Port Owen, Cape West Coast
The beautiful West Coast region is a necklace of loosely strung villages that hug the rough coastline north west of Cape Town. Port Owen lies just a little closer to the coast than Velddrif, where the R27 appears to peter out and the R399 continues at an abrupt right-angle inland.
Did you know? Once you've booked your hotel or accommodation in Port Owen, explore the destination pages for info on attractions, activities and things to do when you visit Port Owen on the Cape west Coast.
St Helena Bay is a little west of here and Dwarskersbos lies just a little further up the coast. More often than not, Port Owen, St Helena Bay, Laiplek and Dwarskersbos are spoken about in one breath, as they lie so close together.
Essentially Port Owen is as its name suggests - a port, with a marina and the accompanying lifestyle. A series of admittedly pretty cabanas and apartments would have a little to recommend them but a resort type feel, if it weren't for the surrounding wetlands and bird sanctuary that prevent it from being so. Instead a vlei and a network of canals give boats access to both the sea and the river, and boats of all descriptions are moored here, giving the marina a real feeling of peace and stillness. Rowing along the 3.2 kilometres of private canals comes close to making this a little piece of heaven.
The marina is developed right on the vlei, between Velddrif and Laaiplek, just where the Berg River flows into the sea, and this particular estuary is an important bird area and proposed RAMSAR site. Just opposite the Caltex petrol station there is a bird hide and boardwalk (the key is available from the Flamingo Koffiehuis).
More than 200 species of birds are viewable from the hide, which looks out onto intertidal mudflats and salt marshes where migratory waders include pelicans. The lower Berg River too is inundated with birds and is regarded as a 'hot spot' for rare waders like the little blue heron, Hudsonian godwit and lesser yellowlegs.
Definitely a place to hang your hat for a while!
In the vicinity
Hotels & other accommodation options
Marina View
Nestled on the ground floor of a picturesque complex in Velddrif's Port Owen, Marina View offers a delightful self-catering experience with stunn...
Russells on the Port
Russells on the Port offers accommodation in six luxurious en-suite bedrooms, each individually decorated and outfitted with all the essential cr...
Fisherman's Rest
Fisherman's Rest offers comfortable accommodation in the seaside town of Velddrif. This old fishing cottage can sleep up to six guests in three b...
Langpouse Riverside Retreat
Situated along the scenic banks of Velddrif, Langpouse offers an idyllic self-catering retreat with expansive river and garden vistas. This tranq...
Skoenlapper
Skoenlapper is a holiday home in Port Owen. This home is perfect for a family wanting to get away in a peaceful area with amazing views and is pe...
Olive's Nest
Nestled along the picturesque Berg River in Port Owen, Velddrif, Olive's Nest offers a serene escape for couples or solo travelers seeking respit...
Mandoryn Nege
Mandoryn Nege is a holiday home located in Velddrif on the Cape West Cost. The double storey home accommodates 8 guests. It lies on the canal and...
Things to do in the area
Tolbossie Padstal
The Tolbossie Padstal (“farm stall”) is situated on the picturesque West Coast of South Africa. It has gained acclaim amongst locals and regular ...
Noteworthy attractions
Bird Island Nature Reserve
The world's most accessible Cape gannet colony can be found on an island, linked to Lambert's Bay by a breakwater wall. Bird Island also gives sh...
Darling Wine Route
Although traditionally part of the Swartland, Darling is now a demarcated wine district and home to her own wine route, including five wine cella...
West Coast National Park
Just inland from the secluded harbour of Saldanha Bay one finds the azure waters of the Langebaan Lagoon, focal point of the West Coast National ...
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
Rocherpan enthusiasts who head off along the West Coast to visit this nature reserve near Velddrif will possibly mention to you that the bird lif...
Langebaan Golf Club
The Golf Course at Langebaan Country Club is a links-type course, designed as a figure 8 winding around residential stands. Located on the unspoi...
Verlorenvlei
Verlorenvlei is a long estuary stretching between the villages of Elands Bay and Redelinghuys, some 25 kilometres south of Lambert's Bay. It is n...
West Coast Fossil Park
For the visitor, the highlight of the West Coast Fossil Park is the 'live' exhibit of an ongoing excavation of early Pliocene fossils (fossils fr...
Postberg Flower Reserve
The Postberg Flower Reserve is not always available for you to visit. Even though it forms part of the West Coast National Park, this part of it ...
Darling Wind Farm
On the hills just outside Darling, roughly 70 kilometres from Cape Town, stand four wind-generated mills. It's known as an Eskom demonstrator sit...
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