Vredenburg

Vredenburg is the business centre of the West Coast, and draws trade from towns like St Helena Bay, Langebaan, Paternoster, Velddrif and Saldanha Bay, to which it is closest.

Surrounded by fynbos, wheat fields, dairy and sheep farms, the town has all the modern amenities to ensure comfort and convenience on a West Coast holiday. The new West Coast Mall – with panoramic views over Saldanha Bay – has dozens of shops, including restaurants and coffee shops, as well as speciality stores selling everything from craft materials to sports equipment. While you shop, the kiddies can be entertained aboard a children’s fun train travelling around the mall. In the town, there’s a popular golf course, a gym and even dancing classes on offer, or paintball for the kids.

Importantly, Vredenburg – just 90 minutes’ drive from Cape Town – is ideally situated as a base from which to do day trips to the surrounding areas on the West Coast. Within 20km of Vredenburg are both the West Coast Fossil Park and the long, white beaches of Paternoster with the Cape Columbine Nature Reserve nearby. In easy striking distance are Langebaan and the West Coast National Park for wildlife and flora. Jacobsbaai is close by, and St Helena Bay just a short drive away – and all offer the finest natural West Coast attractions: unspoiled beaches and extreme beauty.

The town is close to the West Coast Fossil Park, which covers a huge area, some of which has been a rich source of animal fossil remains – giant pigs, short-necked giraffes and a massive bear that has become the park’s mascot. The park lies close to the Langebaanweg Airforce base.

As with most of the coastline along the West Coast, spring brings a carpet of daisies and other wild flowers to the surrounding hills and fields, that change colour almost overnight and transform a dry landscape into a phenomenon of colour.

Just 130 kilometres north of Cape Town, take the R27 and turn left at the R45 to Vredenburg.

For more information about this area, visit ShowMe West Coast.