March 2012
Staying On The Wagon Jill Peper enjoys an unusual introduction to the charming coastal settlement of Jacobsbaai
T
he little white-washed village of Jacobsbaai on the West Coast, just nine kilometres north of Saldanha Bay, was host to an unusual musical event recently.
A ring-side seat at this lavish display of God’s creativity is well-worth taking some time out for and visitors are made to feel welcome in charming Jacobsbaai whether visiting for a day, or for a stay-over.
Six tractors and trailers set the stage, literally, for a musical tour of the village that included stop-offs at various local hosts for refreshments.
In Jacobsbaai you’ll be encouraged to leave the place as you found it, but be warned, you are sure to leave a changed person.
“Oppiwa” gave locals and visitors an opportunity to get up-close and personal with celebrities like Sandra Prinsloo, Valiant Swart, Dana Snyman, Neels van Jaarsveld and Steve Hofmeyr and performances by Zinkp-
laat and Anna Davel were also included in the weekend programme. The tranquil environment of the village was thoughtfully left fairly undisturbed as the polished tractors rumbled slowly past, each pulling its trailer of artist and guests. Starstruck local resident, Catherine Campbell, pictured on this page, was amongst those
March 2012
Beach cottages are available for rental and accommodation is also offered at local guest houses and bed and breakfastss.
Visit www.oppiwa.co.za for further details. who took the chance to get a photograph of herself with her favourite celebrity.
lie anchored, the stretches of clean, sandy beaches, the wildlife, and, of course, the riot of colour from the veld flowers in spring, the perfect chance to get away from it all.
Much as Steve Hofmeyr is always a magnet for the ladies, so Jacobsbaai was itself a magnet to a lady of a different kind a few years ago. In 2009 a large floating barge, named ‘Margaret’, carrying several platforms , broke it’s tow lines and was washed up on the rocks. Many hundreds of visitors arrived in the village to view the spectacle over the following months until the barge was eventually blown up in order to aid its dissembling and removal. These moments of excitement aside, life carries on at a gentle pace here, affording all who come for the beauty of the seascapes, the roar of the ocean, the quite inlets and bays where little colourful fishing boats
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