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Some people work all year with one thing in mind – the wonderful vacation they have planned. If you are in a high tax bracket, it may be a trip to a tropical island or specialty resort.

Luxury vacations are the perks for those who earn big bucks. They work hard to be able to afford trips to places most of will never see. The luxury and experience of it makes it all worth it.

High-end vacations have it all. If you want to see the sights you can plan a trip with a full itinerary that will keep you going each day. If you would rather unwind for a few days and enjoy the calm of the ocean, then that’s available, too. No matter what your goal or interests, there is a vacation package that can be designed to suit you.

Luxury vacations aren’t within reach for everyone. If you are struggling financially or have commitments like sending your child to law school you may want to plan vacations on a smaller scale.

However, if you have a large nest egg and love to take fancy vacations, why not go all out? There’s no reason not to pamper yourself.

High-end vacations are great because they provide you with an opportunity to see and do things most people only dream of. They also often include amenities that make the most of your days off. You return to work refreshed.

Luxury vacations also provide time to bond with your family and friends. It gives you time together that you may not have normally.

No matter what your income level it pays to make time for a vacation. A vacation, especially a luxury vacation provides you with an invaluable stress reliever that’s worth the money. You may find yourself planning your next vacation before you return from your present one.

Do you like to get off the beaten track when you go on vacation? Do you appreciate the natural beauty of long stretches of windswept, empty beaches, with distant mountains behind you when you look out to sea? Do you love a feed of fresh crayfish? If so, then the West Coast of South Africa is just the place for you. Turquoise seas, big skies, simple fishing villages, and lonely dirt roads make this a great travel destination for visitors in search of a quiet retreat or some outdoor adventure.

Birds, Flowers, and Prehistoric Footprints

West Coast National Park is the main attraction for visitors to this part of South Africa. It lies about 75 miles (120 km) north of Cape Town, and covers 88,500 acres (29,700 ha). This park was established in 1985 as a nature reserve and protected marine area. It encompasses wetlands that are of global importance because they are the farthest point reached by migrating wading birds from the Arctic. Bird lovers come here to see the many species that arrive in September to feed and recover from their long journey, before congregating in March for the return trip north. In spring, the park bursts into a kaleidoscope of colour when the wildflowers bloom. The most spectacular displays can be seen around Postberg in August and September. Wildlife lovers can see zebra, wildebeest, and gemsbok. In 1997, in Langebaan Lagoon, the oldest known fossilised human footprints were found. They were dated back 117,000 years. The imprints were moved to the Iziko Museum in Cape Town for safekeeping. Langebaan Lagoon is the heart of the park. It is a purely saltwater pool with islands that are breeding grounds for numerous bird species, including penguins, gannets, cormorants, gulls and oystercatchers.

Deep Sea Fishing and Shipwrecks

Just north of Langebaan Lagoon is Saldanha Bay, named after a 16th century Portuguese sea captain. It is a deep, natural bay, and one of the best natural harbours in the world. For that reason it is the location of a training base for South Africa’s navy. It is also home base for a fishing fleet. Deep sea sports fishermen come here to go after tuna, yellowtail, and snoek – a fang-toothed species of fish that is unique to South Africa. If you have a taste for seafood, you will love the local restaurant offerings of mussels, oysters, calamari, mullet, and spiny lobster, which is known here as crayfish.

A traditional West Coast Village

Jacobsbaai is midway between Saldanha Bay and the town of Paternoster. It is somewhat isolated, and is known in South Africa as a traditional West Coast village. The roads are not paved, which helps to keep it happily remote for people who like an unregimented, laid back, out-of-the-way vacation. Scuba divers, snorkellers, fishermen, pleasure boaters and crayfishers are drawn to the waters here. The long, lonely coastal trails are a paradise for hikers and dune riders. This is a good place from which to explore nearby sites. Britannia Bay is famous for its many shipwrecks. Cape Columbine is the site of the last manned lighthouse on the coast of South Africa. St. Helena Bay is one of the best places for whale watching. It is also one of the few locations on Africa’s west coast from which you can watch the sun rise over the sea. South Africa’s wonderful West Coast is full of surprises.