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 kilometres (200 mi) 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, transporting ore from the Okiep copper mines from road to rail.

Britannia Bay is a small coastal town in the West Coast District Municipality, approximately 141 kilometres from Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. The hamlet is named after a British East Indiaman that suffered significant damage from a reef in the bay.

​The West Coast National Park contains the small, traditional fishing community of Churchhaven. This region is a natural haven of pristine waterways, undeveloped coastline, indigenous fynbos and vibrant wildflowers and is world-renowned for its seasonal flowers that bloom in the month of August to September, known as the West Coast Floral 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 kilometres (100 mi) north of Cape Town, at the foot of the Cederberg 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 is 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 prison house which is now a museum, and a house built by early settlers in the 1820s which is still standing today.

About 75 kilometres (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 is the home of Darling Brew, a sought-after alcoholic beverage.

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

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

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

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

The Elands Bay Cave and a large part of Baboon Point (Cape Deseada), where it is located, were designated as provincial heritage sites by Heritage Western Cape 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 Namaqualand by the Sea or simply the Town of Many Bays, is a pleasant resort that attracts tourists who value nature over artificial entertainment.

On the terrace of the Abalone guesthouse many years ago, when Jacobs Bay 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 residential areas in Jacobs Bay.

On the Vredendal road, 25 kilometres from Graafwater, is the Heerenlogement cave, which was used as accommodation by visitors 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 from Lamberts Bay. It is located halfway between Clanwilliam and Lamberts Bay. On the north road to Vredendal, about 25 kilometres from Graafwater, is the famous Heerenlogement (or "gentleman's lodging"). Some 170 carvings of names or initials of travellers from the 1700s who stayed 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 extends from Milnerton, near the mouth of the Diep River, to Velddrift, north of the Berg River.

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

The South African town, locally known as Agterbaai, is about 150 km north of Cape Town and is situated on the shores of the bay from which it takes its name. It is opposite the port of 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 situated along 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 the 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 situated on the right bank of the Olifants River, 240 kilometres (150 mi) north of Cape Town and 17 kilometres (11 mi) southeast 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 flowers here after rain, is where the name Klawer originates.

​Koringberg is a town in the West Coast District Municipality of the Western Cape province of South Africa.

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

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

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

Located 280 kilometres (170 miles) north of Cape Town in the South African province of the Western Cape is the small fishing village of Lamberts Bay. It is owned and administered by the Cederberg Municipality.

Because of its animals, wildlife viewing opportunities, and lobster, 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 moderate temperatures year-round.

On the eastern 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 kilometres north of Cape Town, 28 kilometres from Vredenburg, and 20 kilometres from Saldanha Bay. From Saldanha Bay, across Langebaan, to Geelbek in the south, the lagoon stretches for 17 kilometres. It is up to 4 km wide in some places.

Langebaan is also very famous for kite-surfing and the Club Mykonos Holiday 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 stunning 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 situated along the beautiful Olifants River, which offers breathtaking views and wonderful 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 indigenous 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 kilometres (60 mi) north of Cape Town. It was planned on the Hooikraal property in 1879. From 1882 to 1909, a community management board oversaw its operations. It currently belongs to the Swartland Local Municipality of the West Coast District Municipality. The West Coast District Municipality is governed from this town.

One of the most sought-after neighborhoods in Langebaan is Myburgh Park, located at the far 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 crossroads between Garies and Vanrhynsdorp.

Residents describe it as a small, rural community situated 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 eastern side of Langebaan Lagoon, in the Western Cape province of South Africa, is the town of Langebaan, of which Olifantskop is a sought-after residential area.

Langebaan is located just off the R27, 120 kilometres north of Cape Town, 28 kilometres from Vredenburg, and 20 kilometres from Saldanha Bay. From Saldanha Bay, across Langebaan, to Geelbek in the south, the lagoon stretches for 17 kilometres. It is up to 4 km wide in some 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 locals collect mussels 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 province of South Africa, approximately 80 kilometres east of Saldanha Bay. The name was originally spelled "Piquetberg". The town is situated 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 sail solo around the world. At Gideon Estates you may be able to see the clock.

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

The town is located 155 kilometers northeast of Cape Town and 27 kilometers southeast of Piketberg.

It is situated at the foot of the Olifants River Mountains 140 kilometres north of Cape Town on the R44 road. The Dasklip Pass, which leads to the Groot Winterhoek Mountains that surround the town, is 14 kilometres 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 to the west, Saron to the south, Eendekuil and Citrusdal to the north are the nearest towns.

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

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

​One of the oldest towns in South Africa is Riebeek-Kasteel, situated in the Riebeek Valley next to its sister town, Riebeek-Wes, 80 kilometres north-east of Cape Town. After setting out towards Paardeberg, they reached the fertile prospect of the Riebeek Valley on 3 February 1661 after climbing a solitary peak. In homage to the Commandant, they gave it the name Riebeek Kasteel.

Jan Smuts was born in Bovenplaatz, near Riebeeck-Wes, on 24 May 1870. Daniel Malan was born in Riebeeck-Wes in 1874. Both men were later 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 kilometres northeast of Cape Town and 5 kilometres 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 report of it in 1661.

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

The port, which can take ships of up to 200,000 deadweight tons, 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 honoured by having Saldanha Bay bear his name.

A major fishing village, Saint Helena Bay, Shelley Point is extremely popular with tourists visiting our lovely West Coast region. There is a lot of fishing activity there in the winter, and its waters are home to an endangered species of rock lobster and crayfish, as well as pike.

This makes sense in Afrikaans, as lange means "long" and baan means "road", "path" or "runway," referring to the strip of land that forms the lagoon. The Langebaan Lagoon is a long, shallow stretch of salt water separated from the sea by a narrow strip of land, of which Skiathos is one of Langebaan's sought-after neighborhoods.

The Afrikaans proverb "iets op die lange baan scheur," which means "to put something off," should not be followed when thinking about this small but vibrant town with big-city amenities, it is crucial to mention.

This vibrant town, which is just 90 minutes from Cape Town and a popular holiday destination, attracts a large number of weekend and holiday tourists.

​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 harbours (the other is near Laaiplek). There is a lot of fishing activity there in the winter, and its waters are home to an endangered species of rock lobster and crayfish, as well as pike.

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

In South Africa's Western Cape province, in the Matzikama Municipality, lies the seaside town of Strandfontein. The 2011 census showed that there were 431 people living in 92 households. It is located 300 kilometres (190 mi) north of Cape Town, on the Atlantic coast, south of the Olifants River estuary. The word means "beach spring" in Afrikaans.

Tietiesbaai 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 Tietiesbaai should note that there are no shops or restaurants in the reserve, so it is important to bring all necessary supplies. Camping is also permitted 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 Berg River 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 Berg River where it flows into St. Helena Bay, had 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 the Western Cape, the town of Vredenburg is located on the Cape West Coast.

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

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 warring parties, as its name suggests. This relatively new town is located in the Green Rand of the Olifants River Valley.

The largest wine cellar in South Africa, as well as a number of boutique wineries and a dried fruit pot, are all located within the built infrastructure of Vredendal. The current town, which was once part of the old Vredendal estate and dates back to 1748, is situated on the banks of the Olifants River and has developed into something of a hub for the Matzikama region, which is recognised for its striking sand plains, rocky mountains, and some of the most diversified specimens of indigenous 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 the west coast of South Africa, 90 kilometres north of Cape Town, is the small port town of Yzerfontein, also known as Ysterfontein, which has a population of around 1200. The name translates to "Ysterfontein" in Afrikaans. The farm 'Yzerfontein' was purchased by the Katz family in the 1930s, and that is how the town got its start. They then began to create plots on the land. Tourism, mining and fishing are the main industries, especially from August to the end of September, when wildflowers are in bloom.


The Yzerfontein beach, Sestienmylstrand, 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 kilometres off the coast.