To the sea: Yzerfontein and the West Coast
The Atlantic is about an hour away. Long beaches, whales in season and a San cultural centre on the way.
One of the surprises of the Riebeek Valley is how close the sea is. Yzerfontein, a fishing village on the Atlantic, is roughly 78 km away, about an hour's drive west through Malmesbury and Darling.
Yzerfontein has long, empty beaches and fynbos-covered dunes. From July to December you may see whales from the shore. The water is cold, as it always is on the West Coast, but a walk on the beach after a few days inland is a fine change.
On the way, !Khwa ttu, a San cultural centre and nature reserve, has a museum, guided walks and a shop, and tells the story of the first people of this land.
Further north lies the West Coast National Park, with its lagoon, beaches and birdlife, famous for the spring flowers in the Postberg section. It is a little more than an hour from the valley, so plan a full day.
Pack a picnic from the valley's farm shops and be back for dinner under the Kasteelberg.
