Lamberts Bay

Lamberts Bay on the Cape West Coast is still the quintessential fishing village, best known for its crayfish and another bounty of the sea, diamonds. Wake up to the sound of fishing and diamond boats signalling their departure from the harbour and if you are an angler, this is a coastal and deep-sea anglers’ paradise, with snoek fishing in winter. Find out about recreational fishing. Lamberts Bay still has a thriving fishing industry, with anchovies, pilchards and snoek caught and canned or processed into meal and oil.

The calm waters of the bay are perfect for jet-skies, dinghies, speed boats and rafts and crayfish diving is understandably a popular pursuit. The endless, white beaches and soft sands are easy to enjoy in the sun filled days. And the dunes are not just for relaxing as they are well known for 4×4 trails and sand boarding. Try The Dunes, where you can test your 4×4 driving skills in deep sand or have fun sand boarding.

It is not only holiday makers that love this Bay. The local surf is regularly visited by Cape fur seals, Dusky Dolphins and Heaviside dolphins which almost endemic to this area and can be spotted 150m from the shore.  From June to November southern right whales regularly pass this way on their journey north. Take an early morning boat trip with Lambert’s Bay Boat Charter and encounter these amazing marine animals. Book in advance or go to the harbour front to jump on a trip. 073 2498 977.

And then there are the birds. Lamberts Bay is world renowned for its gannet breeding colony at Bird Island which supports up to 20000 Cape Gannets and numerous other species including cormorants and African penguins. From the lookout, see the unique mating dances and the incredible vocalising of thousands of gannets on their nests. The sight of the birds gliding into the colony, with black webbed feet splayed, to join in the cacophony of gannet-laughter is such an unusual natural phenomenon that any discomfort from the “guano aroma” is immaterial. Photographers will have a great time here. The estuary at Jakkals River can be home to large flocks of flamingos, depending on the water level.

Lamberts Bay is known as the crayfish mecca of South Africa. And who can ever eat too many crayfish? Fresh seafood of all types can be enjoyed at the famous Muisbosskerm open-air restaurant which offers unforgettable traditionally prepared seafood right next to the shoreline, at sunset or lunch.

Lambert’s Bay also has its own landing strip for light aircraft. It is a 2½ hour, 280km drive from Cape Town – take the N7 and turnoff at the R364 at Clanwilliam.

Getting there: from Cape Town, take the N7 going north to Clanwilliam. Here, turn left onto the R364 and follow the road into the town of Lambert’s Bay.

Read our detailed information on the West Coast at ShowMe West Coast.