Jewels Along The West Coast

Between the Hardeveld’s wildflowers and an icy Atlantic Ocean – with the Olifants River to the south and the Spoeg River to the north – lies a beautiful coastal region, and you’ll need an off-road vehicle to experience the best of it.

- Cyril Klopper

The trail starts next to the Olifants River in the small West Coast town of Koekenaap and ends 235 km farther in Hondeklip Bay. When driving up from Cape Town, you’ll arrive in this town shortly before noon, and there’ll only be enough time to complete a quarter of the route on your first day.

Koekenaap has a general dealer where you can buy basic supplies; if you need fresh bread and vegetables, there are larger shops in Vredendal, 30 km back the way you came. (By the way, if a guy with ginger hair, a two-tone shirt and a pair of jean shorts in Vredendal tries to convince you that the correct pronunciation is “Koek en aaaap” – yes, the “aap” must be drawn out – don’t believe him! The lady at the general dealer will give you the evil eye if you pronounce her town’s name in this way.)

Less than a kilometer north of Koekenaap, you’ll come across a signpost for the MSR Tormin mine. Here you turn left and follow an excellent dirt road for exactly 23 km, past an Eskom wind farm, to where the road forks (S31.49390 E18.06061). The superb dirt road veers to the left toward the Tormin mine and to the right runs a smaller sandy track. This track follows the coast and will eventually deliver you in Hondeklip Bay. Remember your camera, because over the next two days you will drive along a picturesque coastline with white beaches and numerous sheltered bays – and, if you time it right, beautiful wildflowers too.

SHORTLY AFTER YOU turn right at the fork, the first of many farm gates awaits. A notice on the gate informs you that you are now entering private property. However, the stern message does not forbid you to enter, as the road is a servitude that serves several farms along the coastline.