Things to Do in Lamberts Bay

Elands Bay beach is well known as a great surfing spot, particularly for the legendary left break. The pristine white sandy beach is seemingly endless, perfect for long walks and sun tanning. There are plenty of beach-based things to do and see around the laidback West Coast town. When the conditions aren’t right for surfing, there’s windsurfing, kite surfing, fishing, catching crayfish, walking, dolphin and whale watching, bird watching and sand boarding. And don't miss the rock art at Baboon Point.

Trip up the spiral staircase of Cape Columbine Lighthouse and gaze at jaw-dropping views of the formidable Britannia reef and Atlantic Ocean. Fortress-like and spectacularly situated on a windswept headland, Cape Columbine Lighthouse is usually the first lighthouse sighted by ships coming from South America and Europe. The prominent rocky point is just five kilometres from the quaint fishing village of Paternoster and is definitely worth a visit. Not only to explore the lighthouse, but also for the stark beauty of the surrounding Columbine Nature Reserve. In spring the reserve is strewn with wild flowers and the coastline is renowned for its sea life, particularly crayfish and abalone. Built in 1936, Columbine was the first South African lighthouse to receive all three navigational safety features – a light, a fog signal and a radio beacon. The impressive lens system was also the first designed to use a 4kW incandescent electric lamp instead of wick or petroleum burners. Today it is one of the last manned lighthouses on the South African coast and offers interesting guided tours. Mondays to Fridays: 10:00 – 15:00 Weekends and public holidays: October to April 10:00 – 15:00; May to September by reservation only Entrance fee: adults R13.70; children under 12 R6.90.

Five million years ago the Cape’s West Coast was very different from what it is today. A wide range of animals (now extinct) lived in riverine forests, wooded savannah, and ocean as well as on offshore islands.Phosphate mining operations at Langebaanweg uncovered one of the richest fossil sites in the world. Over the past 40 years bones of 200 different kinds of animals, many of them new to science have been recovered. A few years after mining operations ceased in 1993, a 14 hectare fossil-rich area within the mine property was declared a National Heritage Site.The West Coast Fossil Park, a component of Iziko Museums, offers visitors an opportunity to have an on-site fossil experience. Learn about mysterious ancient environments, fascinating animal life and the climatic changes that occurred in this region 5 million years ago on a guided tour. The West Coast Fossil Park also has a kiddie’s play park, gift shop, picnic areas as well as a lovely coffee shop. Need to know? The main tour runs from 11:30 – 13:00 every day of the week and includes a slide presentation and visit to the dig site.Mini tours are available every hour from 9:00 –15:00 weekdays (except at 12:00); phone +27 (0)22 7661606 for mini-tour times over weekends and public holidays. The mini tour includes a visit to the dig site.