Off the tar, onto the diamond coast.
The world is full of locked treasure chests, and they only reveal themselves when you slow down enough to notice that the locals hold the keys.
Most people think they know the region, but on this tour, we are going to uncover and experience the hidden gems that are not possible to do while simply driving through or when on a weekend break-away. When you start digging for stories, characters, and authentic encounters, you realise that the West Coast offers an incredible number of experiences that still need to be discovered. The people of the West Coast are sincere, caring, and warm-hearted. And then of course there is the food – not only is the variety usually over-generous and mouth-watering, but the seafood is probably the absolute best in the whole of South Africa.
True to the Live the Journey way of doing things, we have put together a trip that is truly special in every sense of the word. Our detectives dug deep and found special characters with amazing stories for you to meet. We also obtained special permission to visit certain places that are closed to the public.
Join us and go off-the-beaten-track as we drive from the mouth of the Orange River to the mouth of the Berg River. A one-of-a-kind experience awaits!
Highlights
- Four shipwrecks along the restricted De Beers coastline
- Guided dune driving above Hondeklipbaai and Koingnaas
- A coastal route through Namaqua National Park
- Back roads from the Northern Cape into the Western Cape, via Brandsebaai, Groenriviermond and Skuinsbaai
- Wine tasting and a light lunch at Fryers Cove, Doringbaai
- A final night in Paternoster, on foot in one of the coast’s oldest fishing villages
- Guide Dudley Wessels on Khoi-Khoi history and West Coast flora
Good to know: Expect gravel, soft sand and pebble-beach driving, with two dedicated dune-driving sessions where you’ll deflate your tyres and get a proper briefing first. Although day 5 is our longest drive on a tweespoor track, we will arrive just in time at Lutzville to admire the beautiful sunset. This tour is not suitable for offroad trailers or caravans.
Seven days from the diamond coast to the fishing village.
Arrive at Port Nolloth
Travel in your own time to Port Nolloth, a town and small domestic seaport in Namaqualand. Ensure that you arrive by 17:00. Check in at the hotel. 18:00 – Meet your tour guide, Dudley Wessels, in the main dining area of the hotel. Dudley is described as “an extraordinary guide with unparalleled knowledge about this particular part of our country”. 19:00 – We kick off the tour with dinner at the hotel.
Port Nolloth to Kleinzee
Breakfast at the hotel. Check-out. We will drive to Alexander Bay in the extreme north-west of the country. We return to Port Nolloth for a light snack lunch and then proceed to Kleinzee. Time permitting, visit the museum with its exhibits of shipwrecks, geological, palaeontological, and archaeological finds.
Shipwreck Route
Enjoy breakfast, then we enter the De Beers restricted area. We are going to drive the Shipwreck 4×4 route today and visit four shipwrecks. This is a particularly beautiful drive. Expect gravel roads, soft sand, pebble beaches and rock. Later in the afternoon on the return journey, there will be an opportunity to do some dune driving. 19:00 – Dinner at the Houthoop.
Hondeklipbaai Dunes
Enjoy breakfast. Today we will do some dune driving about 20 km from Koingnaas. Drive to Koingnaas for lunch. There will be an opportunity to top up on fuel. After lunch you will have time at leisure to explore the area on your own. Make your way back in your own time to Houthoop. Dinner is served at Houthoop.
Go Off the Grid
After breakfast, we will depart on a beautiful, rugged route along the coastal side of the Namaqua National Park. We will cross the border from the Northern Cape into the Western Cape between Brandsebaai and Groenriviermond. Our route will follow a tweespoor track via places like Brandsebaai, Malkopbaai, Abraham Villiersbaai, Groenriviermond, Kwaassebaai and Skuinsbaai until we arrive in Lutzville. Check-in at the Lutzville Hotel. Dinner will be at the hotel.
Lutzville to Paternoster
Check out and enjoy breakfast. Depart for Strandfontein and Doringbaai. In Doringbaai we stop for a wine tasting followed by a light snack lunch. Then we venture further south along the West Coast. We will drive via Elands Bay and Dwarskersbos to reach our overnight stop. Elands Bay is a typical West Coast town that draws visitors during the flower season and surfers who are in search of the perfect wave. Arrive late afternoon in Paternoster. 19:00 – We end the tour with a delicious dinner.
Depart Home
Enjoy breakfast and then check-out. It is time for sad farewells as you will depart home in your own time. End of tour.
Everything you need to get there and back. Nothing you don’t.
Included
- Experienced guide, Dudley Wessels, with his own vehicle accompanying the group
- Two-way radios for self-drive vehicles
- 6 nights’ accommodation: 1 night Port Nolloth, 3 nights Kleinzee, 1 night Lutzville, 1 night Paternoster
- Breakfast and dinner daily, plus snack/picnic lunches
- Permit for the Shipwreck Route
- Permit for dune driving
- Conservation fees for Namaqua National Park
- Wine tasting and light lunch at Fryers Cove, Doringbaai
Not included
- Your own 4×4 vehicle
- Fuel, if you’re driving yourself
- Lunches not otherwise specified, snacks and all drinks
- Travel insurance and vehicle insurance
- Personal items: phone bills, gratuities, curios, laundry
Good to know
- This tour is not suitable for offroad trailers or caravans.
- For self-drive guests this tour starts in Port Nolloth and ends in Paternoster. Guests make their own way to / from these points.
- Daily routing can change at short notice, at the tour leader’s discretion, for weather or road conditions.
Dates and rates coming soon.
The next departure and its rates are being finalised. Register your interest and we’ll come back to you the moment they’re confirmed.
Rate shown is per person sharing, driving your own vehicle. Riding as a passenger in the guide’s vehicle is R 19,700 per person sharing. Single supplement: R 1,850.
Self-drive tour. A 4×4 vehicle is required. Fuel for self-drive guests is not included.
Prices for conservations fees, taxes, park fees and fuel may be changed without prior notice. This is beyond our control and any increase levied will be passed to you.
Use a currency converter for an approximate figure in your local currency, noting that the final cost is determined by the exchange rate at the time of confirmation and payment.