Lamberts Bay is one of South Africa’s smaller fishing towns. On the West Coast 280 kilometres north of Cape Town, so three hours’ drive away (if you must) on a well-maintained tar road although I suspect you may be distracted. There are so many lovely places along the way to stop over with characterful accommodations, like Yzerfontein, Langebaan, Paternoster, St Helena Bay, and Elands Bay. If you like your eggs easy over, and your holidays less commercial, then one of South Africa’s best-kept secrets, the Crayfish Capital of South Africa is waiting for you here with characterful places to stay! Here are some of the best Lamberts Bay South African Crayfish you can eat.
Lamberts Bay South African Crayfish Capital
What’s in a Crayfish, I Hear You Say
A Lamberts Bay South African crayfish is the same as a lobster from an eating point of view, with five pairs of legs and a long tail it uses for swimming backwards to get out of trouble. The tasty meat inside a crayfish is the stuff of gastronomic legends. Personally, I have never known a crayfish tail tasting better than when cut through the middle, basted with butter, garlic, and lemon juice, and slow cooked for a few minutes over a gently smoking hardwood fire.
Marra’s Building – A Blast from the Past
Nobody seems to know who started the town. They have been farmer’s lads from the hinterland who dived for delicious Lamberts Bay South African crayfish, smoked them over driftwood, and slept the night under stars. Others would have followed in horse-drawn wagons to reap the bountiful harvest. The reefs were so overcrowded in those days the crustaceans walked out of the sea onto the beach. Finally, one Marra opened a trading store and rest is history.
Lamberts Bay Harbour – A Source of Many Jobs
The fish factory may not be the prettiest sight but every job is precious in my country where many battle to make ends meet. Were this factory to close, thousands of people that hundreds of workers support could be without food on the table within a few weeks. If you buy something from South Africa you really want for its intrinsic value, we say thank you!
Bird Island
Lamberts Bay Bird Island Nature Reserve is a mere one hundred meters offshore. A breakwater provides hiker access when the water is calm. It admits visitors to a two-hectare island that is home to a huge colony of Cape Gannets and Cormorants, and Cape Seals also called Brown Fur Seals sunning on the rocks as if there were no tomorrow.