Lamberts Bay and Elands Bay
A treasure chest of history and heritage. A tragic tale of a ship wrecked and eventually a lady lost, but love found. Stories of life and strife buried in sea and sand upon this stretch of land where West Coast culture and Sandveld charm take hands to form a close-knit community.
As you travel up the West Coast of South Africa, you will find Elands Bay about 220 kilometres north of Cape Town. Drive about 60 kilometres further north, past the estuarine channel of forlorn marsh called the Verlorenvlei (‘lost valley’), and you will reach Lamberts Bay, the larger of the two fishing villages. In Elands Bay there is little more than sea and sand to lure holidaymakers and therefore this small village has managed to elude the rush of development and city dwellers trying to stake their claim. Although primarily a fishing town, Lamberts Bay has become a significant tourist attraction and holiday destination due to its moderate climate all year round. World-renowned for its West Coast (seafood, fish and crayfish) and Sandveld (potato farming) cuisine, locals love to give visitors from around the globe a taste of their traditional food especially at Die Plaaskombuis, on Steenbokfontein, and Die Muisbosskerm, just outside of this unpretentious, picturesque seaside town. The HMS Sybille ran aground opposite the Steenbokfontein farm where the Burger family still lives and run a tourist hotspot with a holistic approach. From filling you in on the detail of the Sybille and the consequent intricate tales of love and war, archaeological finds and caves with San rock art, to appreciating nature, soothing the soul and riding the waves, these locals always succeed in keeping visitors intrigued and entertained.
Both Elands Bay and Lamberts Bay is a surfer’s paradise and a watersport haven offering sunbathing, swimming, fishing, surfing, kite surfing, boating, yachting and more. Put your 4x4 and sandboarding skills to the test on the towering dunes; take a trip to Bird Island to view the Cape Gannet and Seagulls; enjoy the Flower Season during August; watch whales from July to October; experience the snoek run a couple of times during the year, or join the locals for the annual Crayfish Festival. The town also sports a 9-hole golf course, a bowling green, tennis courts and a jukskei rink. It offers al the necessary amenities and makes the ideal property investment.
