West Coast Towns For A Weekend Break

CHURCHHAVEN

You have to venture deep into the West Coast National Park to even reach this village, which lies beside a quiet lagoon surrounded by pristine white-sand beaches. Most of the cottages here don't have electricity or running water, and the village doesn't show up on most maps. It even makes nearby Kraalbaai look "too touristy". The area around the lagoon is populated by ostriches and flamingos, and the occasional whale or dolphin can be sighted from shore.

CITRUSDAL

Nestled at the foot of the Cederberg mountains in the Olifants River Valley, this town is famous for the citrus fruit grown here, and natural hot springs. It's also part of the West Coast Flower and Rock Art Route, which means amazing flower and ancient rock-art displays. Wine tasting, hiking, mountain biking, paintballing, horse riding, bird watching, and paragliding are other activities to enjoy. 

DARLING

Surrounded by rolling green meadows and flower beds, this West Coast town bursts into a bouquet of colours every spring when wildflower season comes around, but it's worth visiting any time of year for its many cultural attractions as well as its beauty. Founded on Langfontein Farm in 1853, it has grown into a notable wine destination, and the location for some popular festivals and events, including the Darling Wildflower Show and the Groote Post Country Market. It's also home to Evita se Perron, Pieter-Dirk Uys' cabaret dining theatre.

ELANDS BAY

This sleepy fishing village, surrounded by pristine white-sand beaches and inhabited by diverse wildlife, is a surfer's paradise. Despite offering some of the best swimming in the Cape, it's not on any tourists' to-do lists. (Fist pump!) Further inland you'll find caves with enchanting rock art, the work of the Bushmen who wandered this land for thousands of years.

PATERNOSTER

This authentic fishing village, with rows of whitewashed fishermen's cottages, and an old dock where boats still pull up every day to deliver fresh hauls, is a West Coast gem. With such easy access to quality seafood, it's no wonder Paternoster is fast becoming a favoured destination for top chefs looking to start new projects. But there's more to this place than fresh kreef (that's crayfish for the non-locals). A wealth of bird life abounds, and whales and dolphins can be sighted from the shore.

Main Image - Photo by Bernd M. Schell on Unsplash

Sources - Google