The small settlement of Lekkersing, established in 1926 by Ryk Jasper Cloete, lies 60 km east of Port Nolloth. It is said that its name (which means to sing joyfully or beautifully) originated from the fact that a small fountain in the area 'sang', so beautifully that an early resident promptly named the village. Incidentally the residents of Lekkersing are very good singers! Close to the town an exquisite red sand dune also "sings" after a rare rain and can be clearly heard resonating in a deep and ancient voice. Lekkersing is nestled in the hills of the Richtersveld, the faulted, age-old lava landscape of rugged mountain ranges interspersed by wide plains. Temperatures up to 53 degrees Celsius have been measured in this area, but the trees at Koersdap shelter you from the harshest sunshine. The old stone mine where the diamond quartzite was mined was established in 1964, and has produced exquisite slabs of stone in earthy reds and gold, used for tiling all over the world. Extraordinary dendrite formations are sometimes visible on these natural slates. The dendrites are patterns that look extremely similar to plant fossils, but they are in fact far older and have the same chemical composition as the snowflake crystal. Discover how flagstones and tombstones are cut out of quartzite at the mine, or explore the Skurwehoog caves, 30 km from Lekkersing on the road to Kuboes. If you are interested in local craft, the community workgroup 'Rusoord' will show you how to make 'riempie' chairs, 'velskoene', 'matjies' huts, dresses and 'kappies'.

What today is essentially a fishing village, Port Nolloth lies on the bay known by the indigenous Namaqua people as; Aukwatowa- (where the water took away the old man) - it was the last landfall the Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias sighted, before he and his ship were blown off course and out to sea for thirteen days. Port Nolloth lies 144 kilometres northwest of Springbok, and 90 kilometres west of Steinkopf. Port Nolloth started its life as a railway junction for the copper-mining industry, and subsequently as the site for diamond mining, but today serves mainly as a fishing village for the crayfishing industry (or rock lobster), and for small-scale diamond recovery; large-scale shipping came to an end as diamond discoveries have gradually declined in the area. Port Nolloth is as laidback as it sounds. Nothing much happens very fast here, and as a result, holiday makers are attracted to the town to soak up the worriless atmosphere, and the sun. McDougalls Bay is home to clean beaches and calm seas, if a little cold, that offer hours of swimming, walking, kayaking and boating time; and you can fish for snoek or yellowtail if you have a permit. Port Nolloth and its neighbouring informal settlement, Sizamile make a good stop off if you are at all interested in the Namaqua Flower Route, or a visit to the Richtersveld National Park. Walking tours around Sizamile are on offer by local guides; the local museum is filled with history, and a trip inland to the little town of Lekkersing, just north of Port Nolloth, offers a ‘look in’ to a community workgroup ‘rusoord’ where local craft in the form of ‘velskoene’, mats, huts, dresses and ‘riempie’ chairs is available.

Saldanha is a seaside village that lies in the Northern most corner of Saldanha bay - the largest and deepest natural bay in the Country. The Saldanha accommodation available to travelers from all over the World includes guest houses, lodges, bed and breakfasts, and hotels. Saldanha is a seaside village that lies in the northern most corner of Saldanha Bay - the largest and deepest natural bay in South Africa. About 110 km up the Cape West Coast from Cape Town, the picturesque harbour town of Saldanha is essentially motivated by export and the fishing industry, and crayfish, fish, mussels, oysters and seaweed drive the economy. The sheltered Harbour here is dominated by the Sishen-Saldanha iron-ore project and is home to a Naval training base, the South African Military Academy and a whole fleet of fishing vessels that add a particular character to the bay. This largely unspoilt part of the world is also home to seagulls, cormorants, Cape gannets, duikers and terns that tend to outnumber humans by about a million to one and eco-tourism is popular. The first European sea traders arrived in Saldanha about 500 years ago and there is fossilised evidence that man may have been present here as many as 117 000 years ago - the West Coast Fossil park has one of the largest displays of late Tertiary vertebrate fossils in the world. Saldanha bay and Langebaan lagoon, on the south side of the bay, are very popular amongst the yachting fraternity and game fishing devotees - yellowtail and tuna are easy catches and snoek is available in winter. There is plenty of fresh sea air in the bay, with its five islands and abundant sea life, and it is a favourite amongst kite surfers and skiers and offers unrivalled fishing, deep sea diving and whale watching opportunities.

The Cape West Coast of South Africa is known for its raw, rugged beaches and spectacular untouched landscapes. Although most of the little fishing towns dotted along the West Coast are only an hour or two from Cape Town, they seem to be untouched relics of yesteryear. And, it is within this setting that the Tsaarsbank Beach can be found. This beach is situated in the West Coast National Park, and is strewn with rounded boulders and fascinating rock pools. These are awesome for children and other adventurers to climb and explore for hours. The water is chilly, but manageable, especially on balmy summer days. Between August and October, the Tsaarsbank Beach is an excellent place from which to watch the whales as they pass the shores of the Western Cape. These are most commonly southern right and humpback whales, but may occasionally include killer whales too. This is also a fantastic place to go bird watching, as the West Coast National Park is home to more than 250 bird species. For those visitors that want to explore at a slower pace, there are hiking and mountain biking trails near Tsaarsbank Beach. Of course, walks along the beach are also fantastic for anyone craving the cool sea spray on their face and the feel of the sand underfoot. To make the most out of a day at Tsaarsbank Beach, there are great braai facilities available, with breathtaking views of the ebb and flow of the Atlantic. Light a fire and relax with a cup of coffee and this magnificent view until the coals are ready for some excellent local meat. No alcohol is permitted here but, with this setting, it won’t be missed. From the beach, there is a three kilometre walk to get to the impressive shipwreck of the Pantalis A Lemos, which ran aground in 1978. A small conservation fee is charged for entering the park. Nearby neighbours include the quaint seaside villages of Langebaan, Yzerfontein and Paternoster.

Marine protected areas aim to conserve marine life and promote the conservation and effective management of biodiverse marine areas. They are an example of successful collaboration between civil society, communities and government to take care of our natural resources, particularly our marine resources. It stretches over an area of 0.25km squared. As a marine protected area within the West Coast National Park, fishing is prohibited from shore. Malgas Island is critically important as a breeding island to Cape Gannets and other seabirds, with Malgas Island being one of only three islands in South Africa where Cape Gannet breed. Approximately 30 percent of the world's population of African Black Oystercatchers breed on these islands. The endangered Bank Cormorant - whose numbers have plummeted from 8 700 breeding pairs in 1980 to a current number of 4 900 pairs - also breed on the islands.

The Langebaan Lagoon is a large salt water lagoon, regarded as a wetland of international importance, protected by the West Coast National Park (formerly called the Langebaan National Park), 100 km north of Cape Town. Bird watchers who have booked an hotel or accommodation in Langebaan will want to explore this area as the beautiful landscape attracts numerous waterbirds, Palearctic and rare migrant Waders. As such it is one of South Africa's important bird areas. The lagoon holds Ramsar wetland status as a result. These Ramsar Sites acquire a new national and international status. They are recognized as being of significant value not only for the country or the countries in which they are located, but for humanity as a whole. Unlike your standard river lagoon, which forms when a freshwater river reaches the sea, this lagoon has been shaped by the rise and fall of sea levels over time, and is a self-sustaining, pure salt water lagoon. Daily tides bring nutrient rich water from the ocean into the lagoon, provided by the cold benguela current flowing up the west coast. The lagoon has a series of unique salt marshes that make up the biggest salt marsh area in the country. The lagoon supports huge populations of crabs and snails, as well as over 70 different marine algae, and serves as a nursery for juvenile fish. The intertidal areas support as many as 55 000 water birds in summer. Despite all this beauty, Langebaan lagoon is under pressure. Sand washed in by strong tides mean it gets shallower all the time. The sand cannot return to the sea because of the jetty at Saldanha. The build up of sand has killed hundreds of oysters – they line the floor of the lagoon - and most of the lagoon's seaweed. Other than the lagoon's ecological importance, it is also a space for people who visit these waters to swim, sail and picnic along its shores. The waters are a lot warmer than the icy Atlantic and provide a safe space for families. Langebaan Lagoon is a marine protected area and as such is divided up into three zones – in zone C, closest to the Geelbek Visitors' Centre and a couple of bird hides, is a wilderness area that allows no fishing or recreational activities; zone B, close to Churchaven, is for sailboats and board sailing (no power boats), whilst zone A, closest to the town of Langebaan, facilitates all water sports, including power boating, fishing and kite surfing.

Known as the Jewel of the West Coast, Langebaan enjoys almost year-round sunshine and boasts azure waters and unsurpassed natural beauty. The variety of accommodation available combines with the natural beauty of the West Coast, the charm of its fishing Villages, and close proximity to Cape Town make for an idyllic getaway. This town is just off the R27, next to the picturesque Langebaan Lagoon. The popular town of Langebaan is just over 100 km from Cape Town on the West Coast off the R27 next to Langebaan Lagoon. The white Caribbean like Beaches surrounding the crystal clear waters of the Langebaan Lagoon are one of the main attractions of Langebaan. Langebaan has a modern Country Club and offers numerous excellent holiday facilities. For water sport enthusiasts who favour a weekend visit or holiday in Langebaan to enjoy the host of water sport and fishing opportunities this vibrant holiday resort town offers. Water sports enthusiasts can enjoy windsurfing, kite-surfing, yachting, angling and much more in the turquoise waters, which are positively balmy for the Western Cape. Langebaan is well known as it is the ornithological capital of South Africa, has recorded the largest oyster shell deposits in the world and enjoys a moderate climate with cool air and long sunlit days. In winter it is never very cold and the long summer days are never unbearably hot. For the holiday-maker Langebaan boasts upmarket accommodation, a choice of restaurants, two caravan parks, a golf course, tennis courts, a bowling green, a yacht club and the standard retail outlets you can expect to find in a small town which sell everything from seafood, groceries to hardware and holiday equipment. The West Coast National Park is worth a visit to see the variety of fauna and flora which this unique ecosystem has to offer and the ecological history of Langebaan can be viewed at the West Coast Fossil Park.