Foraging on the West Coast
From Place to Plate
What?
Pick and taste the local flora on a guided botanical walk; then tuck into five-star dishes as the flavours of Paternoster are truly brought to life.
Where?
Paternoster, Western Cape
Featured in the Cederberg West Coast Journey
Just beyond the fishing village of Paternoster is the Cape Columbine Nature Reserve. Situated on South Africa’s rugged West Coast, the Reserve offers sweeping views of a world shaped by the South Atlantic. The landscape feels exposed. Very little should grow here.
And yet, it does.
You’ll explore this terrain with Rupert Koopman -- a leading authority on the Cape’s indigenous plant life.
Under Rupert’s guidance, you’ll be invited to touch, crush, smell and taste the wild ingredients that define this coast. Think salt-kissed succulents, medicinal shrubs, aromatic herbs and nutrient-rich seaweeds.
Rupert will explain how these plants have endured. It’s a story of survival, adaptation and deep symbiosis with the early settlers of the land.
At Your Own Pace
The journey is unhurried. Take in the sights. Document the journey. And probe Rupert for more.
Says Rupert: “The natural history of the Cape actually underpins our story as modern humans. I really enjoy establishing context and helping people connect with nature, no matter their starting point "
Remember: this is not a box-ticking exercise. This is about exploring a living, breathing landscape that’s truly edible.
From Foraging to Fine Dining
Rupert also has a keen interest in -- and knowledge of -- food and wine. He’s the perfect specialist, then, for what comes next.
Yes, a meal at Wolfgat Restaurant rounds off the day.
Wolfgat’s philosophy is deceptively simple: to honour the West Coast and its ingredients. But while the philosophy might be simple, the execution is anything but. Expect a delightful seven-course tasting menu from Kobus van der Merwe and his team as they offer up sustainable seafood, local lamb and venison, as well as traditional “veldkos”. And let’s not forget the garnishes: these are the sorts of herbs, flowers and seaweed that you’ll have spied earlier in the day. The experience comes full circle: from place to plate. Welcome to Paternoster.
Wolfgat seats only 20 diners at any one time, and the fresh ingredients are picked on the day, while other elements can take weeks of refinement. This is not your typical restaurant.
An Unhurried Rhythm
Lunch unfolds over several hours. Between courses, there is time to reflect, chat to loved ones, and look out over the Atlantic. Nothing is rushed. Nothing is forced.
No, this is travel at its most considered -- where each moment builds on the last and where luxury lies in depth rather than display.
By the end of the day, you’ll understand Paternoster: its earthly charm; its unhurried pace; its sense of place. This is the West Coast of South Africa.
Perfect for: Curious travellers, culinary enthusiasts, and those drawn to our deep relationship with the earth.
The SannuAfrika difference: A true cultural highlight: learn from Rupert’s botanical insights, then enjoy a tasting menu complete with ingredients foraged a stone’s throw from the restaurant.
Remember, the Paternoster Foraging Experience is one chapter in a wider South African journey with the SannuAfrika family.