Page 214 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - South Africa

212  THE WESTERN AND SOUTHERN C APE

Exploring the West Coast Orange

Although first appearances seem to indicate that the Sendelingsdrif
/Ai-/Ais/
West Coast is a hot, barren wilderness, the region is a Transfrontier
Richtersveld
magnet to visitors during the spring months (August to Kuboes Park
mid-October), when flowering daisies and gazanias paint
the landscape with bold colour splashes. It is also known Alexander Bay Vioolsdrif
for its spectacular walking and hiking trails in the Eksteenfontein
Cederberg Mountains, which are famous for their Lekkersing
contorted rock formations and breathtaking views.
Along the coastline, the cold waters of the Atlantic yield Steinkopf
a vast array of delicious seafood, from rock lobster and Port Nolloth Aninaus Pass
black mussels to fresh linefish, which can be sampled NORTHERN Bulletrap
at a number of skerms (open-air restaurants) on CAPE Upington
the beaches. Buffels Okiep
Grootmis
Springbok
Komaggas N
Burke's Pass
A
M
A
Kamieskroon
Q
Koingnaas U
Hondeklip Bay A
L A
Garies N Swart-doring Kliprand
D
1024 m
Groen
T
Nariep O Loeriesfontein
U
R
Bitterfontein Bokkeveldberg Doring
Klein -
Nuwerus
Sout Brandkop
Upington
Landplaas Nieuwoudtville
Fishing trawlers at anchor in Lambert’s Bay harbour Grootdrif Calvinia
Lutzville Vanrhynsdorp
Sights at a Glance Olifants Vredendal
1 West Coast 7 Citrusdal Doring Bay Klawer Botterkloof Pass
2 West Coast National 8 Clanwilliam WESTERN Doringbos
Park pp216–17 9 Cederberg CAPE Uitspankraal
3 Lambert’s Bay LAMBERT'S BAY CLANWILLIAM
4 Darling Driving Tour Leipoldtville
5 Malmesbury 0 Namaqualand Tour Elands bay Wuppertal
6 Tulbagh Sandberg CEDERBERG
Paleisheuwel Doring
Noordkuil CITRUSDAL
Getting Around Piketberg
St. Helena Bay Eendekuil
A car is essential for touring this region as no Paternoster Velddrif
regular public transport service exists. Private Vredenburg Sauer De Hoek Skurweberge
coach companies do operate along this section Saldanha Groot Bergrivier Porterville
of coast, however. During the flower season, Hopefield
a large number of organized coach tours are Langebaan Moorreesburg Gydopas
WEST COAST
available from operators based in Cape Town. NATIONAL PARK Riebeek TULBAGH
Wes
The N7, a major national route, runs straight up Yzerfontein DARLING
the West Coast from Cape Town to the Namibian MALMESBURY
border, with main roads leading off to the coast COAST Worcester
and interior. Between Cape Town and St Helena Philadelphia
WEST
Bay, the R27 offers a more scenic route with Melkbosstrand Wellington
intermit tent views of the coastline. The closest Bloubergstrand
The Wolfberg Arch in the Cederberg international airport is in Cape Town. Cape Town Milnerton
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp386–7 and pp403–4
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