Western Cape Article - South African Vacations

WEST COASTThe West Coast is best described as an enigma. On land and in the sea, the West Coastnever ceases to surprise visitors and long-time inhabitants have found it best to adapt to thecontradictions of the land and not to try to understand it. Well, it is said that “variety is thespice of life”, isn’t it?Where the cold sea and the warm land meets, a barren desert-like landscape is created,which in spring (from late July to September), changes appearance completely, to emerge asa vivid carpet with more than 350 species of wild flowers. This phenomenon only lasts for arelatively short time, leaving the seeds to lie dormant again, waiting for next year’s winterrains to bring them to life.Although the land is considered inhospitable and barren, the sea yields the most generouscrops of seafood imaginable. Local children grow up on delicacies such as crayfish andoysters for which other people have to pay premium prices.Eking out an existence on this coastline is no mean feat and has shaped the singularcharacter of the people inhabiting the fishing villages on the coast. These villages are alsofast becoming popular holiday destinations, sought out by city dwellers desperate to escapethe routine and the mundane.Deeper inland, the Cedarberg Conservation Area protects an unspoiled mountain area whereembattled cedars cling stubbornly to the most remote spots. It is a prime hiking area and alarge natural art gallery where the many San rock art sites can be found.The Western Cape shares the West Coast with the Northern Cape Province. The largeststores of diamonds have been mined mainly in the Northern Cape at Alexander Bay. Most ofthe West Coast Region is undeveloped and one of its most important industrial developments155