Elm Tree Cottages in St Helena Bay, West Coast, South Africa | Self Catering | Cottage

St Helena Bay based Elm Tree Cottages are an ideal base for exploring the West Coast: whales, dolphins, abundant bird life, pristine beaches, spring wild flowers, fishing. A nature lover's paradise, only 90 minutes drive from Cape Town, with a wonderful climate and that laid-back West Coast way of life in the Western Cape of South Africa. Whether you want a relaxing break, or plan to sample some of the varied activities on offer, our comfortable, fully-equipped self-catering accommodation overlooking the harbour and beautiful St Helena Bay is your home from home during your stay.

The accommodation at Elm Tree Cottages consists of our fully-equipped self-catering Cottages, plus our loft apartment, each individually decorated in a bright and breezy West Coast style, and overlooking Sandy Point fishing harbour and the bay.

Elm Tree Cottages are conveniently situated just off the main road and within easy walking distance to the pretty beach at Hanna's Baai. The St Helena Bay Centre, about one kilometre away offers a variety of shops, a pub, petrol station, bank machine and post office.

Oystercatcher Cottage: the first remains a firm favourite
Sleeps 6 : in two twin bedrooms and two singles in the loft. This round and roomy double storey Cottage is uniquely romantic. Sleeps 4 : in one double bedroom with balcony and one twin bedroom.

Cosy loft apartment with balcony and views along the coast. Sleeps 2+2 : in a double bedroom & double sleeper couch in the lounge. Our new Cottage, overlooking the duck ponds, is now complete. Sleeps 4 : in one double bedroom and one twin bedroom.

Two semi-detached units, The Cow Shed & The Hen House. Each sleeps 2+2 : in a twin bedroom and two singles in the living area.

All accommodation is fully equipped with bedding and towels. There are fans to cool you down in the heat of the summer, while blankets and hot water bottles are supplied for the odd chilly evening and heaters are also available on request. Kitchens are well stocked with crockery, cutlery, fridge, microwave, kettle, toaster, tea-towels etc and there is a TV in the living room. We also provide complementary tea and coffee to refresh you after your trip.

The Cottages each have a built-in braai (barbecue) on the stoep (veranda) with views over Sandy Point Harbour and St Helena Bay, while the loft apartment has a built-in braai in its own private courtyard downstairs.

Children are very welcome and under 12's pay half price while under 6's stay free. Pets may be accommodated by prior arrangement only.

The West Coast naturally lends itself to a relaxing getaway, but for those who want a bit more to do there is plenty to choose from in and around St Helena Bay in the Western Cape. The area receives less cloud and rain than Cape Town, with more sunshine and milder temperatures, especially welcome during the winter months, making it a popular year-round destination. Hot and dry during the summer months, the area really comes to life after the winter rains and the spring flowers burst into life.

St Helena Bay is one of the most popular bays for whales to visit and calve. From August to November, the Southern Right Whales come in to the bay to calve, and can be viewed from the shore all around the bay. Humpback whales are also present in the area. Heaviside's dolphins are found in large numbers at any time along with schools of dusky and common dolphins. Large groups can be seen chasing fish along the shore or simply flying through the waves out of sheer enjoyment.

St Helena Bay is also one of the world's principal fishing centres. The cold Benguela current surges upwards along this part of the coast and brings nutrient rich waters to the bay resulting in the abundant sea life. In winter, snoek are caught and the harbour is a vibrant, bustling hive of activity, as the fish are sold straight off the boats. More than half of the fish processed annually in South Africa is processed here.

For those interested in birdwatching, there are many species to be seen in the area, from raptors to sea birds, including white pelicans, flamingoes and the increasingly threatened African black oyster catchers. In winter thousands of aquatic birds arrive at nearby Rocher Pan Marine & Nature Reserve to breed. Contact the West Coast Bird Club or visit nearby Langebaan Lagoon, the West Coast National Park, the Berg River bird hides in Veldrif, or venture even further up the coast to Elands Bay and Lamberts Bay to see Verlorenvlei and Bird Island.

One of the main attractions from midwinter to the end of spring are the world renowned spring flowers, when the West Coast bursts overnight into brilliant colour. The white daisies herald the beginning of spring, to be followed by oranges, pinks, yellows and purples as the Cape Fynbos blossoms in all its glory. The whole area becomes a carpet of colour during the wild flower season, which is dependent on the rainfall for its start and duration. Various wild flower reserves can be found in Darling, Langebaan, Paternoster and Saldanha, while along the roads around St Helena Bay and from Vredenburg and Velddrif to Hopefield the flowers put on a beautiful display.

The West Coast National Park is well worth a visit, especially in Spring when the Postberg section of the park is opened for flower viewing. The beautiful Langebaan Lagoon is classified as a wetland of international importance and is host to over 250 bird species. The shallow waters of the lagoon are warmer that those of the sea and offer a variety of activities which make for a great day out.

Wine routes offer the opportunity to taste the region's excellent wines. Darling, The Riebeeck Valley, Citrusdal, Malmesbury, Porterville and Piketberg form the Swartland Wine Route, while further North, the Olifants River Wine Route encompasses Vredendal, Lutzville and Klawer.

The West Coast is famous for its seafood, particularly snoek, crayfish in season, mussels and oysters. Numerous local restaurants provide charming places to relax and enjoy the bounties of the sea and land. A local delicacy worth a try is 'bokkoms', the salted, dried fish which you can see hanging in the sun to dry all along 'Bokkoms Alley' on the tranquil banks of the Berg River in Veldrif.

A variety of water sports are to be found all around the coastline, including angling, fishing charters, sailing charters, windsurfing, diving, snorkelling, surfing, sea-kayaking, kite-surfing and waterskiing.

Shelley Point boasts a wonderful new golf course. Langebaan Country Club offers an 18 hole course, while the Vredenburg/Saldanha Golf Course is one of the most popular locally and courses at Darling, Veldrif, Yzerfontein and Hopefield also allow for plenty of golfing opportunities.

Some of the most popular hiking trails in the area follow the coastline from Jacobsbaai to Tietiesbaai (17km) and Paternoster to Stompneusbaai (30km). The West Coast National Park, Rocherpan Nature Reserve and SAS Saldanha Nature Reserve also have a variety of hikes to choose from.

St Helena Bay has a 4x4 trail on the farm Elandskloof, while Langebaan and Paternoster also cater for off-road enthusiasts.

An excellent way to explore the countryside is by horse riding. Various outrides are offered around Langebaan, Vredenburg and Saldanha.

An interesting museum at Shelley Point celebrates the 'discovery' of the bay by Vasco Da Gama in 1497, while the pristine beach setting of the Vasco Da Gama monument is nearby.

The West Coast Fossil Park with its internationally renowned palaeontological diggings is a national monument and offers tours of its attractions.

Watch out for the various local events which are becoming increasingly popular, including the West Coast Show held in Vredenburg every April, as well as numerous marathons, sporting events, cultural festivals, craft markets and shows.