Leipoldtville, a very small historical town, ideally situated to use as a base or stay over from where to explore the surrounding West Coast towns. Leipoldtville is a suburb of Graafwater and the distance from Graafwater to Leipoldtville is 19 kms.
Northeast of Elands Bay en route to Graafwater, lies the quaint village of Leipoldtville next to the Langvlei Rivier. The town was established in 1905 when a new Dutch Reformed congregation came into being. Leipoldtville was named after Reverend Friederch Leipoldt, the then minister at Clanwilliam and father of physician, poet and author, C Louis Leipoldt.
Leipoldtville is in the heart of the 'Sandveld', one of the main potato producing areas in South Africa and the region is popular for its challenging 4x4 trails.

The Heerenlogement cave which was used by travelers as overnight accommodation in the 17th and 18th centuries is 25 km from Graafwater on the Vredendal road.
Graafwater lies midway between Clanwilliam and Lamberts Bay and was built as a railway junction in 1910, for the transportation of agricultural products from Clanwilliam and seafood products from Lambert’s Bay. The Heerenlogement (‘gentleman’s lodging’) is a renowned cave found about 25 kilometers from Graafwater on the north road to Vredendal. The walls of this rock shelter were used to carve the names or initials of travelers of the 1700’s who stayed over in the cave and about 170 carvings have been recorded in this rocky ‘visitors book’. An account of the shelter was documented by Cape Governor Hendrik Swellengrebel who passed this way in 1737. He also mentioned a wild fig tree growing out of a cleft at the back of the cave that can be seen to this day. The Heerenlogement has been declared a national monument.
Graafwater lies in the northerly reaches of the Sandveld – a huge, sparsely populated area sandwiched between the West Coast and the Swartland, and adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean. Other than Leipoldtville, and Klawer further north, Graafwater is the only village for miles around – this is typical of the region where towns are spread far and wide, each surrounded by huge expanses of veld filled with spectacular fynbos, dense stands of indigenous vegetation, hardy bushes and reeds and, in spring, a tapestry of wild flowers.
Low rainfall and poor, sandy soil means that any farms in the area breed mostly sheep and cattle. But the Sandveld also does well for bee farmers, potatoes (the area around Redelinghuys and the Verloren Vallei are regarded as the 'potato store' of the Western Cape), sunflowers and even some wheat on those farms closest to the Swartland.
Graafwater exists mainly as a link on the railway line to Bitterfontein, but the local hotel, now over 100 years old (which advertises itself as 'nothing fancy' but boasts a large dose of West Coast hospitality and neat, clean rooms) does a booming trade with the flower season as people pour into the Sandveld for the spectacle.
In particular there are numerous rosin bushes (Euryops) around Graafwater that are spectacular when in flower.
Graafwater, when translated from the Afrikaans, means 'water from a spade'.

Nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the Bobbejaan Mountain lies this hotspot for surfers around the world. Elands Bay is 95 km northwest of Piketberg and 70km from Velddrif and this is where the magnificent Verlorenvlei, a natural marsh and sanctuary for 240 bird species, flows into the Atlantic Ocean. The bay is a prime whale and dolphin viewing venue between July and September when migrating Southern Right whales and Heaviside Dolphins can be seen in large numbers. Throughout the year, playful dolphins can be seen ‘surfing the waves’ and, on occasion, Orcas (Killer Whales) can also be seen.
The Bobbejaan Mountain cliffs project into the sea at Baboon Point and a large rock shelter in the cliff is adorned with primitive San paintings. Excavations at a rock shelter in the cliffs indicate habitation by man 15 000 years ago. Elands Bay Cave is a rock art site dating back 10 000 years.
The mild weather ensures year-round outdoor activities, walks and hikes, mountain-biking, mountaineering and 4x4 trails, rubber-ducking, surfing, horse-riding, fishing and birding – and more! Pristine sand dunes, with great picnic spots and a caravan park.

Welcome to the seafood hotspot of the West Coast! Lambert’s Bay is known as the Diamond of the West Coast and the crayfish mecca of South Africa. Called this because of the colour of the sand on the beach. Snoek is also available during a snoek run which takes place during the Winter months of April to July. Lambert's Bay is also famous for its long stretches of uninterrupted white beaches and abundant marine life which gathers in the cool blue waters. Take a relaxing daybreak and soak up the sun, surf the sparkling waves or enjoy a boat ride over the big blue bay.

Lambert's Bay is also jam-packed with plentiful birdlife. Some of the more popular species on the list include gannets and cormorants. Dolphins, whales and the ever-entertaining gannets at the internationally acclaimed; 'Bird Island', attract tourists from all over. Heavy-side Dolphins are frequently spotted from the beach. Lambert's Bay is also a great place to view the lush stretches of wild field flowers that are most beautiful during Spring. (This gives a rather exquisite relaxing aroma, very different from the fishy smell at the Harbour!)

Lambert's Bay is named after Admiral Lambert of the British Navy who did a marine survey of the Bay between 1826 and 1840. In 1887 Mr. Stephan bought the commercial buildings and built the Hotel in 1888. Lamberts Bay was used as a lay-up for British warships during the war of 1900-1902 and in 1901 the “HMS Sybille” was wrecked opposite Steenbokfontein. The first crayfish factory was started by Mr. Lindström in 1918; the price was 1/6 and 2/6 per hundred crayfish. For many years the fishing industry formed the core of the Lambert’s Bay economy and the picturesque Harbour is a testimony to this. Nowadays it has become a tourist and vacation destination. On the farm- Wadrift, approximately 17km south of Lambert’s Bay, a quaint wooden lock, dating back more than 200 years can be seen. The lock is still used to lock a storeroom. You can also see a house built of whale bones on this farm, (but please note that the bones are not visible!)

Sandveld Museum

The museum houses 15 different exhibits, e.g. “Old” Lambert’s Bay, HMS Sybille Gunboat which ran aground in 1901. (This British gunboat HMS Sybille was a 3400-ton twin-screw second-class cruiser. The ship was sent to Lambert’s Bay as a patrol boat during the Anglo-Boer war (1899 - 1902)), Photograph collection, Fish industry and fishing community, Book & Bible collection, Archaeological display, Horse mill and Farm implements and Clothes and embroidery from bygone days.

This gem of a seaside Village owes its origin to humble beginnings as a fishing Village, like most of the surrounding South African coast Villages, but it has become one of the major tourist attractions on the West Coast due to its moderate all year climate. The Sandveld Museum and nearby local farms like; 'Wadrift', will open your mind to the cultural History of this unique place.