SHORT ROAD TRIPS TO NEIGHBOURING TOWNS

While we think Langebaan is one of the most beautiful coastal towns on the West Coast (yes, we are biased), there are a few other neighbouring towns that are also worth a visit. And the good news is that they are all within a radius of 15 – 60 km/9 – 37 miles.

In this post, we will list a few places we have visited before. Some of these are not towns, but favourite camping spots, and there are a few towns that we do not mention here, as we are only focusing on the coastal towns. Well, except for two very interesting places, but there is a reason for that (which we will reveal at the end).

For example, we have not even mentioned Vredenburg (a lively town on the West Coast), as well as *Velddrif and *Port Owen (beautiful villages that are certainly worth a visit). Maybe we’ll do separate posts on these towns later.

*Update – July 2024: As promised, we have done a separate post on both Velddrif and Port Owen – if you want to read more about these two places, click here.

Let us start with the farthest village north of Langebaan:

Paternoster – 38km/23 miles from Langebaan:

Paternoster is one of the oldest fishing villages on the West Coast of South Africa. The origin of the name remains unknown. Some people believe that the name, which mean “Our Father” in Latin, refers to prayers said by Catholic Portuguese seamen when they became shipwrecked.

Beautiful beach at Paternoster

Although Paternoster is quite small (their population is around 2,500), it is a sought-after tourist destination – known for its crayfish and the white-washed fishermen’s cottages.

Seagulls on Paternoster’s beach
Fishermen’s boats

Tietiesbaai – 45km/28 miles from Langebaan:

When you mention the name Tietiesbaai in a polite conversation, some people may raise their eyebrows. It is said that the name (which has never been translated from Afrikaans to English) originally comes from two large rocks that slightly resemble a pair of breasts. However, there is also another version that states it is named after the Frenchman Jacques Titius, who was a colonial trader on the West Coast.

Tietiesbaai as seen from a high sand dune
Small bay of Tietiesbaai

Back in the days, this was one of our favourite camping spots on the West Coast. Tietiesbaai has a beautiful and unspoiled beach and is located in the Cape Columbine Nature Reserve.

During a long weekend Tietiesbaai are transformed into a tented town

The last manually controlled and first lighthouse to be seen by ships coming from Europe, can be found here.

Lighthouse at Tietiesbaai (Credit: Stock photos)

When we used to camp at Tietiesbaai, it was usually during the crayfish/lobster season. We would prepare the fresh crayfish right there on the beach and for seafood lovers, this is almost like a ‘5-star dining experience’.

Cooked crayfish on the beach

Sea Shack – 43km/26 miles from Langebaan:

Between Paternoster and Tietiesbaai, is a little gem called Sea Shack – ideal for all the glampers. It’s your ultimate luxury glamping spot.

The ‘shacks’ at Sea Shack

We’ve been here in 2019, and this is a true glamping experience on the beach. You only need to pack your clothes and food and voila – you are camping in style.

You’ll never get tired of this view – sitting on a beach chair, while sipping on a cocktail

If you want to read more about our week-long glamping experience at Sea Shack, you can find it by clicking here.

Trekoskraal – 31km/19 miles from Langebaan:

When you talk about wild camping, this is our absolute favourite spot close to home! There are no facilities here – you have to bring everything you need for camping (but leave the TV and the microwave oven behind).

(Update 2021: Wild camping is unfortunately no longer allowed at Trekoskraal. This area forms part of a farm and only day visits are now allowed.)

Serene beauty of Trekoskraal
Camping at Trekoskraal

I have no idea where the name Trekoskraal originated from (a ‘kraal’ is an Afrikaans and Dutch word for an enclosure for cattle or other livestock) and since part of this area belongs to privately owned farms, I suspect the name derives from the farming activities.

Once again, this is a popular spot for catching crayfish. We’ve camped here many times before when the crayfish season was open and over a fire, cooked the crayfish to enjoy at our camp site next to the roaring ocean.

Diving for crayfish
Crayfish at Trekoskraal

If you want to enjoy a drive through Trekoskraal, you can click here.

Jacobsbaai – 25km/15 miles from Langebaan:

Jacobsbaai was originally found as a small village on farmland and was registered as ‘109 Jacobsbaai’. The name is said to have originated from the Frenchman, Jacques Titius, who was a colonial trader on the West Coast (yes, this is the same man after whom Tietiesbaai is apparently also named).

The small picturesque coastal hamlet of Jacobsbaai

Most of the houses in Jacobsbaai are holiday homes and during the peak holiday season, this little town comes alive with families seeking after sun and sea.

This is another popular crayfish spot. In the middle of this photo, you will be able to spot a diver’s head

Another popular attraction in Jacobsbaai is The Pixie and Fairy Village. This unique setting was created from “Pixie” Maritz’ imagination – she grew up amid the misty forests, rivers and mountains in Kwa-Zulu Natal (where the ‘river fairies’ inhabited the riverbanks). You can read more about our visit to Pixie and Fairy Village, if you click here.

The wonder-world of The Pixie and Fairy Village
Even the famous Gulliver found a home here
The little pixies got their own castle – of course they do

There is a small entrance fee to be paid to Mama Pixie herself. You will be amazed at all these beautiful creatures and won’t be sorry to get lost in this little village!

Saldanha Bay – 19km/11 miles from Langebaan:

Saldanha Bay’s history is strongly associated with early European exploration and the development of Table Bay (in Cape Town). It was named after Antonio de Saldanha, the Portuguese captain of a ship which visited the Cape in 1503.

The bay at Saldanha Bay

This seaside village has the largest and deepest natural bay in South Africa and is dominated by the Sishen-Saldanha iron-ore project. It is also home to a Naval training base, the South African Military Academy and a whole fleet of fishing vessels that add a particular character to the bay.

An unspoiled beach is enjoyed by both locals and tourists

If you want to read more about Saldanha Bay, click here.

Yzerfontein – 54km/33 miles from Langebaan:

When you travel to Cape Town from Langebaan, the small harbour town of Yzerfontein will be on your way.

Beautiful houses on the beach front of Yzerfontein

This little town was established in the 1930’s when the Katz family bought the Yzerfontein farm (meaning “Iron Fountain”). The farm developed into a small harbour town, known for its 16-mile beach.

Just a very small part of the 16-mile beach

Dassen Island lies about 9km off Yzerfontein. It is South Africa’s second largest island, after Robben Island in Table Bay. The island was proclaimed a nature reserve in 1987 and is managed by Cape Nature Conservation.

The lighthouse on Dassen Island is apparently the most isolated manned lighthouse on the South African seaboard

Our last two places are different than those mentioned above. The one is not a town, nor a camping spot and the other one is not a seaside town, but both are absolutely worth a visit!

West Coast Farmstall – 46km/28 miles from Langebaan:

We love farmstalls, and the West Coast Farmstall is a very popular resting spot for travellers.

The lovely West Coast Farmstall’s outside eating area

We love having a breakfast here on our way to Cape Town or even just a cup of coffee. They have a great gift shop and sell fresh bread, cookies, rusks and even wine. Oh, and they claim to have the best pies in South Africa (we’ve tasted them, and they are delicious).

There are also a bird sanctuary, and you can wander through while admiring the many birds species
Even the wild birds enjoy a bath at West Coast Farmstall

Darling – 60km/37 miles from Langebaan:

Darling’s original welcoming sign

Darling is our only inland town that features in this post. It is such a darling little town (excuse the pun) and was named after Sir Charles Henry Darling who came in 1851 to the Cape as Lieutenant Governor.

There are so many places to see in Darling, like the Darling Museum, Darling Brew for their craft beer, “Evita se Perron” (a restaurant/function/deli) that was the brainchild of Pieter-Dirk Uys, well-known South African satirist, as well as all Darling’s wonderful little restaurants.

But to cover all these wonderful things, is a post worth dedicating to Darling only.

For this post, we will focus on Darling Olives, a family-run business located on Alexanderfontein Estate, just outside Darling.

Old building at Darling Olives

We just LOVE olives and here at Darling Olives, you will find a lot of things with the word ‘olive’ in. Besides their delicious olives, there are pastes, pesto’s, rubs, chocolates, even lip balm and soap and wine too.

Shop inside Darling Olives

There is a beautiful tasting room surrounded with old world charm where you can sit at a long table and taste their entire range of olive products – a real feast!

Our shopping included olive oil, olives, body lotion, soap and wine

We can tell you so much more about all the other wonderful places near Langebaan. I’m sure you can see it would be difficult to be bored if you live here or come for a holiday.

Thanks for taking another road trip with us.