St Helena Bay

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To See and Do in the area
 

A History in Brief

During the 15th century navigators seeking the route to the East explored the shoreline in search of fresh water, one being Vasco da Gama who landed here on 7 November 1497.   A granite monument marking the landing has been erected next to the beach at Stompneusbaai.   Visit the Vasco da Gama Nautical Museum in Shelley Point to view replica artifacts of those adventurous years.   The Britannia lies buried beneath the waters of the so-named bay and the wrecks of many other old sailing ships offer up a challenge to the underwater diver.   In more recent times the hillside caves of Britannica Heights hid escaping British soldiers during the Anglo-Boer War.
 

Bird Watching

 

Being at the southernmost point of the migratory route from Europe and the Steppes of Russia makes the West Coast a must in the birder’s calendar.   The diversity of vegetation and many lagoons, marshes and river estuaries support huge migrant Palaerctic populations.   Over 250 species of birds have been recorded - some 65 of which are seabirds, including flamingos, a variety of duck species and the striking African Black Oystercatcher that breeds both onshore and on the offshore islands and is threatened by predation of its natural home – the pristine beaches where it lays its eggs.  

 

The West Coast is known internationally as a wader's hotspot that peaks between November and March when visiting migrants appear on these shores.   Some of the more sought after species include Red-necked Phalaropes, Common Redshanks, White-rumped Sandpipers and Black-tailed Godwits.   This area is also home to many resident and endemic species: Cape Clapper and Cape Long-billed Larks, Karoo Scrub-robin, Capped Wheatear to name but a few and is a rewarding birding experience all year round.

 

Birders should visit the hides at the West Coast Fossil Park and the golf club in Vredenburg.   Also highly recommended is Rocher Pan Nature Reserve and Verlorenvlei further north. 

Alternatively, drive 25km north of Velddrif through Dwarskersbos to Rocher Pan Nature Reserve, a wild coastal strip based around a seasonal vlei (or pan) – a wonderful place to see Great White Pelicans and Lesser Flamingos, which are all threatened species

 

There are 12 maps covering the area to help you get to the best bird spots - contact West Coast Bird Club 022-7421944

 

Our Marine Mammals

 

On the west coast we are privileged to see a number of different species of cetaceans (dolphins and whales) in our nutrient-rich waters, fed by the Benguela current, among them southern right whales, humpback whales, Bryde’s whales, common dolphins, killer whales, Heaviside’s dolphins and dusky dolphins.   There have been reported sightings of Arnoux’s beaked whales, but occasions are rare.  Southern right whales are regular visitors to the west coast from the middle winter months moving to our waters to mate and calve.

 

Of the dolphins that inhabit these waters, Heaviside’s dolphin (Cephalorhynchus heavisidii) is the smallest. Found only off the west coast of southern Africa, this species can be easily identified by its blunt (rather than prominent) beak and the triangular dorsal fin.   They socialise inshore in small groups in the mornings, while in the afternoons and at night they travel offshore to feed on juvenile hake. The dusky dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obscurus) also frequents the cold Benguela current waters.   Its maximum length is 1,9m (by comparison to Heaviside’s 1,75m) and its dorsal fin is sickle-shaped.   They are often seen riding the bow waves of boats and cooperating in large groups to corral fish in a bait ball by leaping and slapping the water’s surface with their bodies and tails.

 

More info on the Dolphin Action and Protection Group’s (DAPG) website http://www.dapg.org.za/

 

 

Our West Coast Flowers

 

 

St Helena Bay is home to the ‘veldkool’ (Trachyandra ciliata) and ‘gousblom’ (Gazania krebsiana), two of the fine species of indigenous veld flowers that abound here in springtime. Flowers are best viewed from 11:00 to 15:00 on a sunny day

  

 

Rediscover Life..

 

Relax & Dream

 

 Experience & Explore

 

 

   

9-hole links golf course
Conference Facilities
Spa & Wellness Centre
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 Local Artworks on display
 
 

Around and About

 

Darling is home to well-known comedian Pieter-Dirk Uys's theatre, Evita se Perron, named after his alter-ego, Evita Bezuidenhout. It is traditionally a dairy farming area, but now vineyards and olive groves are springing up fast.   After good winter rains visit and walk in the Tinie Versfeld Wild Flower Reserve that lies between the R27 and the town itself.   Along this stretch also lies !Kwa ttu San Culture & Education Centre, Buffelsfontein and Elandsfontein game reserves

 

Langebaan, well known as a coastal resort is not on the sea, but on the shores of a lagoon and is home to Club Mykonos (casino and resort). National Parks Board manages the 16 km-long Langebaan Lagoon, a favourite place for aqua sports

 

West Coast National Park   There are three bird hides well worth spending time at, usually best on the incoming tide.   The flower viewing area of Postberg is only open during the months of August and September where the bonus is the sighting of kudu, eland, springbok and many other mammalian species.

 

Paternoster is one of the oldest coastal towns along the West Coast and is famous for its crayfish. Many white-washed fishermen's cottages are dotted along the long white beach. Columbine Nature Reserve is a few kilometres out of town and here lies the famous Tietiesbaai (named after an unfortunate fisherman who drowned there) and the Columbine Lighthouse (open for tours on weekdays or by prior arrangement), the first working lighthouse after crossing the equator and a major navigation point for shipping approaching South Africa from the west.

 

 

Hopefield is famous for its annual fynbos flower show (last weekend in August).   Lying on the banks of the Soutrivier, the town is centre of the Voorbaai, a wheat and sheep farming area in the middle of the sandveld

West Coast Fossil Park, lies 4,5km along the R45 off the R27.   Besides the sabre-toothed tiger and the short-necked giraffe, the visitor can gaze in awe at the remains of the first bear found south of the Sahara Desert, not to mention the myriad bones of small mammals and avifauna. 

 

Vredenburg is centre to much of the business activity on the West Coast. It is the hub of the several surrounding smaller towns and is regarded as the administrative centre of an area.

 

Velddrif was originally a fording place across the Berg River for the road across the sandveld from Cape Town. Port Owen lies between Velddrif and Laaiplek, where the Berg River flows into the sea. The Port Owen Marina was developed on a vlei and a network of canals was built to give boats access to both the river and the sea. Laaiplek (“loading place”) lies at the mouth of the river and this is where one can see the fishing smacks lying in wait to sail.   It is also an Important Bird Area and home to many waterfowl that migrate here in the summer months.   Also worth visiting is Bokkomlaan where visitors can still see this delicacy of the West Coast hanging out to dry in the sun.  

 
Content supplied and adapted with thanks to
 
Lucille Byrnes
St Helena Bay Tourism