Go on this fun 5-Day West Coast Tour
This West Coast Tour offers a journey to charming fishing villages and delectable seafood to be enjoyed between whale watching outings, hiking and golf. Visitors can also enjoy vast carpets of flowers in spring, ancient San cave paintings in the Cederberg Mountains and fantastic bird watching, to name only a few activities.
The West Coast of South Africa has become a popular international holiday destination with its virgin beaches, dramatic mountain ranges and carpets of stunning spring flowers.
Visitor arriving can experience its diverse geology and natural life in the West Coast National Park, Rocherpan Nature Reserve and Bird Island Nature Reserve while whale and dolphin watching off the coast will give a view of the area’s rich marine life.
The spectacular Cederberg Mountains can be found here and a series of picturesque fishing villages like Paternoster and historical towns of Darling and Citrusdal offer a range of accommodation and recreational activities.
The area is especially famed for its seafood and tranquil atmosphere.
The country’s rich ancient history is displayed in San cave paintings and the renowned West Coast Fossil Park offers daily tours of its fascinating live exhibit of an ongoing excavation of fossils that are approximately five million years old.
For those with a taste for the outdoors the Western Cape coastline offers hiking trails and whale watching with golf at the Langebaan Golf Course or windsurfing for those craving a bit of exercise.
In winter visitors can snuggle next to warm fires and experience the wild seas off the Cape of Storms and enjoy the rich bounty of food and wine from the area.
This jewel of a coastline is easily reached from Cape Town and enchants visitors with its unpretentious atmosphere and unique natural beauty.
5 Day West Coast Tour Explorer
South Africa’s West Coast is one of the most unspoilt regions in the country. The pure air, friendly people, and wide horizons of sea and sky clear one’s head of trivial concerns, and nature goes about its business, blissfully heedless of the big city 200 km to the south.
This 5-day West Coast Tour will show you the West Coast in transition. We head north from the “new” West Coast of high-rise apartment blocks and holiday apartments, into the traditional West Coast of bokkoms, seafarers and saltpans, and a sense of infinite freedom.
Starting Date:
Any date specified by clients – this is a private tour
Starting Point:
Anywhere in Cape Town
Ending Point:
Anywhere in Cape Town
Highlights:
- Het Vlock Casteel Farm – Numerous tastings
- Carmien Tea Experience – Farm tour / factory tour / tea tastings
- Hebron Restaurant – Food/Wine/Tea tasting by Chef Steve
- Piekenierskloof Mountain Resort
- Zip lining in Piekenierskloof
- Target Shooting
- Matjiesrivier Nature Reserve – World Heritage Site
- San Rock Art – Stadsaal (Afrikaans for City Hall) Cave
- Bird Island
- Grootvlei Guest Farm
- Citrusdal
- Lamberts Bay
- Isabella’s Restaurant
- Elands Bay
- Baboon Point
- Dwarskersbos
- Rocherpan Nature Reserve
- Velddrif
- Walking tour of Saldanha
- Protea Hotel by Marriott® Saldanha Bay
- West Coast Fossil Park
- Thali Thali Game Reserve
- Game Drive
- Archery Lesson
- South African Braai (BBQ)
- Darling
- Evita Se Peron
- Darling Brew
- Darling Sweet
- Darling Olives
Day 1: Cape Town – Malmesbury – Carmien Tea – Piekenierskloof Mountain Resort
You are collected from your hotel / guesthouse and we set off on our journey! We make our way via the N7 to Malmesbury, where we turn off to our 1st stop at “Het Vlock Casteel farm. Here we will do numerous tastings including olives, extra virgin olive oil, preserves and chutneys to name a few. You will also have the opportunity to purchase some of the 100 products they produce.
From here we make our way through Porterville, Piketberg to our next destination namely “Carmien Tea”. Here we will experience the whole rooibos process from “crop to cup” which includes a walk in the Rooibos fields, a visit to the factory where everything is processed and then also taste some of their new offerings. A tour to remember. We then head off to “Hebron Restaurant” where we do a Food, Wine & Tea pairing. Chef Steve will dazzle you with his cooking skills and he is rightly recognized as one of the top chefs in the area!
After this amazing food experience, we literally head across the road to our overnight accommodation which is the newly renovated Piekenierskloof Mountain Resort. The late afternoon you are free to swim in the heated pool, or spoil yourself at their very luxurious SPA (own cost). The evening we dine at the resort.
Included meals: | Lunch (Food, Wine & Tea pairing) & Dinner |
Included activities: | Het Vlock Casteel Farm tastings, Carmien Tea Tour and Food Pairing at Hebron Restaurant |
Optional activities: | N/A |
Travel route, distance & time: | Cape Town – Malmesbury – Carmien Tea – Piekenierskloof Mountain Resort: ± 220 km’s (± 1H45 mins) |
Overnight: | Piekenierskloof Mountain Resort |
Day 2: Citrusdal – Clanwilliam – Lamberts Bay
After a leisurely breakfast, we head of to do some “Zip lining” (weather permitting), made up of 3 slides on the property. This adventure will definitely get your adrenalin pumping and is great fun for the entire family. After this “shot” off adrenalin, we make our way to do some “target shooting”, also on the premises. This adventure will “test” your skill with air pistols and we wll have a “mini competition”, with the winner walking away with a stunning gift!
After our early morning adventures, we make our way to Matjiesrivier Nature Reserve. Proclaimed as a nature reserve in 2000, and a World Heritage Site in 2014, Matjiesrivier Nature Reserve occupies a very special part of the Western Cape. This semi-arid nature reserve also contains some excellent examples of the region’s geological and archaeological heritage, including the imposing Stadsaal cave (Afrikaans for City Hall), rare San rock art depicting elephants. Estimated to be at least 1 000 years old (the San began the practice of painting on rocks and in caves around 5 000 years ago), the paintings depict three groups of people and a herd of elephants. Here you are free to walk amongst the rocks and take as many pictures as possible.
We then head off to Lamberts Bay. On the way we will pass Clanwilliam, well known for the head office of Rooibos tea and one of the flower capitals of South Africa.
Once in Lamberts Bay, we make our way to Isabella’s Restaurant for a scrumptious lunch. After lunch we make our way to Bird island to view some amazing Gannets, before heading off to our accommodation for the night.
Included meals: | Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner |
Included activities: | Zip Lining, Target Shooting, San Rock Art outing & Bird Island |
Optional activities: | N/A |
Travel route, distance & time: | Citrusdal – Clanwilliam – Lamberts Bay: ± 150 km’s (± 1H30 mins) |
Overnight: | Grootvlei Guest Farm |
Day 3: Lamberts Bay – Velddrif – Saldanha Bay
This morning we have an early start as we have so much to see today. Breakfast will be at 7am and we hit the road at 8am.
Our final destination today will be Saldanha where we will overnight, but along the way we have numerous stops at those quaint little towns you only hear about.
Our first stop will be Elands Bay. The bay is a prime whale and dolphin viewing venue between July & December when migrating Southern Right wales and Heavyside Dolphins can be seen in Large numbers. The caves above Baboon Point are well known for their Bushman paintings dating back nearly 10 000 years, but the caves have not been well preserved.
Our next stop is Dwarskersbos. Dwarskersbos has beautiful beaches which attract many visitors and the Rocherpan Nature Reserve is a seasonal wetland vlei where you will get to see endangered pelicans, flamingos and other species of aquatic birds. You will also get to see the Southern Right Whale between the months of June and September. We will pop in hear and see if we can spot some whales and endangered pelicans.
We then head off to Velddrif and visit the infamous “Bokkomlaan” and view numerous little shops on the lagoon. Here you can also taste “Bokkoms” (traditional dried fish) delicacy for which the area is well known.
We also pop in to St Helena Bay, Shelly Point & Paternoster, where we will enjoy lunch on the beach! After lunch we head towards Saldanha Bay where we will enjoy a walking tour of this seaside village. The rest of the afternoon is at your leisure. In the evening we have dinner at the hotel overlooking the bay.
Included meals: | Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner |
Included activities: | Elands Bay, Dwarskersbos, Rocherpan Nature Reserve, Velddrif & Bokkomlaan & Walking tour of Saldanha Bay |
Optional activities: | N/A |
Travel route, distance & time: | Lamberts Bay – Velddrif – Saldanha Bay: ± 190 km’s (± 2H15 mins) |
Overnight: | Saldanha Bay Hotel |
Day 4: Saldanha Bay – West Coast Fossil Park – Thali Thali Game Reserve
This morning you can enjoy a leisurely breakfast without being rushed. After breakfast we make our way to the West Coast Fossil Park for a very interesting tour of this site.
The fossil site of Langebaanweg is located in the West Coast Fossil Park and is world-renowned for its exceptionally well-preserved fossil faunal remains that date to the terminal Miocene/early Pliocene (circa 5.2 million years ago).
A national and international team of researchers are currently unraveling the fascinating and unique history of fossils from the West Coast Fossil Park and attempting to recreate the environment and climate of the west coast some 5 million years ago. At this time many animals that are now extinct, such as saber-toothed cats, short-necked giraffes, hunting hyenas and African bears roamed the west coast which then had a more subtropical climate with lush, riverine forests and open grasslands.
After an extremely interesting tour of the fossils, we make our way to Thali Thali Game Reserve. Thali Thali is a 1,460-hectare Cape West Coast game and fynbos reserve situated just off the R27 near Langebaan, less than 1 hours’ drive from Cape Town, bordering the West Coast National Park.
A visit to Thali Thali offers the ideal laid-back West Coast style break-away – complete with game drives, archery lessons and sundowners on the deck for the not so adventurous. They boast a wide range of game like kudu, Oryx, giraffe, red hartebeest, eland, zebra, springbok, black wildebeest, duiker, bontebok, steenbok, ostrich, dromedary camel and emu. The reserve is also home to many different bird species and guests are welcome to enjoy a walk in the fynbos to view these creatures.
Their guides will take you on an informative 90-minute drive where you will have an excellent chance of spotting all their featured species.
After your game drive, we make our way to their Archery offering. From the novice to the seasoned archer, they have something to interest all. Here you will enjoy an archery lesson which is bound to get you hooked on this adventurous sport.
Dinner is a South African Braai (BBQ)!
Included meals: | Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner |
Included activities: | West Coast Fossil Park Tour, Game Drive at Thali Thali Game Reserve & Archery lesson at Thali Thali Game Reserve |
Optional activities: | N/A |
Travel route, distance & time: | Saldanha Bay – West Coast Fossil Park – Thali Thali Game Reserve: ± 40 km’s (± 45 mins) |
Overnight: | Thali Thali Game Reserve |
Day 5: Thali Thali Game Reserve – Darling – Cape Town
This morning you can lay in as breakfast is only served from 9am. After breakfast we make our way to the quaint little town of Darling and promises to be one of the most memorable days on tour!
The charming little village of Darling lies between vineyards and golden wheat fields only 75km from Cape Town along the West Coast road and 25km from the beach at Yzerfontein.
Traditionally known for its spectacular wildflowers, Darling has much more to offer visitors … Darling has become the home of well-known South African satirist Pieter-Dirk Uys’s theatre, Evita se Perron, a cabaret venue and restaurant in Darling, named after his alter-ego, Evita Bezuidenhout.
Today you will experience what Darling has to offer, from “Coffee & Koeksister” at Evita Se Peron, beer tasting and tour of the distillery at Darling Brew, toffee tasting at Darling Sweet, visit the Darling Museum, lunch at Darling Brew and last but not least we visit Darling Olives on our way home where you will taste ± 21 products. A stunning way to finish this amazing tour.
Guests will be dropped at their hotel/guest house or at the airport between 17H30 – 18H00.
Included meals: | Breakfast & Lunch |
Included activities: | “Coffee & Koeksister” at Evita Se Peron, beer tasting and tour of the distillery at Darling Brew, sample the largest selection of West Coast Wines at Darling Wine shop where you will taste 6 different wines of the region, toffee tasting at Darling Sweet, visit the Darling Museum, lunch at Darling Brew and Darling Olives where you will taste ± 21 products |
Optional activities: | N/A |
Travel route, distance & time: | Thali Thali Game Reserve – Darling – Cape Town: ± 135 km’s (± 1H45 mins) |
Overnight: | N/A |
Included in this West Coast Tour:
- Land transportation in air-conditioned vehicles
- Pickups & Drop offs
- All wine tastings & food pairing
- Services of a registered guide
- Tea tasting
- All activities as per itinerary
- All meals as specified in the itinerary (4 x breakfasts, 5 x lunch & 4 x dinners)
- 1-night accommodation @ Piekenierskloof Mountain Resort
- 1-night accommodation @ Grootvlei Guest Farm
- 1-night accommodation @ Saldanha Bay Hotel
- 1-night accommodation @ Thali Thali Game Reserve
- All refreshments on bus
- Tourism levy
- All applicable taxes
- All activities and entrance fees to places mentioned in the itinerary
- All park fees where applicable
Excluded:
- International airfare (to South Africa, and home)
- Personal and medical insurance
- Activities not specifically stated in the itinerary
- Meals not specifically stated in the itinerary
- Drinks
- Gratuities
PRIVATE TOURS – PRICE PER PERSON:
5-8 People | ZAR12,900 | US$922 |
4 People | ZAR13,650 | US$975 |
3 People | ZAR14,900 | US$1065 |
2 People | ZAR14,700 | US$1050 |
NB: Please note that 2 people are required for the tour to run. We can accommodate larger groups (up to 18 guests). Please contact us for a quotation.