The “Oudepost” farm boasts the country's largest orchid nursery. Darling is the second home the hilarious and ingenious genius of Pieter Dirk Uys or Evita Bezuidenhout - one of South Africa's leading theatre personalities.
- Cederberg
The Cederberg is a wilderness area with some fantastic indigenous cedar forests, San rock paintings, magical waterfalls and bizarre rock formations. In winter, you'll find snow capped peaks and in summer you'll trade your soul for an ice cube.
- Paternoster
Paternoster and the adjacent Cape Columbine Nature Reserve are an easy drive from Cape Town - but far enough away to give a taste of true West Coast splendour.
- Clanwilliam
Lying at the foot of the Cederberg, Clanwilliam's biggest drawcard is the Cederberg Mountains.
- Citrusdal
Citrusdal is home, as it's name suggests, to a citrus growing industry. Nestling in the beautiful Olifants River valley between fynbos clad mountains, it makes a great base for exploring the area and everything it has to offer - such as hiking, mountain biking, horse riding, spring flower hunting and the art of pure relaxation.
- Saldanha Bay
This safe natural harbour is home to a navy training base and a hub for the fishing industry. Thanks to its encircling arms, the bay is not only super safe for swimming and a top spot for sailing, but the water is also warmed by the sun, making it lekker* to swim in, unlike the rest of the West Coast, which is generally a breath-freezing temperature.
- Lambert's Bay
This large fishing village is something of a birdwatchers' paradise.
- Eland's Bay
This is a surfer's (and beach lover's) paradise with the best left hand break in S.A. according to Surf bum Geoff.
- Langebaan
Set on the coast overlooking a beautiful azure lagoon, Langebaan is a watersports paradise.
- Namaqualand
Namaqualand, on first impressions, is a harsh, relentless, arid wilderness. Its few inhabitants are burned and dehydrated by the sun and scorching winds, but far from loathing the territory, they have an intense affection for it.
- Piketberg
The high places in the mountains around Piketberg once offered sanctuary to groups of San (Bushmen) and some fine examples of their rock art can still be seen in the area.
- Richtersveld
This wilderness vastness (bounded in the north by the curve of the Orange River) offers hilly, rugged terrain distinguished by weird wind-sculptured rock pillars and spires. It's brown and bone dry except for the odd astonishingly lush greenness of irrigated lands.
- Springbok
Springbok is the largest town in Namaqualand proper and at the centre of the spectacular springtime flower show.
- Vredenburg
Founded around a bubbling spring of clear water, and an important centre for sheep and wheat farmers, "the town of peace" is situated 13km inland from Saldanha and is one of the bigger towns in the area. This is the only town with real backpacker accommodation on the West Coast.
Darling
Small, sweet and home to some serious satire.
This attractive small town is set in a countryside famed for its show of spring flowers which are best exemplified in the nearby Tienie Versfeld Wild Flower Reserve. This 22ha botanical sanctuary preserves a fragment of a typical sandveld environment and is open to visitors throughout the year although it looks its best around September.
Feeling lucky?(randomly selected service providers from all regions)
A great place to meet the many wild critters that hang out in Marloth Park.
(Marloth Park,Mpumalanga)
Set in a valley surrounded by rolling mountains and only five clicks from the border of Kruger Park
(Hazyview,Mpumalanga)
Outeniqua backpackers was the first backpackers in George. It is a great place to stop over if you want a base whilst backpacking the Garden Route.
(George,Garden Route)
They offer scuba diving, ocean kayaking and Lilo trips at the Storms River Mouth
(Stormsriver,Garden Route)
Studying Linguists and Backpackers tune into this Cape Town jazz vibe
(Sea Point,Cape Town)
Welcome to God's country at the Tsitsa Falls
(Hogsback,Eastern Cape Inland and the Karoo)
In Central PE and close to restaurants, shops and public transport, PE Backpackers is situated in a gracious old Victorian house.
(Port Elizabeth,Sunshine Coast)
A great backpacking hostel in the centre of Port Elizabeth.
(Port Elizabeth,Sunshine Coast)
This Backpackers' hostel is set in 3 hectares of forest near to the Vic Bay's famous surfing beach
(Victoria Bay,Garden Route)
Easy access to the North West and to the Plilanesberg National Park.
(Hartbeespoort and surrounds,North West Province)
