101 Trail Guide | 2010

The Diamond Coast Shipwreck Trail

Where the magic of the Northern Cape’s Diamond Coast was once hidden behind impenetrable security, De Beers now welcomes 4x4 visitors to enjoy the Shipwreck and Strandveld trails.
However, it remains a high security area and visitors to this 30 000-hectare private game reserve are only welcome by prior arrangement, after supplying names and ID numbers.
The mysterious Diamond Coast Shipwreck Trail runs through the restricted diamond mine area. It starts at the Koingnaas caravan park or Noup Divers’ Huts, and loops along the coastline, returning to that point. The trail hugs the Atlantic coast between Kleinzee and Koingnaas for approximately 37 km, running through strandveld and along pristine beach, sometimes ducking around rocky outcrops.
The driving is generally easy, suiting all types of 4x4s and softroaders. Every group is accompanied by knowledgeable guides, and in an area so steeped in history, you would be wise to make the most of them. Expect to visit the wrecks of three luckless ships – the Arosa, the Border and the Piratiny that ran aground between 1943 and 1976, thus giving the trail its name.
The Piratiny was a 5 000-ton Brazilian steamer said to be sunk by German torpedos during World War 2; the Arosa, a 10 051-ton Cypriot freighter, ran aground in 1976 at Zwart Duinen; and the Border, a 285-ton British motor coaster carrying petrol and explosives, ran aground in 1947 at Naas Naas Point, Elandsklip.
Look out for the endangered black oyster catchers and more than 100 other bird species and 27 mammal types, including seals, brown hyena and the elusive bat-eared fox. The Shipwreck trail’s lesser-known sibling, the Strandveld Trail, is also located within the restricted mining area and is primarily a dune route.
A yellow dune field of some 1 200 hectares, it was believed to have been formed when sand – deposited by the sea or at river mouths, or exposed by a drop in sea level during the Ice Ages – dried out and was blown inland.
The trail includes some spectacular dune riding opportunities on mobile dunes that have no vegetation on them, so no harm will come to any flora or fauna.

What you need to know

Accommodation:
Built by diamond divers and situated right on the shore, the Noup Divers’ Huts are comfortable and homely. Farmstyle accomodation is available at De Houthoop – catered, camping or self-catering.

What else?
Join a mine tour, with the chance to board the massive dragline that hoists 70 tons of sand up with each scoop.

Contact:
Sandy Blake
027 877 0028, 
coast.of.diamonds@gmail.com,
www.coastofdiamonds.co.za

Nearest town: Kleinzee/Koingnaas at either end

Best time to go: All year, but a bonus is Namaqualand’s annual floral display, normally at its finest in September and October.

Trail distances: 37 km; 27 km

How long will I be driving? About 4-5 hours each

GPS: S29.91028 E17.11824