The slow, lovely side of the Cape
North of Cape Town the coast opens out into long empty beaches, turquoise lagoons and tiny fishing villages where the day still revolves around the catch. A private West Coast tour is the Cape at its most relaxed — quieter than the Peninsula, gentler than the Karoo, and very, very photogenic.
Cheryl has been driving this stretch since 2003 — she'll know which restaurant has the freshest crayfish, which back road runs closest to the dunes, and exactly where to stop when the wildflowers carpet the veld in August and September.
What you'll see
- Langebaan lagoon — turquoise water and the West Coast National Park.
- Paternoster — whitewashed cottages, working fishing boats and proper seaside light.
- Wildflowers in spring (Aug–Sep) — fields of orange and purple in good years.
- Cape Columbine lighthouse and the rocky headland beyond Paternoster.
- Seafood lunch on the lagoon or at one of Paternoster's famous restaurants.
Perfect for UK visitors seeking a quieter day
If the busier Peninsula day is on your list and you want a contrast, the West Coast is the answer. For UK visitors on a Cape Town holiday, it's the kind of day you don't read about in every guidebook — and that's exactly the point. Cheryl drives, you take it in.
Tailor-made, always private
Make it a wildflower-chasing day in spring, a seafood-focused lunch in summer, or a leisurely afternoon-and-sunset run any time of year. Tell Cheryl your priorities and she'll plan accordingly.
