Interactive Map of West Coast & Cederberg, Western Cape, South Africa
West Coast & Cederberg
The West Coast is a region of extreme beauty and contrast. Stretching
over 400km from south to north, the region and its people offer visitors
plenty of sunshine and a surprising variety of travel destinations. To
the west, the region borders the Atlantic Ocean. The solitary coast's
scenic beauty is challenged only by rich culinary experiences of plump
mussels, oysters, calamari, crayfish and abalone in season or linefish
pulled from the Benguela Current's cold waters and fried to gold. All
are best enjoyed at a sunset fishbraai enlivened by a good wine and the
spontaneous, light-hearted banter of hard-working, hard-playing locals.
The area is a bird watcher's paradise - cawing, white-breasted gulls
wheel high on the sea wind above thousands of gannets made featureless
by their distinct, yellow-painted faces, while flamingoes color the
sky pink and swift, darting terns give the lie to the martial imperiousness
of ever-aloof penguins. In addition, every year migrating whales visit
the coastal waters from July. The eastern border is formed by a belt
of mountains with fascinating, often awe-inspiring rock formations. The
Cedarberg Wilderness area offers visitors a face-to-face encounter with
nature at its most unspoiled as well as rock paintings that dramatically
pre-date the world as we know it. Adjacent to the mountains is the Swartland,
well known for its undulating wheat fields, vineyards, wineries and outdoor
activities.
Further north, visitors encounter the fertile Olifants River Valley and
the vast plains of the Knersvlakte with its wealth of indigenous succulent
plants. The Olifant's River Valley is cultivated intensively with an
emphasis on citrus and other fruits, vegetables and vineyards. The West
Coast and its hinterland is a cultural experience of museums, monuments
and mission stations such as Mamre and Wupperthal. It offers activities
such as exploration in a fossil park, hang-gliding, sky-diving, mountain-biking,
4x4 routes, watersports and hiking. The experience extends also to a
superb array of local wines, fresh seafood and other delectable fare,
as well as a health-giving herbal drink, rooibos tea. In spring, carpets
of wild flowers cover the region from the coast to the mountains. Spring
flowers and fynbos are a constantly changing wonder attracting hikers
and nature-lovers throughout the year.
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