Take a spin on family-friendly bicycle routes and be awed at every turn by majestic indigenous plants and wildlife.
Located on the West Coast Way Culture Route
The Koeberg Nature Reserve is closed until further notice. This measure is in response to Covid-19 protocols.
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.A nuclear power plant is the last place you’d expect to find families of eland, springbok and zebra, and a thriving bird life, but Koeberg Nature Reserve is just such a place. Find Koeberg Nature Reserve on the West Coast Way Culture Route.
Located just off the R27, the Koeberg Nature Reserve in Melkbosstrand provides information on the Koeberg Power Station as well as printed guides for two walking trails in the reserve. Visitors are treated to a range of fauna and flora with two major types of veld present in the reserve: West Coast Strandveld and Duineveld.
Animals to look out for are Grysbok, Steenbok, Bontebok and Springbok. Caracal, the African Wild Cat, Grey Mongoose and Genet can also be spotted. For twitchers, 153 species of birds have been recorded at Koeberg, including Ostrich and the African Fish Eagle.
A great way to see the reserve is on a bicycle and there are several routes to follow. The area is pretty flat, with less than 50 metres of climbing, so it’s great for beginners and families as well as more seasoned cyclists.
If biking isn’t your thing, then you can walk one of the two hiking trails. The Dikkop Trail is a 13-kilometre loop of which two kilometres are on the beach and the Grysbok Trail is much less strenuous and at just under six kilometres, shouldn’t take longer than two hours.
But whichever way you choose, pack a picnic lunch and stop at the bird hide where you’re likely to spot great white Pelican, greater Flamingo, African fish eagle as well as various Gulls, Herons and Egrets.
Travel tip:
About the Koeberg Nuclear Station and the West Coast Biodiversity Corridor:
The Koeberg Nuclear Station has a pre-determined footprint and will always stay within this footprint – therefore, whilst Cape Town’s need for energy may increase, Koeberg cannot increase the space allocated to them for the production of energy. This fact, combined with the global importance of biodiversity and the resulting socio and economic development of the West Coast through green tourism, ensures that the West Coast Biodiversity Corridor with attractions like Grotto Bay, Jakkalsfontein and Rondeberg Private Nature Reserves, will never be part of any other nuclear projects. The Cape West Coast Biosphere Reserve is unique as it is the home of the only Biodiversity Corridor in the world with a Nuclear Station! In fact the excellent work done by Koeberg makes a huge contribution to the success of the Cape Biodiversity Corridor – offering day visitors the opportunity of walking- and mountain bike trails in a prestine green environment.
Things to do:
Cape Skydiving Adventure
A 35-minute drive north along the R27 or West Coast road as it’s more commonly known, is all it takes for you to be whisked from the Cape Town city centre to the closest skydiving drop zone to South Africa’s tourism capital, boasting one of the best views in the world from altitude.
On the way up in the aircraft to your tandem skydive, the view is breathtaking. To the south, the city bowl lies sandwiched between towering Table Mountain and bustling Table Bay harbour. Further south, and to the far side of the mountain, lies False Bay, Hout Bay and the splendour of the south peninsula as far as Cape Point. To the west, you will spot Robben Island and the Atlantic Ocean breaking on the beautiful Cape West Coast, as famous for its icy water temperature as it’s mouth-watering crayfish. To the north, the Langebaan lagoon, a great kitesurfing and windsurfing venue.
Skydiving is the one item that features on almost every bucket list. At Skydive Cape Town, their dedicated staff and internationally qualified tandem masters are on hand to make your skydiving dream a reality. There’s no better way to experience Cape Town than in freefall. Go on – take the plunge!
Where: Brakfontein Road, Cape Farms
Contact: +27 (0)82 800 6290 | [email protected] | www.skydivecapetown.co.za
Distance from Cape Town: 30km
Where: Off the R27, Melkbosstrand, Blaauwberg
Coordinates: 33° 37’ 47” S 18° 25’ 18” E
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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.