Britannia Bay is located 160 kilometres up the Cape West Coast from Cape Town, a straightforward 90-minute trip. The area is one of the best places to visit in Cape Town.
Saldanha Bay is 45 miles away while Vredenburg, the primary business hub of the area, is 35 km away from Britannia Bay. There are miles of unspoiled, secure beaches in Britannia Bay. Due to the Benguela current not passing through the bay, it is relatively protected, and the water is slightly warmer than most locations on the West Coast. The area is teeming with resident dolphins and Southern Right and Humpback whales for up to ten months out of the year, which is always a treat to see.
Dusky dolphins and the unique Heaviside dolphins can frequently be spotted following small tourist boats. Britannia Bay is a great location for water sports since it offers a secure place to launch small boats, and Seal Island is only ten minutes distant. Fishing, diving, and crayfish are all excellent on Seal Island.
At the beginning of Spring, more than 200 different bird species gather at Britannia Bay, Cape West Coast to pollinate local flora. One of the most significant bird sanctuaries in the world, the neighbouring West Coast National Park is well-known internationally among ornithologists and offers a home for some 256 bird species. The nearby Berg River estuary and Rocherpan Nature Reserve are both fascinating and well worth a visit.
Botanists may be interested to know that Britannia Bay is home to two exquisite kinds of local veld flowers that bloom in the spring: the “veldkool” (Trachyandra Ciliata) and the “gousblom” (Gazania krebsiana).
Things To Do At Britannia Bay, Cape West Coast
Visit Cape Columbine Lighthouse
Cape Columbine is a new lighthouse by lighthouse standards. It was the last staffed lighthouse to be built; it was only completed in 1936, and it is located in the Columbine Nature Reserve, barely five kilometres from Paternoster, a fishing community that is a favourite weekend getaway for Capetonians.
One can reach a height inside the lighthouse through a spiral staircase that offers breathtaking views of the Atlantic and the Britannia reef. One wonders why it took so long for the lighthouse to be built since it so obviously belonged in this desolate area. Despite the need being acknowledged, it was ignored in favour of projects with higher priority, such as the lighthouses at Dassen Island and Pelican Point.
Castle Granite, a significant outcropping of rock, is where Cape Columbine is located. The structure of the lighthouse deviates a little from the typical cylindrical shape of most lighthouses. The tower is a square shape with a little taper, and the walls’ exterior faces are recessed, creating buttresses at each of its four corners.
Best Accommodations At Britannia Bat, Cape West Coast
Silversands Villa
In Britannia Bay, Silversands Villa provides authentic West Coast-style lodging with access to Golden Mile Beach just outside your door. This magnificent beachfront villa with thatch will transport you to paradise. Unwind by taking a beach stroll, reading a book, or riding a horse. Come relax and get your soul renewed.
In its three spacious bedrooms, Silversands Villa, a self-catering vacation property in Britannia Bay, can accommodate 10 guests. A double bed and a single bed are in the master bedroom. There is a sliding door leading out to the balcony and an en-suite bathroom with a bath, shower, toilet, and sink.
The second bedroom is furnished with a double bed and a single bed. The third bedroom is furnished with a double bed and two single beds. There is another bathroom fitted with a shower, toilet and basin.
Absolute Beach
Step back and allow your spirit to catch up with your body while taking in the peace of the beach, surf, and rocks right outside your window. Enjoy a day on the beach in the sun or unwind in the roomy lounge with unobstructed views of the beach and the rolling waves that are home to a kelp forest.
The seven bedrooms in Absolute Beach, a magnificent vacation property with complete amenities, can accommodate 14 guests. King or queen-sized beds with sea views are featured in every accommodation. The bathrooms, which are all decorated in white and natural tones, all have walk-in showers. Two bathrooms also have bathtubs. They offer beach chairs and umbrellas so you can enjoy the beach in total relaxation. The home offers a fully furnished kitchen as well as a braai area with a simple gas barbeque.
The lounge has a cosy fireplace for winter with plenty of books for lots of lazy quiet time. The lounge area opens up onto the pool where you can cool down in the summer heat.