This morning gives us plenty of time to visit the West Coast Fossil Park near Saldanha Bay. West Coast Fossil Park, a National Heritage Site is world-renowned for its exceptionally well-preserved fossil faunal remains that date to the terminal Miocene/early Pliocene. On the 45-minute guided tour, you’ll see fossils lying exactly as excavated. A remarkable number of species are represented at the site, making the region one of the most diverse Mio-Pliocene occurrences in the world. Finds encompass bears, saber-tooth cats, various wild pigs, aardvarks, an extinct okapi-sized giraffe or sivatheres, hunting hyena and at least three species of elephant including the first mammoths. Approximately 860 sq. feet of the fossil bed is exposed and open for viewing.

We continue on our expedition with a visit to the coastal village of Paternoster. This part of the coast is rich in rock lobster, perlemoen and other seafood. Three kilometers down the road from Paternoster, you reach a lighthouse called Cape Columbine, named after the shipwreck which occurred here in 1929. The 9 million candle-power lighthouse and radio beacon is a major navigational point for ships approaching the coast of Southern Africa from Europe and America.

A return journey to Cape Town takes us through Durbanville while enjoying spectacular views of Table Mountain and Table Bay. We stop at Durbanville Hills Winery for some wine tasting.