The small settlement of Papendorp is situated overlooking the Olifant’s River Estuary where the river enters the sea.

Located on the West Coast Way Wild Route

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.

Papendorp is located on the West Coast Way Wild Route. Papendorp is a tiny settlement on a big river. Situated deep in the West Coast it is 300km from Cape Town travelling on the N7 and the R366. Set back about a kilometre from the sea the few dwellings overlook the Oliphant’s River, floodplains, salt pans and the abundant bird life. The river opens out onto an unspoiled beach, accessible only on foot. Steps and a boardwalk take walkers through a marshy area and past gleaming white salt pans before hitting the path to the bird hide. The river is bright blue in contrast to the earthy tones of the fynbos. The birdlife here is prolific and the silence is absolute. White sand dunes rise in the distance and it is just you and nature.

It has a beautiful view over the wetlands and river with a huge variety of bird species to be seen (183 species).
Papendorp derives its livelihood from fishing in the estuary and from salt gathering at the nearby salt pans. Salt is still processed in the traditional way.

Remnants of the old reed-and-mud houses where the fishermen dwelled in the past can still be seen as well as the rustic tittle church overlooking the river mouth. At the community needlework project beautiful hand embroidered linen can be bought.

Another attraction is archaeological remains in the form of shell middens.

Papendorp is one of the few remaining places where you can see the simplicity of life in its purest form as it used to be along the entire West Coast.

Find Papendorp on the West Coast Way Wild Route.

Open 7 days a week
Distance from Cape Town: 307.3 km
Where: N7
Coordinates: 30.5724° S, 17.9887° E
Contact: +27 (0)27 712 8035/6 | www.experiencenortherncape.com

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.