfontein" in Afrikaans. The farm 'Yzerfontein' was bought by the Katz family in the 1930s, and this is how the town got its start. Then they began to create plots on the ground. Tourism, mining and fishing are the main industries, especially from August to the end of September, when wildflowers are in bloom.


The Yzerfontein beach, Sixteen Mile Beach, which stretches north from Yzerfontein's main beach to the town's border with the West Coast National Park, is a well-known feature of the area. Another nature reserve, Dassen Island, is located about 10 kilometers from the coast.