17.12.2025
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West Coast town of Velddrif expecting 30 000 holidaymakers

8 mins



  • Tourists can enjoy bird watching on a boat trip at the Berg River Estuary, in the Bergrivier Local Municipality

The town of Velddrif in the West Coast continues to attract local and international visitors seeking diverse cultures and natural beauty. About 30 000 holidaymakers are expected to visit the town for the summer holidays.

Velddrif is a town celebrated as the bokkom capital of South Africa, where the traditional art of drying fish still shapes local culture.

Velddrif is a coastal fishing town in the Bergrivier Local Municipality, in the Western Cape. The town is located on the estuary at which the Berg River flows into St. Helena Bay. The estuary is an important habitat and is home to around 250 different species of birds.

Tourists can enjoy bird watching on a boat trip while locals embark on fishing activities. Some of the species of birds found at Berg Rivier Estuary include Flamingo, African data bird and the Grey Heron.

VIDEO | Follow The Sun | Visitors happy to visit Velddrif

Wendy Wentzel is the owner of Crancklin Rosie boat. She elaborates on what tourists can expect at Berg River Estuary, as she and her team give the Follow the Sun team a boat trip.

“It all depends on what you are looking for. If you are a birdwatcher, we can give you an amazing experience because this is an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) and we have counted over 100 species on our 3-hour trip up-river. If you want a leisure tour you can relax and just imagine you are in another country. The river is beautiful and you can just sit back and enjoy the view. Our sunset tours are also amazing when we have proper weather and when the sunsets are orange and pink,” says Wentzel.

Velddrif is a town celebrated as the bokkom capital of South Africa, where the traditional art of drying fish still shapes local culture. Bokkomlaan is one of the world’s heritage sites in Velddrif. It’s where bokkoms started, the heart of the town.

Bokkomlaan is named after the salted silvery fish that are strung into bunches and hung to dry. Bianca Mostert is the manager at Velddrif Dagbreek Visserye. They produce about 14 tons of bokkoms a month.

Mostert says the traditional art of drying fish has been going on for over 200 years.

“You get fish that we freeze to eat and the smaller fish we dry for mullet. So, we put it in the cement tanks with salt and water for 3 days, take it out and then we put it on the strung to dry. In the winter it takes about 2 to 3 weeks. It needs winter dry, no sun. Then you can just eat it. There are people that make cheese. You can make Bokkom bread and you can eat it as a snack. The farmers buy it for the people that work on the farms,” she says.

The main industries of Velddrif are fishing, tourism and salt production, with three large salt factories that provide much of the salt in the Western Cape.

About 30 000 holidaymakers are expected to visit the town for the summer holidays.

Bergrivier Tourism CEO, Nomonde Ndlangisa, says people can enjoy tranquility without worrying about safety and that is why the town is a tourist attraction.

“There is just so much to offer in Velddrif as the adventure capital. We also offer cultural adventure. There are so many different cultures here, including the original Afrikaans culture. We’ve got traces of Italian boats landing in Velddrif and streets that have Italian names,” she adds.

Visitors can enjoy perfect sunrises over the tranquil Berg River, painting the sky in soft pastels that creates a peaceful atmosphere.

Velddrif blends heritage, natural beauty, and authentic coastal charm, making it a standout location for captivating storytelling.

VIDEO | Follow The Sun | Breathtaking scenery awaits visitors to Velddrif

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