This winter (2025/2025) we were finally able to embark on our road trip along the West Coast of South Africa. Although we had already traveled through the area in 2019 (Northern Cape Tour), we didn’t have enough time to explore the region in depth. Our trip took us from Cape Town along the R27 to Yzerfontein, Langebaan, the West Coast National Park, and on to Paternoster.
We particularly enjoyed the stunningly beautiful beaches along the South African west coast and the charming and cozy fishing villages. For us, the west coast of South Africa is definitely one of the country’s top highlights. In the following article, we’ll tell you what to expect in this region and which highlights you shouldn’t miss.
- West Coast of South Africa – Overview Map
- 1. Table View at Blouberg Beach
- 2. !Khwa ttu San Culture & Education Centre
- 3. Cozy Yzerfontein
- 4. Water Sports Mecca Langebaan
- 5. West Coast National Park
- 6. Paternoster
- 7. Cape Columbine Nature Reserve
- Conclusion on the West Coast of South Africa
West Coast of South Africa – Overview Map
In the following map, we’ve marked all the highlights and stops that might be of interest for your own trip along the west coast of South Africa. There are certainly other stops worth seeing, but even we don’t know every little place personally. If you have any other tips for us, please let us know in the comments.
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1. Table View at Blouberg Beach
As soon as you leave the exciting city of Cape Town behind you and drive onto the R27, after about 20 minutes you will pass the beautiful Blouberg Beach, which is located in Table Bay. From there you have a breathtaking view of Cape Town and Table Mountain, as well as the two local mountains, Signal Hill and Lions Head (“Table View”). When the wind is good here in the bay, you’ll see numerous kitesurfers in the water. Grab a delicious coffee at The Surf Cafe, sit on the beach, and watch the daring jumps of the kiters.
2. !Khwa ttu San Culture & Education Centre
On our way to Yzerfontein, we also stopped at the !Khwa ttu San Culture & Education Centre. This beautifully designed education center is located directly on the R27 and is therefore a great stopover. Here, you’ll not only learn all about the life and culture of the indigenous San, who once roamed the desert plains of southern Africa, but you can also experience some great tours on site.
Most tours last 45 minutes and cost only R180 per person. Only the guided game drives cost R320 per person and last 90 minutes. You can book the tours spontaneously on site or in advance online. ☞ To the tours. There is also a restaurant on site where you can order freshly prepared meals, as well as great ☞ overnight accommodation options.
The following tours are offered:
- Tea tasting – the veld pharmacy (R180 pp | 45 minutes)
- First People – food from the ancestors (R180 pp | 45 minutes)
- Encounters – when cultures collide (R180 pp | 45 minutes)
- The Way of the San – Spirit, hunting and gathering (R180 pp | 45 minutes)
- Tracking – reading the signs (R180 pp | 45 minutes)
- Game drive – the joy of an open vehicle (R320 pp | 90 minutes)
- Self Guided Museum Tour (R80 pp)
We did the tracking tour and spent 45 minutes with some other guests in an open off-road vehicle in the !Khwa ttu San Wilderness Area. The guide showed us some animal tracks and told us a lot about them. Along the way, we also saw zebras, elands, wildebeests, bonteboks, and ostriches. Afterwards, we visited the museum.
Since we already have a lot of experience in Africa and have been on countless game drives (including the !Xaus Lodge of the San and Mier), this tour wasn’t particularly spectacular for us. Nevertheless, the on-site offerings are really cool, especially if you want to learn more about the San or treat your kids to a short game drive.
3. Cozy Yzerfontein
From the !Khwa ttu San Culture & Education Centre, we headed to pretty Yzerfontein, a 20-minute drive away. We immediately fell in love with this small fishing village, as the long, wide sandy beach and turquoise water evoked a holiday feeling. Numerous apartments and holiday homes line the coast, and there are a few restaurants and opportunities for activities on site. For example, you can go horseback riding, swimming, hiking, surfing, kitesurfing, fishing, or even take part in wine tastings or whale watching tours.
We recommend the Grounded Restaurant, which is located at the entrance to the town, right next to SPAR and the Ocean Village shopping center. There you can get healthy and freshly prepared meals as well as local groceries and products. If you’d like to try a wine or two, you can do so at House of Blake’s. According to our readers’ recommendations, Rosco’s Pizzeria serves delicious pizza.
Great accommodations in Yzerfontein:
- The Olive Tree Villa*
- 189 Casa Del Playa*
- Paradise Found*
- Dragon Tree*
- Villa Pescatori*
4. Water Sports Mecca Langebaan
And then we reached Langebaan along the R27. Here we had rented a cool holiday apartment* so that we could explore the area in peace and quiet. The highlight of the resort is certainly the 25 km long lagoon with its many endless beaches and turquoise waters. Langebaan awaited us with perfect weather, beautiful sandy beaches, cozy beach restaurants, some cool surf shops, and plenty of kitesurfers, anglers, windsurfers, kayakers, and other water sports enthusiasts. The landscapes around Langebaan are diverse and offer numerous opportunities for activity.
The following restaurants and cafés are recommended: Pearly’s Restaurant, Die Strandloper Restaurant (book in advance!), Wunderbar, RocXiBeach Restaurant, Fooderia, Ginja Beanz Coffee Shop. If you’re looking for something to browse, be sure to stop by the following shops: Earth Angel Clothing Langebaan, Blooming Nice, Hyssop Health Shop, Vintage 2 Decor. There are also supermarkets, the Laguna Mall, gas stations, and pharmacies on site. We highly recommend a stay in Langebaan, especially if you want to explore the magical West Coast National Park.
Would you like to try some water sports activities in Langebaan? How about a guided sea kayaking tour* through the West Coast National Park? On a 2- or 4-hour tour, you’ll discover stunningly beautiful landscapes, the turquoise lagoon, and a diverse birdlife (book a tour here*). At the Cape Sports Center, you can rent a SUP, a kayak, or join a windsurfing, kitesurfing, or wingfoiling session. Of course, you can also spend a leisurely day at the beach and relax on Langebaan Beach.
Great accommodations in Langebaan:
- Le Mahi Guesthouse*
- Windtown Lagoon Hotel*
- Shark Bay Hotel & Spa*
- Three Feathers Cottages
- Rox and Sea Country Lodge*
5. West Coast National Park
This time we really wanted to explore the West Coast National Park, for which we unfortunately had far too little time on our first visit in 2019. So we set off early in the morning from Langebaan and drove to the park entrance (Langebaan Gate). Here we paid the entrance fee (R110 per person) and received a great map of the area with all the highlights from the lady at the gate.
In the West Coast National Park, we were greeted by over 250 bird species, the beautiful Langebaan Lagoon, fantastic viewpoints and observation huts, picture-perfect beaches and bays, numerous animals, and unique landscapes. There’s even the option of spending the night in the national park, but more on that later.
Flamingos, Zebras, Bat-Eared Foxes, and Much More
First, we drove to the Bird Hide, where we saw, among other things, flamingos on a beautiful beach. From the wooden observation huts, we were able to take great photos and observe the many birds. In general, the rich wetland is home to over 750,000 birds in the summer, which overwinter here.
These include not only flamingos, but also oystercatchers, gulls, and Cape gannets. Zebras, gemsbok, bontebok, bat-eared foxes, ostriches, turtles, and ibex, among others, can also be spotted in the park. And did you know that there are various hiking and mountain bike trails in the park? It’s best to take a look at the park brochure.
The towns of Preekstoel and Kraalbaai are particularly suitable for sunbathing and swimming. The water was really pleasantly warm during our visit in January 2025, so of course we had to jump right in. Swimming fun is guaranteed here, especially for children, as the water is very shallow and you have to go in quite far to even be able to stand up to your waist.
Many visitors like to bring air mattresses and swimming rings with them to float comfortably in the water. There are also various barbecue areas on site for an extended BBQ. After our exploration tour, relaxing on the beach was the perfect change for us. Afterwards, we drove further to the Atlantic to the “Tsaarbank” viewpoint.
Duration & Highlights:
Be sure to plan a day for this beautiful national park. The following spots are highly recommended: Bird Hide (directly after the Langebaan Gate), Seeberg Viewpoint (view over the entire lagoon), the two bird hides at the Geelbek Visitor Center (which also has a snack bar and restrooms), the sunbathing and swimming spots at Preekstoel and Kraalbaai, and Tsaarbank on the Atlantic Ocean.
The Postberg section is only open during the wildflower bloom in August and September. Many visitors generally come during this time, as the park transforms into a sea of colorful flowers. Our day trip, with countless stops and a swim break in Preekstoel, took us about 6 hours. By the way, there are no gas stations in the park!
Accommodation options:
The following accommodation options (except the houseboats) can be booked via the website www.sanparks.org. These chalets and cabins are all quietly located within the park and some are not far from the lagoon. Here you can definitely unwind and enjoy the West Coast National Park to the fullest.
- Duinepos Chalets
- Abrahamskraal Cottage
- Jo-Anne’s Beach Cottage
- Van Breda Cottage
- Jo-Anne’s B Cottage
- Steytler Cottage
- Kraalbaai Lifestyle House Boats*
6. Paternoster
From Langebaan, it’s just a 30-minute drive to Paternoster, a small fishing village on the west coast of South Africa. Paternoster was once a tiny village before developing into a popular holiday resort over the last 20 years. Today, you’ll find numerous renovated fishermen’s houses, beautiful hotels and guesthouses, great restaurants, and some decent second-hand shops. We particularly liked the uniform style of the place, as all the houses are painted white, somehow reminiscent of Greece or the white villages of Andalusia.
A must-see in this small, picturesque village is “Die Winkel op Paternoster”, a charming shop with all sorts of bric-a-brac, furniture, local products and groceries, as well as sweets, jams, cakes, coffee and much more. Right next door, you’ll find the cool restaurant “The Hobnobbery,” where you can purchase coffee, cake, and local delicacies, as well as plants, textiles, and decorative items.
Shop, feast, and enjoy
You can generally stroll along St. Augustine Road and take a leisurely look at all the small shops and restaurants. Try a glass of wine at the Paternoster Wine & Tasting Lounge, admire the beautiful paintings at At Botha Gallery, or browse the selection at Jêm & Pantoffels. We also recommend browsing the Paternoster Waterfront, and especially a drink at the De See Kat Restaurant with a view of the sea. Our readers also recommended a visit to the restaurant Cathy’s Kitchen Paternoster. The breakfast there is said to be particularly delicious.
We spontaneously stopped by the Die Gaaitjie Restaurant for lunch and ordered fish & chips and cheesecake. Mmm… that was delicious! Plus the view of the sea – simply perfect! Right next door is the Wolfgat restaurant, which won the award for the world’s best restaurant in 2019. You should reserve a table there in advance (preferably online) if you want to treat yourself to this taste experience. After dinner, we recommend taking a long walk along Paternoster Beach.
Great accommodations in Paternoster:
- Strandloper Ocean Boutique Hotel*
- Paternoster Dunes Boutique Guesthouse*
- The Oystercatchers Haven at Paternoster*
- De Linden Boutique Guest House*
- Aloe House & Acacia House*
- Moorings 2* | The Loft* | Deja-Vu*
7. Cape Columbine Nature Reserve
If you have a little more time, we recommend a detour to the nearby Cape Columbine Nature Reserve (entrance fee: 29 Rand per person). Especially in spring (from June to October at the latest), blooming wildflowers transform the reserve into a colorful sea of flowers. The reserve is also popular with campers, as it offers truly great campsites right on the Atlantic Ocean. In the reserve itself, you can explore the natural landscape with its rocky coastal landscape, beaches, bays, and rock formations on various hiking trails.
Did you know that the last manually operated lighthouse in South Africa is also located here? It was built on Castle Rock in 1936 and is almost 80 m above sea level. The light shines for 50 kilometers and is an important landmark for ships along the west coast. According to online information, the lighthouse is open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. On weekends or on public holidays, the lighthouse is only open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. from October to April. Entrance fee: R13.70 adults | R6.90 children.
Conclusion on the West Coast of South Africa
We didn’t drive any further up the west coast of South Africa. We actually wanted to spend a few more days in the Cederberg Mountains, but we weren’t in the mood for 40 degrees Celsius in the shade. We’ll make up for that next time, though. There’s also the famous gannet colony in Lambert’s Bay, which breeds on Bird Island from October to February. More than 10,000 Cape gannets are said to be seen there. But even this route was too far for us, so our road trip only took us as far as Paternoster.
But what can we say? The west coast of South Africa is an absolute treat for all nature lovers, peace-seekers, and active vacationers. There are stunningly beautiful beaches, charming fishing villages, a variety of activities on land and water, and excellent restaurants. If you’re ever in Cape Town and have a few days to spare, we recommend a detour along the South African west coast. Plan at least 3 to 5 days for this.