This bay, the largest on the west coast and the centre of the South African commercial fishing industry, was given its name by Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama, who ancorhed his four ships here on 7 November 1497, the day of St Helena.

This was his pioneer voyage from Europe to the East and he and his men had been at sea for four months.  Plenty of fresh water was available from a number of fountains between the sea and the first row of hills.  It was here that the first clash between Europeans and the indigenous people of southern Africa took place when a crew member was involved in a brawl with a group of Khoikhoi.  Da Gama himself is reputed to have been wounded by an assegai in this encounter.

The main marine products are lobster, snoek, anchovies and pilchards.  About a dozen processing factories are strewn all along the south western coastline, from Stompneus Bay to the mouth of the Berg River, including settlements such as West Point, Shady Point and Steenbergs Cove.

* Because of the configuration of the bay and the location of St Helena, it is the only town along the west coast for which the sun rises over the sea.

* The Vasco da Gama monument is located more or less where the Portuguese explorer landed in 1497.

Accommodation in and around West Coast