West Coast

Distance
95 km (59 mi)

Itinerary
8 am to 4 pm
After breakfast, a visit is made to the West Coast Fossil Park near Saldanha Bay, a National Heritage Site. The park showcases the late Miocene and early Pliocene epochs some 5 million years ago. On the guided tour, you'll see fossils lying exactly as excavated. A remarkable number of species are represented at the site, making the region one of the most diverse Pliocene occurrences in the world. Approximately 860 sq. feet of the fossil bed is exposed and open for viewing. Saldanha Bay is then briefly explored before returning to Paternoster for lunch.
Near the village, we visit a lighthouse called Cape Columbine, named after the shipwreck in 1929. The 9 million candle-power lighthouse and radio beacon is a major navigational point for ships approaching the coast of Southern Africa from Europe and America. We also enjoy a hike on this stretch of coastline, which features many isolated coves, to Titus Bay. Wildflowers, fresh air, and a rugged seascape constitute the beauty of this part of the world. We head back to the overnight accommodation during the late afternoon.