West Coast of South Africa tour

Yster

langebaan windsurf

Yzerfontein

Day 1

• Depart Cape Town and travel north on the scenic coastal route. Passing the historic, beehive shaped lime
kilns, continue to Yzerfontein.

• Look for distant Dassen Island, which is the largest of 34 submarine mountains whose summits protrude through the surface of the Atlantic Ocean.

• Continue through the West Coast National Park to the town of Langebaan (this wetland is biologically the richest stretch of water in South Africa).

• We drive around the natural harbour of Saldanha Bay, to the port town of Saldanha which is the world’s finest natural harbour, where a superb seafood lunch can be enjoyed (not included).

• Our journey continues via Vredenburg to the small
town of Velddrif.

• After crossing the Berg River, we visit the tiny fishing village of Laaiplek to experience local culture typical of West Coast residents.

• We continue through the beautiful stretches of fynbos in the Sandveld and continue to the town of Citrusdal for dinner and overnight at a lodge located at the ‘Gateway to the Cederberg’.

Accommodation - Cederberg Lodge or similar – dinner, bed and breakfast basis

Namaqualand spring

Mountain View Guesthouse

Day 2

• After breakfast, we leave the fertile Citrusdal Valley

• Moving on to the town of Clanwilliam passing the Clanwilliam Dam reputed to support more indigenous fish species than any other south of the Zambezi River.

• Our day continues as we head towards Vanrhynsdorp where we have an opportunity to visit the town’s succulent nursery, reputed to be the world’s largest collection of succulent plants. We pass through the towns of Bitterfontein and Garies, both of which are famous for their unique geology. Bitterfontein produces and exports the world’s only supply of green granite and Garies produces Kaolin, which is an essential element used in the production of paper, fine porcelain and various other applications. Afternoon arrival at a luxury lodge in the town of Springbok renowned for it’s typical Namaqualand hospitality. Dinner will be enjoyed at a local restaurant.

Accommodation - Mountain View Guest House or similar – dinner, bed and breakfast basis

Augrabies Falls

Augrabies Falls

Day 3

• After breakfast in the dining room with magnificent views of the mountains, our journey over ‘Bushmanland’
to the Orange River Valley begins

• After a short comfort stop in the rural village of Pofadder, arrive at the Augrabies Falls National Park in the early afternoon. Few sights are as awesome or a sound as deafening as water thundering down the 56 metre Augrabies Waterfall when the Orange River is in full flood. The Khoi people called it ‘Aukoerebis’, or place of Great Noise, as this powerful flow of water is unleashed from rocky surroundings characterised by the 18 kilometre abyss of the Orange River Gorge

• Enjoy a fascinating game drive in the national park, which provides sanctuary to a diversity of species, from the very smallest succulents, birds and reptiles to springbok, gemsbok and the endangered black rhino.

Accommodation - Augrabies Rest Camp or similar Dinner, bed and breakfast basis

Cederberg Moutnains

DAY 4

• Our journey back towards Cape Town begins with a visit to Kakamas, known for its unique irrigation canal
and water-wheels, and its sultana grapes. These ‘overshot water-wheels’ originate from an ancient design of
the Egyptians and are some of the best preserved in South Africa

• Then it’s on to Keimoes, an extremely important farming center situated on the Orange River and known for it water-wheel in the town. Kenhardt, with only 3 600 inhabitants was, in the wild frontier days of the Cape Colony, known for rustlers and outlaws.

• Near Brandvlei - in the middle of nowhere - the Verneukpan (Deception pan) is known as the site
where Sir Malcolm Campbell tested his Bluebird car on the 14th April 1928 unsuccessfully to break the world
landspeed record on the pan.

• Finally on to Calvinia, the second largest wool producing area in the country, for overnight in Victorian style accommodation. Die Dorpshuis or similar - dinner, bed and breakfast basis

Lighthouse

West Coast

Day 5

• The final day’s journey begins after a hearty breakfast. We head over the spectacular Vanrhyns Pass to Vanrhynsdorp. Further on we visit Clanwilliam, famous for it’s dam, an important factor in the irrigation for
the area.

• We have the opportunity to visit the ‘velskoen’ shoe factory and ‘Die Kunshuis’ art gallery before becoming acquainted with the area’s famous Rooibos tea plantations. The area produces over 3 000 tons of
tea per year which is exported by popular demand all over the world.

• Travel via the Pakhuis Pass to reach the grave of renowned writer Louis Leipold, located in a bushman rock shelter with a gallery of faded paintings and with stunning views over the plains.

• After our visits we traverse the Piekenaarskloof Pass and head towards Piketberg, situated at the foot of the sand stone cliffs, topped by the 1459m Zebrakop.

• Malmesbury, the largest grain distribution centre in South Africa, is left behind as we approach Cape Town,
with the magnificent Table Mountain as a dramatic backdrop to welcome us back after our adventure.

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West Coast Wonderscape

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