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 Crayfish
hiking trail
The West Coast of South Africa between the Berg and Olifants
Rivers offers superb hiking and cycling opportunities. The
5 day Crayfish Trail starts in Elandsbaai - one of the few
places on the West Coast with mountains, rivers and wetlands,
long beaches and snow white dunes. It ends in Ebenhaeser,
on the bank of the Olifants river.
The trail is led by knowledgeable
local guides, hikers overnight in rustic farm style accommodation
and a support vehicle moves luggage and supplies from one
stopover to the next. [ read more
]
Birding at the Verlorenvlei
and Olifants
River mouth
There are only three perennial estuaries along the west coast
of Southern Africa, namely those of the Berg (Verlorenvlei),
Olifants and the Orange Rivers. These coastal wetlands are
in direct contact with the rich waters of the Benguela, making
them highly productive systems relative to their size. Their
shallow waters and intertidal habitats are a major breeding
ground for many species of invertebrates and fish that in
turn provide food for a large number of birds. It is not surprising
that these west coast wetlands hold the greatest densities
of waders on the entire eastern Atlantic flyway. [ read
more ]
 Elands
Bay caves
Just outside the town of Elands Bay, overlooking the surf,
the caves at Bobbejaanberg have produced valuable archeological
finds. Excavations found evidence of human habitation as much
as 15000 years ago. There are numerous rock paintings here
- apart from the remains of a large painting of an eland and
a fat-tailed sheep, the rock surface is covered with many
red hand prints
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Carefully
restored old adobe farm house. Sleeps 8.
On
higher ground overlooking the mouth of the Olifants River.
Restored
old house in peaceful riverside village.
The
Crayfish Route conjures up images of white beaches and old
fishing villages where time stood still while the rest of
the world moved on. 