Go Exploring
Yzerfontein’s climate is welcoming year round, though summers can get quite windy and the icy Benguela current keeps most souls without a wetsuit at an ankle-deep ‘swim’. The wildlife loves it though and it’s a true haven for birds and sea life.
You can explore the indigenous flora’s explosion of colour in springtime along the Bokbaaivygie walking trail while keeping an eye out for whales. Visit Dassen Island, situated about 10 km west of Yzerfontein or have sundowners at Pearl Bay Heights from where you can see Table Mountain.
More leisure activities include fishing from the beach and rocks, collecting mussels or visiting some of the historical sites such as the old Fish House and the lime kilns. In the early days there was no cement, so the Dutch built these lime kilns to burn mussels and form a binding material that they used as cement.
!Khwa ttu Centre
The !Khwa ttu is a unique San Heritage Centre in Yzerfontein. It offers a fascinating look into the culture and lifestyle of the first people of South Africa - the San. The San people are an indigeous Southern African minority group, with as little as 6700 San living in South Africa today. Their culture dates back thousands of years and most of their ancestral land has been redeveloped.
!Khwa ttu was established in 1999 after the Working Group for Indigenous Minorities in Southern Africa (WIMSA) came to the agreement that the San people needed to educate the country and their next generation in the San way of life, preserving their culture and heritage. A Swiss anthropologist decided to launch the project and purchased a farm on the West Coast near Yzerfontein, where the !Khwa ttu Culture and Education Centre was set up. It is now run by the !Khwa ttu Non-Profit Company and represented by WIMSA.
Upon visiting the centre, a San guide will give visitors a glimpse into San life and heritage. A tractor ride takes visitors into cascading bushlands adorned with Fynbos, game and birdlife. A trail walk will showcase the San’s impeccable tracking, hunting and gathering skills. San masters will share their knowledge on fire starting and hunting with a bow and arrow.
A visit to a replica of a traditional San village is also included on the tour. Throughout the tour visitors will hear that some San people still speak the group’s ancient language that involves sharp tongue clicks. Oral storytelling is an important part of San life and many still practice it today. There is also a photographic exhibition of their lifestyle while the gift shops sell replicas of their crafts.
Blombosch 4x4 Nature Trail
The Blombosch 4x4 Nature Trail is situated on the outskirts of Yzerfontein and offers an excellent Sandveld nature experience. The route is 13.5 km, and takes about 2 hours to complete. The drive is not particularly a 4x4 challenge, but rather a leisurely nature route.
The sandy road hardens in winter and softens in summer, so the drive will be quite different depending on which season you go. You can stop to picnic at Aagpat campsite and enjoy a short walk through the lowveld fynbos. The ocean views are exquisite and the trail is a must visit for 4x4 enthusiasts.
Mountain Biking
!Khwa ttu’s mountain bike trail on the Cape West Coast offers variety, fun, relaxation and spectacular views, at a great family venue perfect for weekend getaways. The trail includes two well-marked routes suitable for all levels of experience, from casual leisure rider to experienced adrenaline junkie.
The Wheels of Time Trail is a cycling trip in the Cape West Coast Biosphere and follows a back road route from Mamre to Darling, Elandsfontein Farm, the West Coast National Park and !Khwa Ttu in Yzerfontein. The route lasts for 3 days with various accommodation options along the way. You can be assured of incredible scenery and fun, but at times challenging, cycling.
By Justin Fox
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