Head for Paternoster via the West Coast Fossil Park. Lunch above the long beach at Paternoster. Visit Cape Columbine Nature Reserve and South Africa's rudest bay, then take a lighthouse tour. Overnight in Paternoster.
Langebaan to West Coast Fossil Park
From Langebaan Tourism, turn left into Oostewal. After 10 km go straight across the R27 to Langebaanweg. At 16.5 km turn left at the T-junction onto the R45 Vredenburg. Turn left again into the fossil park at 19.5km. Leave Langebaan and head inland, through rolling farmlands to the West Coast Fossil Park. Banish any ideas of dry lectures given by dusty academics.
This is hands-on stuff, where you can tour the excavation site that's unearthing evidence of African bears, horses with three toes and short-necked giraffes that roamed the coast between two and five million years ago. You can sift for bones yourself, and if you find anything new they'll name it after you. Aim to be there in time for the guided tour and slide show at 11:30.
West Coast Fossil Park to Paternoster
Leave the fossil park and turn left onto the R45. After 4km, cross the R27 and go straight to Vredenburg. Keep straight at the traffic lights through town, and into Paternoster at 28km.
Heading back towards the sea, the R45 crosses the R27 and takes you to Vredenburg, the thriving commercial centre of this part of the coast. Grab your chance to stock up on supplies - it's a bustling town with supermarkets, chemists, garages and a hospital.
The road through Vredenburg leads directly to Paternoster, one of the most delightful fishing villages along the coast, bravely hanging onto its charm despite the developments happening all around it. Here, in between the cute B&Bs, you can still see the real thing - original white-washed fishing cottages perched on the headland overlooking the long white beach.
Aim for a lazy lunch at Voorstrandt restaurant, where you'll be tempted to linger over a bottle of wine on the veranda above the sand, until the sun sinks into the sea.
But save some energy for exploring the Cape Columbine Nature Reserve, about five kilometres from Paternoster, which delivers the West Coast at its best - wild seas lashing at a rocky coastline strewn with seashells and seaweed - as well as what has to be South Africa's rudest bay. Follow the signs for Tieties Bay from Die Winkel op Paternoster.
The road winds through the original fishing village, and then becomes gravel (a bit rutted) as you approach the reserve. A tour of the lighthouse is also worthwhile, although sadly it's closed on weekends. Some say that Tieties Bay, at the far end of the Cape Columbine reserve, was named after a fisherman called Titus who drowned there.
Accommodation in Paternoster ranges from seaside rentals to quaint guesthouses and camping grounds at Tietiesbaai.
Self drive routes from Cape Town invite visitors to the Mother City to experience the natural splendour, fun activities and scenic attractio...