This internationally famous bird island of Lambert’s Bay may be reached by means of walking on a breakwater wall that was erected in 1959, by Ferdinand Käsner. 

It is the most accessible Cape Gannet Colony in the world. Experience a face-to-face encounter with a Cape gannet on a rocky island off the West Coast. Visitors will enjoy exploring the island as well as its superbly situated gannet look-out and visitors’ centre, where one can read about an island steeped in history and humour. The boisterous and stormy times of egg and guano collection, and the guano “ war” of 1844, are some of the stories told.

 

Bird Island nature reserve provides shelter and protection for thousands of sea-birds, particularly Cape gannets, various species of cormorants, and penguins. You can come within a mere wingspan of more that 25 000 blue-eyed Cape gannets.

 

The spring flowers of the Cape West Coast, Cederberg and Namaqualand in the Northern Cape have a worldwide reputation.

 

This area of South Africa receives little rain throughout the year but after the winter rains from May to July/August, the normally dry landscape becomes a carpet of wild flowers with vibrant bands of gousblomme and vygies, as well as nemesias, lachenalias, babiana and ixias.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lamberts Bay is named after Admiral Lambert of the British Navy who did a marine survey of the bay between 1826 and 1840.

 

In 1887 Mr Stephan bought the commercial buildings and built the hotel in 1888. Lamberts Bay was used as a lay-up for British warships during the war of 1900-1902 and in 1901 the “ HMS Sybille” was wrecked opposite Steenbokfontein.

 

The first crayfish factory was started by Mr Lindström in 1918, the price was 1/6 and 2/6 per hundred crayfish.

 

The museum houses 15 different exhibits eg. “Old” Lambert’s Bay, HMS Sybille Gunboat which ran aground in 1901, Photograph collection, Fish industry and fishing community, Book & Bible collection, Archaeological display, Horsemill and Farm implements and Clothes and embroidery from bygone days.

 

Visit the museum and get more information about the history of Lamberts Bay.