Hondeklipbaai - South Africa's Forgotten West Coast Village by:Rolf Kanwischer

Anyone that has ever been to South Africa will know that its West Coast is very different to its East Coast

. Here the cold Benguela Current has left its mark on the few coastal villages that dot this part of the world. Hondeklipbaai is no different. Situated 112 kilometers from the nearest larger town of springbok, this charming little village offers the tourist a unique experience.

The gravel road from Springbok to Hondeklipbaai is in itself quite scenic as it winds its way through the Namaqua National Park over the sparsely vegetated hills towards the coast. You may just be lucky to see a Klipspringer or Tortoise along the way.

Probably the first thing you will notice as you approach Hondeklipbaai is the wreck of the Jahleel. This diamond gravel boat ran aground in 2003 and lies almost squarely in the middle of the bay around which Hondeklipbaai is situated. The next thing you will notice are the little whitewashed houses which dominate the village.

Accommodation in Hondeklipbaai is currently limited to the Skulpieskraal tented lodge, the Visbeen lodge, and the Honnehok chalets. At the later, the owner has set up a few small wooden cabins with a restaurant and pub. The food served is excellent, with Springbok Stew and the Catch of the Day often featuring on the menu. After dinner you may want to join the other guests in the rustic pub where the owner may entertain everyone with his guitar.

A walk around the little bay is a must for any visitor. Be prepared to be joined by a dozen or more dogs as you make your way towards the rocky beach past the houses. Out of every front yard a dog will come to join you on your walk. On the way back the reverse happens, until you are left with only the one or two dogs from the Honnehok.

Hondeklipbaai boasts two wrecks, which is a testimony to the gale force winds of the Atlantic Ocean. The second wreck is situated slightly south of Hondeklipbaai. The Aristea saw mine sweeping duties during World War Two but was blown onto the rocks in July 1945 with the loss of one life. It is possible to walk around its rusting skeleton and still see its boiler and engine.

On the way back to your accommodation, stop by at the Hondekip or Dog Stone. This dog shaped stone is where the village got its name from.

If you intend going back to Springbok, try using the gravel road that comes out further south on the N7. The scenery is well worth the additional 20 to 30 kilometers driving.

About the author

For many years I was in the Telecommunication business. After leaving that field, I started up a small web-design and advertising business.

I spend much of my free time exploring the remote and interesting areas of South Africa and Namibia. Many of these places have very little public information available. This is one of the reasons I have developed the KanStra Travel website in order to give tourists a chance to also discover these places.

One of my favorite activities is backpacking. It allows me to discover the areas where vehicles cannot get to. I enjoy reading history and geological books. The information from these sources often gives me a deeper insight into the places that I visit.

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