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Velddrif, a coastal fishing town in the Bergrivier Local Municipality, Western Cape, is located 2 km upstream from where the Berg River flows into St Helena Bay on the Cape West Coast.
This is not just another town, this little town is also home to our family home, where we spend a lot of our weekends and holidays.
The name originated when farmer Theunis Smit crossed the veld with his livestock to find grazing across the river. In 1899, a pontoon was built as the only means of crossing the Berg River.
Around a century ago, the wheat harvest from Sandveld was transported down the Berg River to be loaded onto smaller boats at a "loading place" near the river mouth, eventually becoming Laaiplek, adjacent to Velddrif. In 1968, engineers blasted a channel linking the river with St Helena Bay, completing the fishing harbour of Laaiplek.
Velddrif offers various accommodations including hotels, caravan parks, and guest houses, some with views of the river mouth and sea. The mild Mediterranean climate provides year-round vacation possibilities, fostering a peaceful atmosphere ideal for relaxation.
Activities in Velddrif include:
Regular boat trips for bird watching, featuring species like flamingoes and pelicans.
The annual Berg River Canoe Marathon ends here, and the area is also favored by ocean-going yachts. Fishing opportunities abound for both boat and shore anglers.
The West Coast Gallery showcases over 100 local artists and craftsmen, including fishermen's work, and features South Africa's only reed maze.
Velddrif and Laaiplek restaurants on the Crayfish Route serve seafood and traditional fare with West Coast hospitality, centered around the bokkom industry.
Nearby attractions:
The seaside resort of Dwarskersbos offers family-friendly holiday pleasure with charming West Coast houses.
The Rocher Pan Nature Reserve, with its freshwater lake, is a haven for birds, animals, and plants, especially vibrant after winter rains.
The luxurious Port Owen Marina is a popular resort for discerning visitors, highlighting the area's development potential.
Bokkomlaan
At Bokkomlaan you can park your vehicle and stroll along looking at Greats White Pelicans, African Marsh Harrier, Kingfishers, Grey Heron and many more different species.
Draaihoek Private Nature Reserve
The private Nature Reserve reaches from the Atlantic ocean inland to Sandveld’s mountain range and across to the Verlorenvlei, a RAMSAR classified site, south of Elands Bay.
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