Paternoster Beach

Paternoster Beach is a 6 km sandy stretch of shoreline at one of the oldest seaside towns and fishing villages on the coast. The economy here revolves around fishing. There is an abundance of Lobster, crayfish, oysters, and abalone in the area. Both are close to the beach or from deep-sea charters. Another local delicacy is “bokkom”, which is a type of salted and dried mullet. You can see the fish drying on racks on the beachfront. It is also referred to as “fish biltong” The name bokkom is Afrikaans for goat, because the fish is as hard as a goat’s horn, and the smell is pretty awful.

Vintage picture from Saartjie Klipkop

Shells can often be found on this beach, especially after winter storms and low tide. If you plan to collect shells, please follow local regulations and take only empty shells. Shell identification guide

Paternoster has abundant wildlife; there are over 225 bird species in the area. Whales, dolphins, seals and penguins can be seen from the beach. Nearby is the Cape Columbine lighthouse, which is the last manually controlled lighthouse in South Africa.

Check the sea temperature here

Check the tides here

Best beaches in the Western Cape article