West Coast South Africa
The physical location of the “West Coast” of South Africa runs North from Cape Town all the way up to the border of Namibia. They are joined by the N7 highway and the more coastal R27 route. Taking the coastal road leads to a world of peaceful villages, rugged coast lines, endless stretches of beach and warm, friendly people. The West Coast Mediterranean climate promises long, sun-drenched summer days, green winters and in the spring time: fields of indigenous flowers.
Sunset Coast Properties is situated in St. Helena Bay, the “jewel” in the West Coast’s crown. Sometimes overlooked by the more well known villages like Paternoster and Jacobsbaai, St. Helena Bay’s charm lies in the fact that it is a secret. It has the perfect mix of deserted beaches with the feeling of community. It has all the amenities close by like the golf course, country club, shops and restaurants yet; St. Helena Bay and specifically Britannia Bay, Golden Mile and Shelley Point are extremely quiet.
Located 160kms from Cape Town, St. Helena Bay (West Coast South Africa) is fed by the nutrient-rich Benguela current, it is one of the world’s prime fishing areas and its waters provide a livelihood to locals. With imposing granite boulders as the backdrop to the town and long white beaches hugging the shoreline, walkers and beachcombers delight in exploring the area. Endemic Heaviside dolphins, as well as dusky and common dolphins visit the bay in search of food, and the calm waters give shelter to the Southern Right, Humpback and Killer whales.
Here is some extra information on St Helena Bay For Sale, Britannia Bay For Sale and Shelley Point For Sale:
Golden Mile PropertyWe have a wide range of Golden Mile Property for sale, from vacant land to beautiful beach houses. Take a look at our available properties here: http://www.capewestcoastproperties.co.za/property-for-sale/or use the search bar on the left.Golden Mile Boulevard runs from Shelley Point all the way through Golden Mile all the way down to Flagship near Britannia Bay. Running along the pristine 4km beach, the houses of Golden Mile (as well as Shelley Point and Britannia Bay) offer wonderful sea views, a real sense of exclusivity and elegance, combined with the calmness and relaxed atmosphere of West Coast living. Miles of unspoilt safe beaches, the shallow bay teeming with Southern Right and Humpback whales, resident pods of the rare Heaviside dolphin – all combine to make this a very special destination.Here are some popular property areas in and around Golden Mile:
St Helena Bay, Britannia Bay, Shelley Point, Duyker Eiland, Cape St Martin
Shelley Point PropertyWe have a wide range of Shelley Point Property for sale, from vacant land to luxurybeach houses. Take a look at our available shelley point properties here: http://www.capewestcoastproperties.co.za/property-for-sale/or use the search bar on the left.Shelley Point Source: Shelley Point Homeowners Association Shelley Point ia a residential development situated 160km from Cape Town on a unique peninsula on the West Coast of South Africa. Designed and devloped as an exclusive “village”, offering residential property for investors and home owners alike. Development started officially in 1996 with the first few properties being transferred in June of that year.From the start, Shelley Point has become the Oasis on the West Coast and a booming property and rental market soon followed.
Shelley Point has a private peninsula with sea on three sides – West, North & East – and the fourth side is walled with two 24-hour manned security Entrances. The peninsula offers a wide range of leisure activities at the Hotel, Spa & Country Club which also houses a restaurant and bars with a 9-hole links golf course that encircles the inner part of Shelley Point.
St Helena Bay PropertyWe have a wide range of St Helena Bay Property for sale, from vacant land to beautiful beach houses. Take a look at our available properties here: http://www.capewestcoastproperties.co.za/property-for-sale/or use the search bar on the left.Here are some popular property areas in and around St Helena Bay:Blueberry Hill Property, Britannia Bay Property, Britannica Heights Property, Cape St Martin Private Reserve Property, Da Gama Bay Property, De Kloof Property, Duyker Eiland Property, Flagship Property, Golden Mile Property, Hannasbaai Property, Harbour Lights Property, Jaloers Baai Property, Kleinkoornhuis Property, Laingville Property, Maalbaai Property, Midwest Property, Sandy Point Property, Shelley Point Property, St Helena Views Property, Steenbergs Cove Property, Stompneus Bay Property, Sunset Beach Property, Weskus Seeplotte Fase 2 Property.
Bay of Many Bays Source: St Helena Bay Information Centre
Eighteen bays, stunning sea views and sparkling surf make St Helena Bay a jewel in the West Coast’s crown. Located 160kms from Cape Town, it is fed by the nutrient-rich Benguela current, it is one of the world’s prime fishing areas and its waters provide a livelihood to locals. The main harbour at Sandy Point bustles with activity, and shipbuilders and fishermen rub shoulders as they go about their daily work.
During the 15th century, navigators seeking the route to the East explored the shoreline in search of fresh water, one being Vasco da Gama who landed here in November 1497 and named it Bahai da Santa Elena.
With imposing granite boulders as the backdrop to the town and long white beaches hugging the shoreline, walkers and beachcombers delight in exploring the area. Endemic Heaviside dolphins, as well as dusky and common dolphins visit the bay in search of food, and the calm waters give shelter to the southern right whales that come to mate and calve in the second half of the year – and can easily be seen from the shore. Humpback and killer whales are also frequent visitors.
St Helena Bay is also a birdwatcher’s paradise and being at the southernmost point of the migratory route from Europe and the Steppes of Russia makes it a must-visit spot for twitchers.
The actual bay of St Helena stretches from Dwarskersbos in the north, past Shelley Point peninsula, to Cape St Martin in the west – traversing a total of 18 bays with intriguing names such as Hannasbaaiand Slipperbaai. Each has its own unique attractions, and many are favoured by catamaran sailors and canoeists. Surfers seek out ‘Heaven’ and ‘Hell’ when the heavy Atlantic swells roll in.
After good winter rains, the veld comes alive with the vibrant colours of spring flowers. Winter is the snoek season and the local women’s sleight of hand as they vlek snoek in the harbour is fascinating to watch. Their cultural heritage is also intriguing, as is their quirky, humourous vernacular. The summer months are all about watersports and rock lobster (known locally as crayfish) whereas autumn is a special time of calm, idyllic weather – the ‘secret season’ – making St Helena Bay an all year destination for outdoor and nature lovers.
St Helena Bay Information Centre Telephone: 27 (0)76 661 2046, Email: sthelenabay@sbto.co.za
Britannia Bay PropertyWe have a wide range of Property for sale in Britannia Bay, from vacant land to beautiful beach houses. Take a look at our available properties here: http://www.capewestcoastproperties.co.za/property-for-sale/or use the search bar on the left.One of the great things about Britannia Bay Properties is that it has a many permanent residents, so your holiday home is always taken care of and a great place if you were to retireor live there permanently.Other popular property areas around Britannia Bay include:
Duyker Eiland Property We have a wide range of Property for sale in Duyker Eiland, from vacant land to beautiful beach houses. Take a look at our available properties here: http://www.capewestcoastproperties.co.za/property-for-sale/ or use the search bar on the left.
Cape St. Martin Private Reserve Property
We have a wide range of Property for sale in Cape St Martin Reserve, from vacant land to beautiful beach houses. Take a look at our available properties here: http://www.capewestcoastproperties.co.za/property-for-sale/ or use the search bar on the left.
West Coast Weather
The West Coast is known for its mild winters with little rainfall and dry summers. Being a peninsula with sea around us, we have a very mild climate. Our windy months are normally mid November to February and the latter also the hottest month of the year with temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius.
Average yearly rainfall = 230mm Average temperatures – WINTER = between 4 to 25 degrees Celsius (ave 17) Average Temperatures – SUMMER = between 12 to 34 degrees Celsius (ave 28)
History of Britannia Bay Source: History_of_Britannia Bay
On 30 July 1826 the Britannia – a 460 ton ship captained by William Bouchier, embarked on her journey from England via the Cape of Storms enroute to India. Her cargo consisted of copper, stone china crockery, pickled fish, cloth, preserves, ale and cognac, as well as wine loaded in Madeira on the 12th August.
In heavy seas on Sunday the 22nd October 1826 she struck an uncharted reef (today known as Britannia reef), off St. Helena Bay. Captain Bouchier succeeded in running her ashore, landing all 16 passengers safely on the stretch of beach today known as Britannia Bay.
A local farmer, Martin Melck, purchased the wreck, from which he salvaged a considerable quantity of cargo, including sheet copper and wines. For more than a century her valuable treasure laid buried under 4 metres of sand on the bottom of the ocean, not 600 metres from the shore near Shelly Point. The well preserved wreck was rediscovered in January 1998 by Charles and Karen Shapiro with the help of Anton Kriel and Anet McLeod of Britannia Bay.
Artefacts recovered from the wreck, under supervision of the National Monuments council, range from full bottles of wine and ale, various stoneware jars containing jellies and jams to valuable porcelain crockery dating from 1804 and 1820 and lead crystal glassware. http://www.shipwreck.co.za/britannia.html
A second shipwreck, the 12 000 ton Liberian freighter “Sea Trader” that ran aground in June 1971 lies off Cape St. Martin, the most western point of Britannia Bay. En route from the East to Holland with a cargo of reinforced steel, the Sea Trader, fell prey to the dreary grey sea mist and sank. Most of the wreck was salvaged through the years, with only the engine block remaining (visible at low-tide). The local fisherman often frequent the site they refer to as “Pistons” where they try their handlines catching some local bream.
West Coast Weather
The West Coast is known for its mild winters with little rainfall and dry summers. Being a peninsula with sea around us, we have a very mild climate. Our windy months are normally mid November to February and the latter also the hottest month of the year with temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius.
Average yearly rainfall = 230mm Average temperatures – WINTER = between 4 to 25 degrees Celsius (ave 17) Average Temperatures – SUMMER = between 12 to 34 degrees Celsius (ave 28)
