Paternoster is one of the oldest fishing villages on the West Coast of South Africa. Situated 145km north of Cape Town it makes for the perfect remote weekend getaway or holiday stay. This village is a sought-after tourist destination and known for lobster and white-washed self-catering fishermen’s cottages. The remarkable white sandy bay infront of the village makes this one of the most beautiful beaches on the West Coast of South Africa.
The climate is mostly known for its infrequent rainfall, dry countryside and high offshore winds. The area receives most of its rainfall during winter months and has a Mediterranean climate. The climate supports the growth of the famous wildflowers that the West Coast is renowned for. Choose one of many self-catering, holiday home options, some on the beach, some with private swimming pools.
For those that enjoy taking their furry friends along on holiday Paternoster has a few pet friendly self-catering homes to choose from.
During spring the area is transformed into a floral paradise, with wildflowers growing everywhere forming the South-Western fringe of the famous flower carpets of Namaqualand.
The Cape Columbine light house is worth going to check out. It is the last manually controlled lighthouse in South Africa. The lighthouse was built in 1936 on Castle Rock. The light cast a beam which is visible from about 50km and is usually the first South African lighthouse seen by ships coming from Europe.
Another worth-while visit is to the Cape Columbine nature reserve. The reserve covers an area of 263 hectares along the rocky stretch of coastline. The bay which is part of the reserve, has many picnic spots and braai facilities.
