Ride the kaleidoscope: Your quintessential West Coast guide

Driving time: ±1h30 from the city

Kick off your road trip with a slow meander up the R27, with the kind of road-trip soundtrack that matches the scenery: dusty farmlands, wide skies, and the occasional ostrich.

No West Coast road trip is complete without a pit stop at the Puma R27 West Coast and Convenience Store. This is padkos royalty: think smoky roosterkoek straight off the coals, rich moerkoffie brewed the old-school way, and some of the chunkiest biltong you'll find this side of the N7.  

Mid-morning stop: Darling

This dinky inland town is pure personality. Expect murals, humour, and a community that doesn’t take itself too seriously. 

Pop into Evita se Perron - a former train station turned theatre café by local legend Pieter-Dirk Uys. Swing by Darling Sweet for handcrafted toffees and take-home treats, then taste your way through the terroir at Groote Post or Darling Cellars.

Late afternoon: Langebaan Check-in

Settle into this easygoing lagoon town. It's got all the trappings of a chilled beach break: paddle-friendly shallows, a good wind for kite surfing, and even better seafood, complete with breezy sundowners. 

Stay: Club Mykonos for family fun, or go the boutique B&B route for a softer landing. Shark Bay is also a lesser-known spot for sun-chasers, with the Shark Bay Hotel an ideal base.  

Eat: Dinner at Pearly’s on the Beach or head to the classic braai on the beach style cooking at Die Strandloper – toes-in-the-sand seafood feasts, but book early, especially in the busy season.

Other worthwhile stops: 

• Wine-tasting Groote Post, Darling Cellars or grab a cold one at Darling Brew
• Farm tour at Darling Olives, with tasting 

Spring is peak season: visit during August–September for the wildflowers.

West Coast National Park is the crown jewel of the region. 

In bloom season, it becomes otherworldly - think kaleidoscopic carpets of flowers, wandering antelope, and perfect picnic spots.

Even off-season, it’s a dream for birders, hikers and salty-air seekers. 

You blooming early start: Entry to the Postberg section (where the wildflower action really kicks off) is only open in late winter/early spring. Expect eland, bontebok and bursts of orange gousblom and purple vygies as far as the eye can see. 

Experience the full-flower fantasy: Don’t miss the 2025 West Coast Way Wildflower & Food Tour  - a once-a-year road trip through blooming fields, flavour-packed stops and small-town charm. Early booking is recommended.

What to do: 

• Hike the Bakoor Trail (short, scenic) or take on Strandveld Trail (longer, if you’re feeling it).
• Rent a kayak and paddle the Langebaan Lagoon 
• Visit the Geelbek Bird Hide for flamingos and spoonbills on show. 

Eat: Pack a picnic (Geelbek Restaurant does a good take-away spread), or head back into Langebaan for a late lunch and local beer at Kokomo Beach Bar.

Driving time: ±50 mins from Langebaan

Quaint, whitewashed, and impossibly photogenic is Paternoster in a seashell. This town could easily double as a film set where someone decided to let the ocean run wild - think Mama Mia, but with a salty whitewash twist. 

It’s Weskus living at its most elegant-meets-earthy. 

• Stroll the beach (or ride a fat bike if you're feeling sporty).
• Shop small: Local art galleries, ceramics, and pantry finds from Oep ve Koep.

Eat:  Treat yourself by booking ahead for Wolfgat is a revelation, with its hyper-local foraged fine dining set against a dune-swept backdrop. Not fancy, just phenomenal. Otherwise, you can go rustic at Voorstrandt or chic-casual at Leeto.

Overnight Stay: Book a self-catering stay at Gonana Guesthouse or the charming Abalone House & Spa and turn your day trip into a salty overnight pause. 

Break the return leg with a stop at !Khwa ttu San Heritage Centre – a powerful, immersive look at Southern Africa’s first peoples, with guided tours and art installations that go beyond the usual museum fare. 

And if that doesn't get your tongue clicking in the right way, the onsite restaurant is your go-to lunch spot. Here, each bit tells a story of foraging off the land and the surrounding coast.

Further along the coast, on your return route, Yzerfontein delivers a final dose of seaside serenity. 

Take a walk on Sixteen Mile Beach (keep an eye out for the half-buried tractor) or tuck into a lazy lunch at Strandkombuis.

Because the Weskus doesn’t try to impress -  and that’s exactly its charm. 

It’s the kind of place where time stretches out, where the food is fire-kissed and full of stories, and where spring puts on a show that stops cars in their tracks.  

Whether you're in it for the flowers, the flavours, or just a breather from city buzz, you’ll find the wind in your hair, salt on your skin, and wide-open Weskus magic is just what you need. 

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