Book your exclusive, private, bespoke tour to Paternoster with Going West
An exciting new private 1-day tour up the Cape West Coast, which stops off in Paternoster and Velddrift, has been launched and offers visitors a phenomenal chauffeured and guided snapshot of these beautiful, and often unexplored, parts of South Africa.
The 1-Day Cape West Coast Tour has been created by Going West, a division of West Coast Way that specialises in tours up the Cape West Coast, and is a perfect outing for the December holidays and festive season.
This whirlwind adventure departs from Cape Town in the early morning and makes its first stop in Paternoster, one of the oldest fishing villages on the West Coast and a sought-after tourist destination known for its seafood, white-washed fishermen’s cottages and remarkable coastline of jagged cliffs and white boulders.
West Coast Street Food, Famous Bars, Art Galleries and More
Guests start the day with some West Coast “street food” at Ouma Se Kombuis – sampling traditional smoorsnoek on home baked bread. From there the group sets off on a walking tour to explore this beautiful village – stopping off at the Stone Fish Studio & Gallery for a welcome by owner and artist, Dianne Heesom Green.
Next stop is the famous Panty Bar, which once served as a jail. In 1974 the owner started the initial collection of “Honeymoon Panties”, unfortunately the collection had to be taken down in 1983 after a Clergyman reported it to the Police as an ‘unholy practice’. The owner of this iconic pub started ‘collecting’ again in the nineties and this collection is still flourishing.
Following this, guests are taken to Tietiesbaai in the Cape Columbine Nature Reserve – with a stop off at the lighthouse along the way. Here, local youth demonstrate how to make shell art – a practise that they have been doing for many years as a means of supporting themselves – and all guests get to take home their own self-made shell heart.
All of this fresh air makes for healthy appetites and lunch time finds visitors at “Hopland” to enjoy fresh locally sourced and prepared seafood, such as pan-fried crayfish tails and mussels in garlic butter served with home baked bread.
History, Bird-Life, Boats and Bokkoms
The second half of the 1-Day tour sees visitors heading to the historic Bokkom Laan in Velddrif. Fringed by the Great Berg River, this dirt road – which is the oldest road in the town – is scattered with a cluster of historic fish processing buildings, restaurants, and jetties. Bokkomlaan is named after the salted, silvery, savoury mullet strung into bunches and hung to dry, like biltong. It’s the signature local delicacy in this area and a produce that has been in production for centuries – once being transported to Cape Town to feed prisoners at the Castle.
At Bokkom Laan guests are given a locally guided tour, stopping to see a demonstration on how Bokkoms are made, before moving on to sample locally manufactured olives, cheeses and micro-vegetables. After this everyone climbs on board the Crackling Rosie river boat for an hour-long cruise.
In addition to the beautiful scenery, cruise-goers can look forward to spotting graceful Flamingos and Pelicans, Kingfishers, ducks, as well as the many other water birds that live alongside this abundant river – a bird lovers paradise. In fact, this estuary is the third biggest in SA and rated as one of the most important birding areas in the world as well as being a key breeding site for many species of fish. Crackling Rosie’s knowledgeable guide will share the history behind the centuries old farms which line the river.
After the cruise, the day ends with coffee, cappuccinos, or iced-coffees at the Cape Columbine Coffee House on Bokkom Laan – where all beans are roasted and ground on site. Guests are also given the opportunity to purchase locally made produce to take home before then departing back to Cape Town on the chauffeur driven transport.
“West Coast Way is extremely excited about this new 1-Day West Coast Way Tour and to be able to offer people the chance to see and intimately experience some of the best attractions and activities that the Cape West Coast has to offer. Visitors can look forward to being immersed in a kaleidoscope of culture, warm people and beautiful scenery,” says Carmen Lerm, founder and CEO of West Coast Way. “All of the experiences are guided by local community members, giving visitors true insider insights.”
“The launch of this new offering coincides with the 6th birthday of West Coast Way and is a perfect way to celebrate and mark the occasion!”
The 1-Day Paternoster tour is an exclusive experience that offers guests the opportunity to linger longer with a stay in Paternoster, Port Owen, Shelley Point and Langebaan.
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West Coast Way is Your Route To Nature
West Coast Way is your ultimate gateway to experiencing the natural beauty and cultural richness of the Cape West Coast of South Africa. As a premium tourism brand, we offer six uniquely themed trip plans that promise an unforgettable journey: Cape, Culture, Foodie, Tractor, Berg, and Wild.
Discover over 101 incredible things to see and do with West Coast Way:
Savour the delights of wine, craft beer, olives, and Rooibos tea tastings. Indulge in authentic Weskus cuisine and the traditional braaivleis (barbecue). Feel the thrill of swinging into Citrusdal on a zipline or challenge yourself with Cederberg bouldering. Rejuvenate in natural warm pools and embark on serene cruises across lagoons and rivers. Explore the diverse landscapes of nature reserves and a National Park, or embark on exciting game drives. Hone your skills in archery and angling, or amp up the excitement with sandboarding and quad-biking. Enjoy horse riding, immerse yourself in the unique San culture, and experience the vibrant Riel dancing. For water sports enthusiasts, kite- and windsurfing, surfing, and kayaking trips await. Go beach hopping, learn about bees and whales, and delight in birdwatching in a twitcher’s paradise – all within South Africa’s renowned wildflower reserve.
For more information on the best places to visit on the West Coast, road tripping routes, hikes, tours, and trails, explore westcoastway.co.za or call West Coast Way on 0861 321 777. Follow us on on Instagram, Facebook, X and LinkedIn @WestCoastWaySA.