Exploring the Crayfish Trail, roofless

The day had come and it was time for us to meander up the West Coast to explore something called the “Crayfish Trail”.  I had just a semblance of what to expect and from what I’d heard, this was some sort of long walk along what was once a fishing haven, but now no longer existed. But why call it the Crayfish Trail?  Time to go find out.

Much like the hardtop, without spoiling the view.  Photo by @DiBrown5

We loaded up our car to the brim. The boot filled with two drones, the back seats home to our suitcases.   Our car of choice was the 250kW BMW M240i convertible. All the benefits of the sublime M240i but with the roof dolloped of so that we could enjoy the West Coast scenery.

The performance felt much the same as the M240i hard top. The car had the same hooligan element too it and the first time I tried to use the launch control an involuntary burnout was produced instead, much to the delight of my passenger.

Photo by @DiBrown5

We left Cape Town and drove around 160km on the seemingly endless R27, passing various tourist spots and wildlife reserves. The road meandered until we headed past Saldanha and entered the small town of Elands Bay. There we would have our first overnight stop and settle into sundowners and birdwatching as the sun dipped behind distant hills.  Our host, Daniel Smith, then proceeded to break down exactly what the Crayfish Trail is and was. And it’s a sobering story.

You see, the West Coast and the Elands Bay region was known for its abundant crayfish and spectacular scenery. The area had built on the fishing industry for decades. Today the nets are no longer full, and the communities and families who depend on the industry have no way to sustain themselves. Unemployment runs rife.

Incredible sunsets are just a few hours drive away from Cape Town CBD

The spirit of the people and the Crayfish Trail lives on though,  and Daniel has joined forces with locals to show the world that the Crayfish Trail is more than just seafood and fine dining.

The next morning we woke early to a hearty breakfast and some laughs and our first walk commenced. The trails range from short 9km bursts to longer 18km treks, and guests can choose from a two-day adventure to the epic five-day expedition.  Walking along the bushveld, we spotted various wildlife, from turtles to beetles and one big, yet thankfully shy, puffadder. The walk was punctuated by the massive expanse of beach that revealed itself over a blind crest.  So deserted, so unspoilt. The Crayfish Trail, if anything, is a showcase of what nature looks like when left alone, even if just for a while.  And all this just down the road from Cape Town.

Birdwatching enthusiasts will love what the West Coast has to offer. Photo by @DiBrown5

Over the next two days, we explored various walking trails, with some, frankly spectacular wildlife and scenery.  All peppered with drives along twisting roads that lead to sparsely populated destinations with friendly locals. We covered over 150km on gravel and although the M240i wasn’t perfectly suited to the job, it did deliver on a task usually reserved soft-roaders and 4x4s.  Making the moment we reached our destination seem sweeter still.

M240i seen from a lookout point once used to spot enemy ships approaching the shore.

Our trip peaked when we hit the furthest most part of the Western Cape to enjoy a poignant moment of awe and sadness before driving back home. Awe at what the furthest reaches of the West Coast has to offer, and sadness that now that the lobsters have left, Capetonians have forsaken their northwestern heritage.

To find out more about the Crayfish Trail check out:

www.crayfishtrail.co.za