A Special Trip to South Africa’s Yzerfontein & West Coast Region

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A special trip to South Africa’s Yzerfontein and West Coast Region is less than a two- hour drive from Cape Town. The unique terrain of this region offers an unspoiled view of coastal South Africa. Highlights include Yzerfontein, Langebaan, and Mykonos.

At Hacking the Road, we are dedicated to finding ways to help people live a Better Life ... on the Road! We are full-time travelers and experience seekers, and we want to share our journey with you. We believe that travel opens hearts and minds, and makes the world a better place. Join us as we explore each new destination.

We are Rainman and Tricia ... and we are the Road Hackers! 

As Road Hackers, we specialize in building itineraries that allow us to discover diamonds in the rough all over the world.

These amazing places are usually well known to local communities, but tend not to make most tourist itineraries. 

South Africa's West Coast Region is one of these overlooked diamonds in the rough! Most Western Cape tourists focus on Cape Town and the Wine Routes. 

The rugged West Coast has so much to offer those looking for adventure and natural reserves. 

A roadtrip through the Yzerfontein-Langebaan-Mykonos Corridor gives visitors an opportunity to see the less touristy side of coastal South Africa.

We weren't about to miss this opportunity!

Our visit to the West Coast Region was one of the highlights of a 3-month stay in South Africa's Western Cape.

If you are interested in active travel, local culture, and natural beauty, then the Yzerfontein-Langebaan-Mykonos Corridor should be on your itinerary. The West Coast embodies all of this and more!

Reading the history of this special region had us hooked from the beginning:

Exotic accommodations in Yzerfontein ... miles and miles of Fynbos ... West Coast National Park ... Thali Thali Game Lodge ... Langebaan Kite Surfing ... Club Mykonos Resort & Casino ...

With highlights like that, who wouldn't want to visit?

Join us as we share our experience exploring this special region of South Africa!

A good friend of the family, Kelley, just happened to have a beautiful 3,500 square foot/325 square meter vacation home in Yzerfontein. We were invited to spend the weekend.

That's South African hospitality at its best! It didn't take us long to accept this generous offer, make plans, pack the car, load the trailer, and set off.

Our brother-in-law, Mauricio, graciously offered to drive. The highway was in great condition and the Friday afternoon traffic was still manageable.

Yzerfontein lies on the Atlantic coast, about 60 miles/97 km NW of Cape Town. We took the R27 all the way from Cape Town into Yzerfontein.

Population density dropped off significantly once we were about 10 miles outside Cape Town.

Surprisingly, the route did not follow the coastline. Instead, we were treated to wide open stretches of fynbos (fine bush) that seemed to go on forever. As it turns out, much of the area is protected. Fynbos is uniquely endemic to a narrow belt extending up both the eastern and western coasts.

Along the way, we passed several public and private nature reserves:

That's a lot of protected land! At one point, we even saw a camel about 200 meters from the road. Fortunately, a tall electrified fence kept the wildlife from the R27.

As we got closer to our destination, we passed row upon row of cute seaside cottages ideally nestled among the fynbos that dominates the landscape. 

Driving into Yzerfontein at dusk gave us the perfect introduction to this magical place. The early evening lighting and expansive sky cast a most romantic aura over the village.

We had heard so much about the unique decor of Kelley's refurbished home. As we entered through the foyer into the open-concept lounge-kitchen area, there was a decided Moroccan flair that made for an interesting introduction to our exotic adventure. Even the stairs had their own Morroccan-style accents!

Kelley warmly welcomed the group, and showed us around her spacious home. The colors, patterns, and eclectic pieces scattered throughout were nicely coordinated, generating a very comfortable vibe. Each of the beautifully appointed bedrooms had its own variation on the Moroccan theme. This was a special place!

The excitement of our arrival, together with all the abundant fresh air, soon took its toll, and we were off to bed in our luxurious rooms. Having heard about the spectacular sunrises, we set our alarms extra early. There was no way we were going to miss the sun rising over the fynbos!

One by one, we woke up to the unmistakeable aroma of freshly ground coffee, and the beginnings of a country breakfast. Coffee in hand, we headed for the raised wooden balcony that overlooked the expansive eco-system at the back of the home.

The setting was idyllic, with a fine mist that hovered over the fynbos and hinted of the beauty to come.

As the sun slowly pierced the mist, we were treated to the early morning sights and sounds of the local wildlife.

Several families of quail made their early morning trek through the fynbos on their way to their usual feeding spots. The playful sounds of countless bird species laid the perfect sound track for our viewing.

Our coffee tasted better with every sip. We had a front row seat on our own little piece of paradise!

Apparently, there are also many mongoose in the area, but we weren't lucky enough to see them. Tortoises, porcupine, and dune moles are also quite common. The Yzerfontein area has quite an eco-system!

After our lovely breakfast, we had time for a leisurely visit to Yzerfontein's famous 16-mile beach, the longest continuous sandy beach in South Africa. The views and the natural setting were beautiful, as advertised!

This amazing white sand beach extends north all the way to the edge of the West Coast National Park. Although we didn't partake, guided horseback rides along the beach are available at sunrise and sunset. Whale-watching is also popular here from September through November.

Fun Fact 

Yzerfontein has the distinction of being the terminal point for the West Africa Cable System (WACS) that links cable telecommunications between Europe and the African continent. The cable actually has twelve landing points in Africa, with the last being in Yzerfontein.

That afternoon after lunch, we decided to take a drive to see the West Coast National Park.

WCNP is a designated part of the Cape West Coast Biosphere Reserve--an UNESCO Biosphere program.

The reserve extends all the way from Yzerfontein to the Langebaan Lagoon in the north. The area encompassing the park has been recently expanded to protect additional coastal habitats.

The present configuration of the park aims to protect the local Strandveld Vegetation, Langebaan Fynbos, and Hopefield Sand Plain Fynbos (Coastal Fynbos).

Strandveld Vegetation is mainly concentrated on the Langebaan Peninsula, just east of the Lagoon. Sand Plain Fynbos grows inland from the Lagoon. Langebaan Fynbos is quite pervasive across larger areas of the park.

These habitats are extremely important to the thousands of migrating birds that return to the park every year. Not surprisingly, the park is also recognized as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International.

Migrating birds are said to travel all the way from Central Asia and Russia! Red Knot, Eurasian Whimbrel, and Eurasian Curlew are often seen in the area.

Scores of eco-tourists descend on the park every August and September for the spectacular wildflower season.

Spring Visitors are treated to flowering fields of White Rain Daisies, Gousblom, Elandsvy, Magriet, Livingston Daisies, Sporrie, Suurvy, Bokbaai Vygie, and Wild Sorrel.

But, the park is beautiful any time of the year. Year-round flowers include Candelabra, Rooinaeltjie, Chinkerinchlee, Bruinsalie, Rooimalva, and Leonotis Leonurus.

Our drive in April  was inspirational enough, but the added wildflower cover in peak season must be quite special!

Stopping at the Geelbek Information Center, we learned of the Eve’s Footprint and Trail excursion—a big attraction for hikers.

Ancient fossilized footprints were found in the nearby rock. The prints are thought to be about 117,000 years old. The original prints are now protected at the Iziko Museum in Cape Town. A replica can still be seen at the Geelbek Center.

The hiking excursion follows Eve’s trek through the WCNP for about 30 km, exploring both the history and the natural environment of the area.

If only we had the time! There was so much to see and do. We didn’t even come close to seeing the WCNP islands just off the coast. A quarter of a million west coast birds live and breed offshore. That must be a sight!

Our WCNP tour at an end, we headed back to our nest in Yzerfontein. Our South African Feast awaited!

After our WCNP excursion, we returned to our Yzerfontein home base, ready for a hearty braai, and some great South African dessert!

Braais are essentially South Africa's version of the American barbecue. The biggest difference is that South Africans don't usually use briquettes. Instead, they create their own coals by burning good coal-producing wood. 

The coal-making process can take quite a bit of time. The traditional braai is usually a long social process, with great conversation, lots of snacking, and a fair amount of drinking.

Once the coals are hot and ready, several kinds of meats are spiced and prepared for the high heat. A typical braai might include lamb, pork, beef, boerewors (homemade seasoned sausage), chicken, and/or venison when available. Toasties--toasted cheese, tomato, and onion sandwiches--are common as well.

Then there's dessert! Two of our favorites are Melktert (Milk Tart) and Mulva Pudding!! Let's just say, our stay in South Africa was not very weight-friendly. But we really don't regret a single bite!

What a great evening ... a fine ending to a wonderful day!

The time had come for our long-awaited game reserve excursion! After a great breakfast, and a lot of excited conversation, we set off for the Thali Thali Game Lodge.

Online reviews and local recommendations all pointed to a great experience.

Thali Thali is a private, family-owned game reserve, conveniently located near Langebaan. Our drive, once again, took us through the West Coast National Park. The drive north on the R27 took 25 minutes—about 32 miles/52 km.

Exiting the highway, the excitement was building as we drove up the long dusty access road. Approaching the central lodge building, we knew we were in the right place. Safari excursion trucks and jeeps stood ready for the adventures to come.

Thali Thali has several small self-catering chalets around the property. In order to fully immerse in the game lodge experience, visitors often stay overnight in a farmhouse or in glamping tents!

The Game Lodge building had a very nice restaurant and bar. We had arrived extra early to take advantage of their farm-style breakfast—and brewed coffee, of course! The setting on the veranda was peaceful and serene.

As we enjoyed our breakfast, we were introduced to the owner and oriented to the Thali Thali story. Amalia and Thys van Niekerk were originally fruit and veg famers. The dream was to someday own a game reserve where they could share their love of nature with others.

The Thali Thali opportunity was the perfect fit for their young family. Thys loved the idea of managing wildlife and Amalia was an accomplished caterer.

The van Niekerks have built up a significant collection of wildlife on the reserve, with a well-balanced ecosystem capable of supporting the resident animals.

Thali Thali is so much more than wildlife and beautiful natural scenery! The staff wholeheartedly buys into the van Niekerk hospitality mission of providing an experience that will keep visitors coming back year after year. It worked with us—we absolutely want to return!

Toward the end of breakfast, our game ranger arrived and let us know that the game drive was ready for departure.

The ranger had been at Thali Thali for almost a year, and was very knowledgeable. He immediately put us at ease with an orientation of what we might expect on the drive.

The game drive was to be a 90-minute experience, but the ranger took his time and made sure we hit all the major viewing spots. Our drive actually took 3 hours to complete! What an amazing deal at $16 per person!

Beginning the drive, we were especially interested in seeing the Cape Buffalo and giraffe. Success! We had close encounters with both species—and so much more!

Along the way, we were privileged to see:

The Cape Buffalo arrived at Thali Thali in 2018. Approvals to add Cape Buffalo required that the van Niekerks electrify about 18 km of fencing. Preparations and permitting took about seventeen months. The initial herd was made up of five males. Today, Thali Thali has twelve Cape Buffalo—and they are spectacular!

Our encounter with the giraffe was quite memorable. Arriving at the viewing location, our ranger seemed concerned that the giraffe were too far away. He asked us to start whistling to get their attention. It worked!

Almost in slow motion, a group of five giraffe made their way up the hill to within feet of our vehicle. Giraffe are so majestic! We were so blessed.

Back at the lodge, we settled in for a special lunch experience. The veranda once again offered a most beautiful setting.

The Bison Burgers were highly touted by the staff, so there was no way we were missing that experience. Can you say delicious! These were the best burgers we’d had in years!

To top off the experience, there was a very unexpected guest. A male Fallow Deer suddenly showed in the bushes below the veranda. For about 10 minutes, he explored the area around us, possible picking up on the scent of a female deer.

Fallow Deer males grow a large rack of antlers every year, usually shedding them in April or May. Our visit was in April, so we were fortunate to see a rack of fully grown antlers on this amazing creature!

The experience at Thali Thali was truly magical. What a special place—and so close to Cape Town!

Leaving the reserve, there was no doubt we’d be spreading the word about this unique West Coast gem!

Thali Thali was quite close to the Langebaan Lagoon. The plan was to spend the rest of the afternoon watching the kite surfers at the lagoon--and eating ice cream. That's a fun afternoon!

The town of Langebaan is known as the "Jewel of the West Coast." The title is well deserved.

Langebaan Lagoon is quite unique in nature. Only three lagoons worldwide are not fed by rivers, and Langebaan is one of them! This large body of self-sustaining salt water is actually open to the Atlantic Ocean. 

The lagoon is approximately 16 km long and about 3 km at its widest. This amazing salt marsh is protected as part of the West Coast National Park.

Langebaan Lagoon's natural beauty is quite the attraction, but the area is also very appealing to sports enthusiasts. We were in for quite a surprise!

Planet Windsurf rates Langebaan as one of the most wind-sure (reliable) locations in the world, especially during the warmer months from November to March. So, there's no surprise that wind surfers and kite surfers flock to the lagoon in droves.

Adding to the appeal, the lagoon has an abundance of shallow water areas, making it ideal for beginners. 

We were amazed to see hundreds of wind sails working their way across the lagoon. Even the beach was packed with kite surfers preparing for flight. The scene was electric! What an amazing photo/video opportunity. 

The scene reminded us of some of the big hot air balloon rallies in Arizona and New Mexico. We sensed the same energy and excitement here at Langebaan Lagoon! It was difficult to decide where to point the camera...

After what seemed like hundred of photos and videos, we headed up to the small beach-side concession area for a much-need ice cream. Then it was back to Yzerfontein for our final evening at Kelley's home.

We were exhausted!

Our final day touring the West Coast Region began with the usual splendid early morning breakfast and a trip out to the veranda. Nature's showcase unfolded before our eyes as the dawn greeted the day. Watching the Fynbos come alive never got old!

Once again we saw the quail family trekking through the veld, apparently at the same time every morning--using the same pathways through the Fynbos. 'Very cool!

After breakfast, we set off in search of the famed Portuguese dessert, Pastéis de Nata! 

Mauricio, our Portuguese brother-in-law, had the perfect artisan bakery in mind, one he recommended from first-hand experience. 

This would be our first time sampling these delectable treats. The Pastéis de Natas were still warm and flaky as we wolfed them down in the car! Where had they been all our lives?

Mauricio had scored another gold star!

The itinerary for the day would focus on the Club Mykonos Resort and Casino--a big departure from the natural settings we had visited previously. It was time for some entertainment! 

Club Mykonos is a Greek-themed resort development built on the shores of the pristine Langebaan Lagoon. The beautiful white-washed facades of the Kalivas (condos) create the look and feel of a mini Mykonos--hence the Greek theme of the resort.

Club Mykonos has all kinds of great amenities:

Guests staying at the resort have access to all of the amenities ... at very reasonable rates! Families seemed to really enjoy the facility.

They even had a donkey available for kids rides!

Visitors also use the resort as a base for exploring the surrounding nature reserves and fossil park (Eve's Footprints). Wind sports enthusiasts love the proximity to the Lagoon.

The Mykonos Waterfront has its own attractions for foodies and music lovers. Then, of course, there's the Casino. 'Something for everyone here!

We were interested in checking out everything the place had to offer. With ice cream cones in hand, we walked the waterfront and marina, and roamed the expansive grounds.

The Cape Town Fish Market restaurant immediately caught our attention. The place was packed! It seemed the place to be on the Marina--great view and great food. Lunch anyone? Easy decision ... we were lunching at the Fish Market!

As we settled into our table overlooking the Marina, we were quite impressed with the menu. Their specialty was seafood with a Japanese theme. But, they also had a full menu for meat lovers and vegetarians.

What a beautiful setting! Be sure to get there early for lunch or dinner if you want to avoid the long waits.

After lunch, we continued our walk through the Marina. Just for interest, we stopped in at the trendy Kapstadt Brauhaus restaurant. They offered a full-fledged traditional German menu, including schnitzel, bratwurst, eisbein, pretzels, sauerkraut, and all kinds of German beers. 

The Brauhaus would have been a serious contender for our lunch dollars if we'd seen it earlier!

The visit ended with a quick stop-in at the casino. Mauricio had some good luck at the slots. The rest of us had good play, but, as usual, we left money in the machines. 'Lots of fun, though!

All in all, it was a great day of exploring the Club Mykonos Resort & Casino. The resort complex is perfectly set up for a week-long stay. We wouldn't mind a return on a future visit!

We were a little sad to leave the West Coast Region behind, but we knew this was just the beginning.

There were so many precious South African gems out there to be discovered. We would be on the hunt for every last one!

Driving home, we decided to stop at the Milnerton Flea Market near Cape Town.

Such an eclectic market, and what a backdrop! Table Mountain towers in the distance and the ocean is just yards away.

This huge market is held every weekend, and on most holidays. Our timing was good, because this was a long weekend.

Shoppers can find just about anything here, including car parts, collectible dolls, masquerade masks, tools, fruit and veg, street food, artificial flowers, fresh flowers, artisan artists, second hand clothes, and beauty products--and so much more. 

Even though we were quite tired, it was fun just looking around--especially at the folk art!

Back at our Gordon's Bay base, we enjoyed a perfect ending to our outstanding excursion, with a gorgeous sunset over the marina!

We couldn't help feeling most fortunate, and almost a little guilty for having so very many blessings...

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