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Their huge splayed feet can surely walk on water and their pointed grey beaks are positively menacing. Even though there are major plans to upgrade the viewing facilities, the existing fake-rock building offers a fantastic close to nature experience. Lambert’s Bay also offers probably the best boat-based whale and dolphin watching in the Western Cape. The MTN’s Whale Route marine biologist, Darden Lotz, says it is one of her very favourite places in the world. For a fabulous wide and wild beach try Strandfontein, with views from every cliff top holiday cottage. Here too are great plans for expansion with a new hotel and holiday units in the pipeline. Inland from Strandfontein (there is no other way), to Vredendal, you will pass the Lutzville vineyards and Spruitdrif Wine Cellar, who both produce light wines perfect for seaside picnics. Hand-Made ShoesReturning towards Cape Town on the N7, why not stop at Clanwilliam, not only for the dam and its watersports, but to buy top grade export quality Rooibos tea from the head office. Or a pair of handmade leather shoes from the Strassbergers veldskoen factory and a quick tour around the whirring, clunking workshop. They will make personalised shoes for the strangest of feet. Lost in the WildernessInstead of returning straight to Cape Town, take a detour via Porterville for a breath of mountain air. It seems that only paragliders visit this sleepy town at the foot of the Groot Winterhoek Mountains, and they congregate at the colourful bush pub on the old station platform. At the Dasklip launch site, they leap off into spiralling thermals of warm air, to gain heights of over 9,000 feet enabling them to reach distances of over 100km. But I discovered an alternative activity in them thar hills. Hiking in the Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area is a divine experience. The difference between a Wilderness and a Nature Reserve is that the former can only be designated as such if it is truly wild and untouched by man. Winterhoek is certainly that, and you can walk wherever you please, although there are some recommended, yet unmarked trails. Visitors are limited in number, so on any one-day, you have approximately 100,000 hectares each to get lost in. The west coast offers such a variety of experiences that it deserves your attention for several weekend breaks. Contact the individual tourist information offices for an enthusiastic response on where to go, what to see and where to stay. Author Carrie Hampton can be contacted on email: carrieh@iafrica.com Copyright © 2002 Carrie Hampton. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without the permission of the author is prohibited | 
