ISAG 2023 West Coast Exploration

Day 1: Paternoster

Depart from Cape Town at 08h00 in the tour vehicle and you travel up the West Coast of South Africa via the 20 hectare Renosterveld Flower reserve near Darling to the West Coast National Park. Here seasons permitting some of the best wildflower-spotting in the land is to be had.  Of special interest is the Postberg section of the park only open in August in September where, if nature plays ball, the ground beneath your feet explodes into a dazzling patchwork of vibrant, varied daisies and sporries. Lunch is taken at the Geelbek restaurant or en-route (for your own expense) and there is an option to do a short tour of the West Coast Fossil Park. In the afternoon arrive at the coastal fishing village of Paternoster where you overnight in the Paternoster Manor Guest House. Dinner is included and taken at the Voorstrand Restaurant (or similar).  

An optional extra should weather and time permit would be a leisurely kayaking trip from the main beach.

 

WEST COAST NATIONAL PARK

Included

Dinner

Excluded

Lunch / Items of a personal nature / Porterage / Gratuities / Kayak trip

Day 2: Citrusdal

Breakfast in the restaurant and then travel via the internationally renowned surf spot at Eland Bay up the remote West Coast to the internationally famous Bird Island at Lamberts Bay.  One of only six sites in the world where Cape Gannets breed and the only breeding site easily accessible to the public.  The island is home to 25 000 gannets and visitors will enjoy exploring the island as well as its superbly situated gannet look-out and visitors’ centre. A light lunch for your own expense taken in Lamberts Bay or en-route. From Lamberts Bay inland via Clanwilliam and a stop at the 66 hectare Ramskop Nature Reserve where a series of paths give you easy access to a wildflower garden with up to 350 different species and spectacular views of the Cederberg Mountains.  From Clanwilliam travel south to overnight in Citrusdal at the Citrusdal Country Lodge.

 

Included

Entrance fee to Bird Island and Ramskop Nature Reserve 

Excluded

Lunch / Items of a personal nature / Porterage / Gratuities

Day 3: End of Itinerary

 

Breakfast at the lodge and then there is time to explore the area. Endemic to the Clanwilliam and Citrusdal region is the plant Aspalathus linearis from which Rooibos (or redbush) tea is produced. The tea is gaining popularity globally for its health benefits and you visit a working Rooibos farm where you are able to see the production process from farming of the plant to processing, fermentation and packaging with discussions on issues surrounding climate factors and soil composition which are limiting the growth of the industry. 

Travel through to Stellenbosch for a late lunch at a wine estate and then in the afternoon you are dropped off at Cape Town international airport. 

Moederkappie with guests Drying pad

Information

Included

Breakfast / Rooibos farm tour

Excluded

Lunch / Items of a personal nature / Porterage / Gratuities

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