In Doringbaai (it translates to Thorn Bay) you can’t but not relax. This small West Coast fishing village is about 3 hours’ drive from Cape Town. It’s pretty, it’s small, it’s quaint, it’s quiet. The closest bigger towns are Vredendal and Lambertsbaai.
Located on the West Coast Way Wild Route
West Coast Way Is South Africa’s Road Trip With The Most Twists
Explore the Cape West Coast by planning a self-drive trip or book a guided tour for a nature and adventure-filled Cape West Coast holiday.
Find a 101+ things to see and do on the West Coast Way:
Enjoy wine, craft beer, olives and Rooibos tea tastings, Weskus cuisine and braaivleis (barbecue), swing into Citrusdal with a zipline, go Cederberg bouldering, jump into natural (warm) pools, step onto cruises of lagoons and rivers, trek through nature reserves and a National Park, hop onto game drives, try the skill of archery and angling, get your adrenaline pumping with sand-boarding and quad-biking, go horse riding, learn about the San culture and Riel-dancing, do kite- and windsurfing, chill in your flip flops and do surfing, book a kayaking trip, go beach hopping, learn about bees, whales and listen to our birds in a twitcher’s paradise – all in South Africa’s wildflower reserve.
For more information on the West Coast’s top places to go, road tripping, hikes, tours and trails, explore westcoastway.co.za or call West Coast Way on 0861 321 777. Follow us on @WestCoastWaySA on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.If you are that way inclined, you could opt to do something active – go hiking or mountain biking on the outskirts of Doringbaai, go kayaking in the ocean or on the Olifants River, there’s wind surfing and body boarding, or there’s diving, snorkeling or spearfishing, albeit in cold water. Close by there are some surfing spots such as Bamboesbaai.
More relaxing pursuits include bird watching including at the Olifants River, sun tanning and swimming. You could also play golf or go wine tasting. In spring it’s flower season; from late July to November it’s time for whale watching.
The bay at Doringbaai was used to anchor boats that were used for trade. Goods would be stored at Doringbaai, then, interestingly enough, taken to Vanrhynsdorp by camel. Yes, it’s hard to believe if you read this now, with not a camel in sight.
You will search far and wide to find a more atmospheric place to sip a glass of wine than Fryer’s Cove (see next entry) on the pier.
The white Doringbaai lighthouse with its black band and white lantern house looks over the shoulder of Fryer’s Cove from a small rocky outcrop. This outcrop forms a natural breakwater.
Building of the orginal lighthouse was completed in 1963. At first an aluminium structure was used but in 1993 a traditional, and more romantic, concrete lighthouse was built after a violent storm damaged the previous structure.
The lighthouse is not manned and it is not open to the public though it’s easy to take lovely photos from various points in Doringbaai.
Find Doringbaai on the on the West Coast Way Wild Route.
Open 7 days a week
Distance from Cape Town: 306km
Where: R366, Doringbaai
Coordinates: 31.8211° S, 18.2392° E
West Coast Way Is South Africa’s Road Trip With The Most Twists
Explore the Cape West Coast by planning a self-drive trip or book a guided tour for a nature and adventure-filled Cape West Coast holiday.
Find a 101+ things to see and do on the West Coast Way:
Enjoy wine, craft beer, olives and Rooibos tea tastings, Weskus cuisine and braaivleis (barbecue), swing into Citrusdal with a zipline, go Cederberg bouldering, jump into natural (warm) pools, step onto cruises of lagoons and rivers, trek through nature reserves and a National Park, hop onto game drives, try the skill of archery and angling, get your adrenaline pumping with sand-boarding and quad-biking, go horse riding, learn about the San culture and Riel-dancing, do kite- and windsurfing, chill in your flip flops and do surfing, book a kayaking trip, go beach hopping, learn about bees, whales and listen to our birds in a twitcher’s paradise – all in South Africa’s wildflower reserve.
For more information on the West Coast’s top places to go, road tripping, hikes, tours and trails, explore westcoastway.co.za or call West Coast Way on 0861 321 777. Follow us on @WestCoastWaySA on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.