Langebaan’s West Coast National Park is one of the most colorful and biodiverse swaths of nature in South Africa. The park spreads for 68,000 acres (27,500 hectares) across the north side of the Western Cape. Guide yourself on a safari through the park, marvel at the flowers in season and enjoy a picnic in a scenic setting in this stunning nature reserve.
Drive around the roads of the park, watching for wildlife feeding and playing in their natural habitat. Several types of antelope live in West Coast National Park, including red hartebeests, Cape grysboks and elands. Lucky visitors may even enjoy a rare sighting of the caracal, a big cat with incredible jumping abilities.
Follow Eve’s Trail, a 2.5-day hiking route that runs through the park for about 19 miles (30 kilometers). The trail is named after the footprints of a prehistoric human that were found by the shores of Langebaan Lagoon.
Explore the Postberg section of the park, which is where you can find the most biodiverse flora. Discover the multicolored beauty of fynbos, the shrubland native to the Western Cape. Witness fields explode into color during peak flower season.
Part of Langebaan Lagoon crosses over into West Coast National Park. Watch pink flamingos paddling in the shallows. Adventure sports, such as parasailing and Jet Skiing, are often practiced on the sheltered waters of the lagoon.
Wait in the Geelbek hide to spy on migrating birds as they flock into the protected parkland. Knots, sanderlings, curlews and little egrets are just a few of the many species you could see around the lagoon.
Travel along the Tsaarsbank section of the park, on the west side of the lagoon, for views of the ocean. Pull over and watch the waves to spot bottlenose dolphins and southern right whales playing in the water.
West Coast National Park is about 62 miles (100 kilometers) north of Cape Town, just below the town of Langebaan. The park is open daily throughout the year, although the Postberg section is only accessible to the public during August and September, when the flowers of the fynbos are in full bloom.
