Members
The Cape West Coast Biosphere Reserve has embarked upon a membership strategy in line with it’s mandate and vision for the future.
Commercial Members
Corporate:
ESKOM HOLDINGS SOC LIMITED
Eskom generates approximately 95% of the electricity used in South Africa and approximately 45% of the electricity used in Africa. Eskom generates, transmits and distributes electricity to industrial, mining, commercial, agricultural and residential customers and redistributors. Additional power stations and major power lines are being built to meet rising electricity demand in South Africa. Eskom will continue to focus on improving and strengthening its core business of electricity generation, transmission, trading and distribution.
MKB (MOORREESBURG KORINGBOERE)
Moorreesburgse Koringboere (Pty) Ltd, popularly known as MKB, the operating company of Grain Farmers Group Limited, is located in the heart of the Swartland. MKB is a company that has been the anchor of the region’s grain industry for the past 80 years.
Business:
BOOK LEAGUE – DARLING
Book League (www.bookleague.co.za/news)
Curl up with a good book! For selected new books at discounted prices, please contact us at bookleague@telkomsa.net or call Wendy on 083 658 7581.
Tourism:
CLUB MYKONOS – LANGEBAAN
Club Mykonos (www.clubmykonos.co.za)
Efprosdektos! Welcome to Greece on the West Coast! The shores of the magical Langebaan Lagoon are the gateway to the vitality and hospitality of the Greek way of life, right in South Africa. Join us for endless fun in the sun as you lounge on the deck of a luxury yacht, dance with Lady Luck in the casino or simply wile away the hours doing as little as possible in the comfort of your luxurious self-catering accommodation.
JACOBSBAY BACKPACKERS & LODGE
Visit our Website for more information: www.jacobsbaybackpackers.co.za
This rustic backpackers lodge, endearingly referred to as “The Plot”, is located in Jacobs Bay, a quaint, protected little village halfway between Saldanha and Vredenburg on the West Coast, just south of Paternoster. The Plot is surrounded by trees which form a natural wind barrier against the ocean wind and is situated the Cape West Coast Biosphere Reserve where you can enjoy various hiking trails. With pristine beaches and great fishing in protected coves a mere 400m away, life on the West Coast doesn’t get much better. The Plot is the ideal venue for small weddings, birthday parties, bachelors, corporate team building or simply some relaxing time out!
Go to our website or contact Susan on 022-7153536 / 0733025835 to make a reservation. Our staff look forward to welcoming you to The Plot, where you have a licence to be yourself!
FARR OUT GUEST HOUSE – PATERNOSTER
Farr Out guesthouse/B & B (www.farrout.co.za)
Established in 2005 by Deon van Schalkwyk and Marion Lubitz, this 4 star establishment is situated in the picturesque village of Paternoster on the Cape West Coast. Their slogan “…live where others come to unwind…” is echoed in the activities they boast, ranging from beach buggy excursions and spotting wildlife, to relaxing in a wood-fired hottub. They cater for any preference or weather, but insist that “…there is no bad weather; just the person wearing the wrong clothes.”
DARLING LODGE – DARLING
Darling Lodge guesthouse (www.darlinglodge.co.za)
Less than an hour’s drive from Cape Town, 4 star Darling Lodge, is situated in the town of Darling; the heart of South Africa’s Floral Kingdom, famous for its unspoilt natural beauty. Whether you want to visit game & nature reserves, a wine estate, or simply experience the solitude of long, lonely beaches, or lagoons, it’s all in the immediate vicinity. Whatever your preference, Darling Lodge “…has a pillow with your name on it.”
THE MARMALADE CAT – DARLING
The Marmalade Cat (www.eatout.co.za)
Rather hidden on Darling’s unlovely Main Road, this is one of the Swartland’s best restaurants. It’s comfort food all the way, with generous portions of homemade chicken pie, tender lamb shanks, and rich stews. There are great breakfasts on offer too, and the crispy wood-fired pizzas simply fly out of the oven on Friday nights… It’s best to book ahead if you want a table on Friday night.
DOORNFONTEIN BIRD AND GAME LODGE – VELDDRIFT
Doornfontein Bird and Game Lodge (www.doornfonteinfarm.co.za)
Each season heralds a new adventure on your senses, the heat of summer or the lushness of winter are displayed like an ever-changing canvas. Whether reading on the stoep or exploring the salt pan at sunset, your experience will become a cherished memory. Doornfontein plays host to music, birding, corporate and social gatherings and is acknowledged as a unique wedding venue.
pace to replenish your soul.
KLEIN PATERNOSTER
Klein Paternoster (www.kleinpaternoster.co.za)
Situated in the quaint fishing village of Paternoster on the Cape West Coast, Klein Paternoster is a unique establishment, boasting its own communal oven or “bakoond” for residents to enjoy, set amidst lush, colourful gardens, complete with resident owls. Enjoy a romantic evening in front of the fire, red wine in hand, or simply relax in the sunshine while crayfish and snoek sizzle on the braai. Klein Paternoster is a place of calm, away from the madding crowd.
DUINEPOS CHALETS
Duinepos Chalets (www.duinepos.co.za)
A retreat for bird and nature lovers, the charming chalets are situated inside the West Coast National Park, located 15 km from the Langebaan lagoon and 17 km from the Langebaan town centre. The camp is based inland amongst the natural bush, secluded and quiet. Duinepos Chalets is one of few places where one can still wake up with only the sound of birds. This is why birders from all over migrate here for the Duinepos experience.
BLUE BAY LODGE
Blue Bay Lodge (www.blouwaterbaai.com)
“Relaxation” is our tagline. Far away from the hustle and bustle of city life, Blue Bay Lodge gives guests the opportunity to relax and unwind. Whether your idea of relaxation might be having a glass of wine overlooking the bay, reading your book while listening to the sound of the waves or taking a long walk along the beach, Blue Bay Lodge offers some kind of relaxation for everyone.
ORMONDE
People are our passion, our perfection and our success. Families extending over several generations partake in the activities that make the Estate wines so successful. Crafting premium wines starts with having trained and knowledgeable staff. All new entrants are hand-guided over a period of two years by a seasoned trainer before gaining independence to work in the vineyards. All vacancies are filled internally, creating opportunities for promotion and keeping the staff motivated.
pace to replenish your soul.
JAKKALSFONTEIN
The West Coast of the Cape is wild, certainly, but with a reticent and austere beauty which stems from sand, sea and sky, the patterned mosaics of fynbos, and the rolling inland hills. Some Jakkalsfontein mornings are made magical by banks of early fog, through which loom the dimly perceived dune-shaped roofs. These drifting mists leave behind them sparkling spider webs like diamonds in the salvias, and a sudden sight of vast blue sky.
pace to replenish your soul.
LANGEBAAN YACHT CLUB
The Langebaan Yacht Club was founded on 24 April 1982. The Club is based on the edge of the beautiful Langebaan Lagoon and provides recreational amenities for members, which include Boating, Sailing, Canoeing, Angling and general social activities. The Club is structured as a family club and safety of all its members is governed through a well-structured Constitution and a comprehensive set of House Rules and Bylaws. As the Club is based on the edge of the Lagoon, a declared Ramsar site and operates from within SANparks controlled waters, conservation and protection of the Lagoon’s resources for the good of future generations is high on the Agenda at all times.
!KHWA TTU
!Khwa ttu, the San Education and Culture Centre, 70 km north-west of Cape Town offers you the unique experience of being introduced to the world of the descendants of the first indigenous people of southern Africa. The San themselves will take you on a journey into their history, traditional knowledge, skills, languages, customs and current affairs. This enjoyable and eye-opening event will stay with you for a long time.
WINDSTONE BACKPACKERS & RIDING CENTRE
Just over 60 minutes from Cape-Town. A World of Adventure on the West Coast. Windstone’s scenic, rugged beauty is spread over six hectares of vastly different vegetation, from leafy avenues to sweeping views across the open veld. The rustic setting offers a homely and relaxed atmosphere for the adventure seeker and tranquility for the weary traveller. We offer a large range of services and leisure activities – from comfortable backpacker’s accommodation to horse riding, conference facilities, team building and kenneling for your beloved pets. Windstone is situated in the heart of the West Coast and is your springboard to exploring this fascinating and remarkable region of South Africa. Growing up in the Lake District of England instilled in us a passion for country living and animals. Twenty six years ago, we found our dream on the West Coast of South Africa. We built up the homestead from a rustic wooden one to the spread that is today called ‘home’. We extend a warm invitation to you to join us here for an unforgettable experience.
BURGHERSPOST AND CLOOF
Burgherspost Wine Estate is nestled into the Darling Wine route at the foot of the picturesque Dassenberg Granite Hill. Next door to Burgherspost is our sister farm, Cloof wine estate. Together, the two farms can produce top quality grapes for the wine market as well as producing our own Cloof brand wines in our cellar. Burgherspost was one of the very first wine estates to be given Champion status under the Biodiversity and Wine Initiative. The BWI is a pioneering partnership between the South African wine industry and the conservation sector. The goals are to minimise the further loss of threatened natural habitat, and to contribute to sustainable wine production, through the adoption of biodiversity guidelines by the South African wine industry.
DARLING CELLARS
1996 heralded a new era for the region of Darling with the establishment of the private cellar: Darling Cellars (Pty) Limited. With its unique terroir and the demarcation of the area as Wine of Origin Darling in 2003, the focus is on producing wines that are region and varietal true. Some 20 shareholders produce grapes from a total of ±1300ha, averaging 6 to 8 tons per hectare. The cool and temperate West Coast climate lends itself to a variety of different micro- and meso-climates which, along with the different soil types, lead to unique grapes which we guide into even more unique wines. With approximately 95% of all our vineyards being Unirrigated (dry land) and roughly the same percentage being bush vines (i.e. not trellised), this is as close as one can get to what nature intended for grapes to be. These varying factors result in wines that are true to the terroir from which they come and are true to the identity which we have crafted over time for our wines. Investment continues in the winery and cellar with some of the most modern and up to date winemaking equipment in our industry today. A modern bottling line, new presses, a barrel maturation cellar, a new grape off-loading system and continuing replanting of vineyards, to include noble cultivars, all contribute to our advances in contemporary winemaking.
RIVIERA HOTEL AND CHALETS
The Riviera Hotel and Chalets are situated on the Bergriver, overlooking the wetland and its abundant bird-life. in Velddrif, South Africa.
Institutional:
DARLING WILDFLOWER SOCIETY
The Darling Wildflower Society has held a show virtually every year since that first show in 1917. The ideals expressed by the founders still hold true today. They wanted to display Darling’s God-given wealth for the world to see. At the same time they promoted the conservation of flowers amongst the farmers of the district, who have since maintained the botanical diversity of the region over several generations.
WEST COAST FOSSIL PARK
The fossil site of Langebaanweg is located in the West Coast Fossil Park, approximately 150 km north of Cape Town (a 11/2 hour drive), and is world-renowned for its exceptionally well-preserved fossil faunal remains that date to the terminal Miocene/early Pliocene (circa 5.2 million years ago).
GROTTO BAY PRIVATE NATURE RESERVE
Situated just off the R27 West Coast Road about 45 minutes’ drive from Cape Town you will find the beautiful Grotto Bay Private Nature Reserve. The 685 hectare Nature Reserve was proclaimed in 2002 and just 60 hectares of this property has been allocated for housing. Grotto Bay forms part of the Cape West Coast Biosphere reserve which was proclaimed by UNESCO in 2000. The Biosphere incorporates 378 000 hectares, and stretches from the mouth of the Diep River at Milnerton, covering the entire coastal lowland up to the far north to the Berg River at Velddrift. There are 459 biospheres around the world and of these 65 of them are in Africa and 4 of them are in South Africa. All Biospheres promote a balanced approach to the development of humans and the preservation of biodiversity in a particular region. The aim of the Cape West Coast Biosphere is to foster human development that is ecologically sustainable, conserve the landscape, vegetation and living species.
