West Coast National Park - SANParks
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West Coast National Park
VISITOR’S
MAP
A SUSTAINABLE NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM CONNECTING SOCIETY
Welcome
The magical Langebaan Lagoon, rare fynbos, white Eve’s Footprints Make a stop at the Geelbek
sandy dunes, internationally acclaimed wetlands Visitor’s Centre and have a look at the replica of
and incredible birdlife are only some of the delights Eve’s Footprints – fossilised footprints belonging
West Coast National Park has to offer. With so to a young woman who lived alongside the lagoon
much to see and do it is hard to decide where to some 117 000 years ago.
begin, so we have decided to share some of our Langebaan Lagoon Unwind on the shore of
favourite experiences with you. the Langebaan Lagoon at Kraalbaai – a great spot
Seeberg Viewpoint Park your car at the for picnics.
Langebaan gate and walk the short 4.6km trail to Rock Pools Explore the many rock pools along
the Seeberg Viewpoint, which offers the best vistas the seashore at Tsaarsbank.
of the Park.
Bird Hides Visit one of the bird hides and spend
some time enjoying the quiet, as you look out at
our feathered residents in their natural habitat.
We’d love you to share your favourite experiences with us on our Facebook page:
SANParks – West Coast National Park or on Twitter: @WestCoastNP
Some interesting facts
In 1648, the first Khoi dictionary was documented In 1920, Geelbek had the largest wine cellar
(400 words) by De Flacourt (Director General of in the country. This was not due to wine
the French East India Company) at Kraalbaai. production, but because the Governor General
(Henry de Villiers Steytler) used Geelbek to
In the 1700s, the VOC placed a beacon at
store his vast quantities of wine.
Geelbek. A beacon of Robben Island slate
engraved with the VOC monogram from about Langebaan Lagoon was designated as a wetland
1750 claims the land and its resources for the of international importance according to the
Dutch East India Company. Ramsar Convention criteria in 1988.
In 1909, Norwegian whalers started a whaling Bird species like Curlew Sandpipers, Sanderlings
station at Donkergat, which remained operational and Red Knots journey 15 000km every year
until 1967. from their breeding grounds in the Siberian
Tundra to the northern winter (our summer)
feeding grounds in Langebaan Lagoon.
West Coast National Park hosts a total of over
250 bird species annually, over a quarter of
South Africa’s total.
The Park was established in 1985
and comprises some 32 000ha.
Animals and Birds commonly seen in the Park
Tick off the ones you have spotted
African Black Bat-eared fox Bontebok Cape cobra
Oystercatcher
Caracal Common duiker Dung beetle Eland
Heynè Brink
Lesser Flamingo Gemsbok Cape (small) grey Black Harrier
mongoose
Molesnake Ostrich Great White Pelican Puff adder
Red hartebeest Steenbok Angulate tortoise Cape mountain zebra
Visit our other Western Cape National Parks
Agulhas – at the southernmost
tip of Africa
Bontebok – a conservation success
story just outside the town of
Swellendam, off the N2
Garden Route – comprising Wilderness,
Knysna and Tsitsikamma
Table Mountain – one of the
New 7 Wonders of Nature
Tankwa – incredible star-kissed skies and
wide open spaces
Karoo – offers great game viewing
(including lions) just outside Beaufort
West, off the N1
lmportant visitor information
• The use of drones (unmanned • Please do not pick any plants or • Please note that even if you
aerial vehicles) is not permitted flowers. overnight in the Park, driving is
in or over the National Park • Please do not pick up tortoises only allowed during gate opening
and Marine Protected Areas. or disturb any wildlife. times.
• Please enquire at the tourism • No fires allowed on beaches. • Please note that cycling and
office about additional flower the use of motorcycles are not
viewing areas. • Walking and cycling are restricted permitted in Postberg.
to the hiking and cycling trails
• Speed limit 50km/h. respectively. • Please remain in your vehicle, for
• Please retain your receipt for your own safety.
• Please note that being in posses-
the duration of your stay in the sion of alcohol, and consumption • Please ensure that your vehicle is
National Park. thereof, is prohibited in all day locked at all times. Do not leave
• No pets allowed. visitor/public facilities in the Park any valuables in your vehicle
such as the roads, picnic and while unattended.
• Please dispose of litter in the
marked refuse bins. braai sites, gates and beaches.
West Coast Gate Times
National Park September to March: 07:00 – 19:00 Postberg opens during August
Last vehicle entry at 18:30 & September (flower season):
+27 22 772 2144 09:00 – 17:00
April to August: 07:00 – 18:00
www.sanparks.org Last vehicle entry at 17:30 Last entry to Postberg:16:30
The areas under the control of SANParks are used entirely at your own risk and SANParks shall not be liable for any claims, accidents, injuries or loss, etc. arising from such use.
Please note that visitors are subject to the conditions set in terms of Section 86 of the National Environmental Management Act (107 of 1998) and the National Environmental
Act: Protected Areas Act (Act 57 of 2003) for the duration of their stay in the National Park.
Malgas Island
A Guide to FREE
ENTRY Accommodation
West Coast
for a year
for Wild Card Duinepos Chalets
4-6
members
National Park
11 Fully-equiped self-catering chalets,
0861 GO WILD (46 9453) each sleeping 4 – 6 people, two
www.sanparks.org
chalets with wheelchair access.
Swimming pool and kids play area.
SALDANHA +27 22 707 9900
E-mail: info@duinepos.co.za
Jutten B AY www.duinepos.co.za
Island
Recreational Zones
A, B & C
Postberg Section The Lagoon has been divided
into three Recreational Zones.
Zone A: Multi-functional
Rietbaai section for most water sports
SANDF e.g.: Kitesurfing, waterskiing, SANParks Central Reservations
Restricted Area Langebaan snorkelling, diving, kayaking, +27 12 428 9111
(state owned) Beach WCNP: +27 22 772 2144
AT L A N T I C swimming, fishing, angling,
OCEAN boating. Abrahamskraal Cottage 6
Zone B: Reserved for sailing This fully-equipped self-catering
boats and board sailing (no cottage is situated near the
Open to the public only during the Plankiesbaai Schaapen Park power boats or angling). Abrahamskraal Waterhole.
spring flower season in August and Uitkyk Island Office Zone C: Sanctuary area.
September each year and a great Picnic Area Access prohibited.
place for spotting game. Plankiesbaai
Picnic Area
3 4
A LANGEBAAN
50 Langebaan
Gate Jo-Anne’s Beach Cottage 8
Did you know? Fully equipped self-catering cottage
Tsaarsbank Tsaarsbank Entrance near Churchhaven, within walking
Have a picnic Gate This viewpoint distance of the lagoon.
Bird Hide offers the best
or braai by the 2 vistas of the Park.
sea. Wonderful Kraalbaai
1.8km Trail along
whale watching the beach to the Preekstoel
spot between original site of Seeberg Mooimaak
August and Pantelis A. Lemos Viewpoint
October. shipwreck (1978). Van Breda Cottage 6
Fully equipped self-catering
B 5 cottage situated at Geelbek.
Kraalbaai
Unwind on Mooimaak
the shore of Churchhaven Only accessible
the lagoon at Did you know? via the mountain
Kraalbaai. Great On a clear day bike trail. Steytler Cottage 2
for picnics. Braai you can see Table MTB Trails Fully equipped self-catering
facilities available Mountain National Jo-Anne’s cottage situated at Geelbek.
Beach Follow the
at Preekstoel. Park from here. route markers.
Cottage
Geelbek Visitors Centre
Stop here to learn more about
R Jo-Anne’s B Cottage 4
the Park’s hiking trails, fauna and 27 Fully equipped self-catering unit
flora, accommodation and wealth near Churchhaven, within walking
of cultural history, including Eve’s
Footprints.
Atlantic
C Bird Hide
distance of the lagoon.
VOC Beacon
Viewpoint
Bird Hide
Geelbek Restaurant
and Visitors Centre
Duinepos
Eve’s Footprints Discovered in 1995 at Kraalbaai, these Steytler and Van Chalets Houseboats in Kraalbaai
are unmistakable human footfalls in rock Breda Cottages Dunes
+27 76 017 4788
(formerly sea sand) and are said to have www.kraalbaailuxuryhouseboats.com
belonged to a young woman who lived bookings@kraalbaailuxuryhouseboats.com
117 000 years ago. The original footprints
6
are housed at the Iziko South African Larus Houseboat
Museum in Cape Town, but be sure to visit 1a 3 Cabins. Well equipped open
the replica inside the Visitors Centre. plan kitchen and dining area with
Day 2: 14km Day 1:14km braai facility.
1b Abrahamskraal Did you know?
Geelbek Restaurant Geelbek Restaurant is housed in Waterhole The name Geelbek
Sixteen Mile Beach
a beautifully restored Cape Dutch Bird Hide comes from the
building that is a national monument. Yellowbill Duck and 24
The homestead is thought to have not from the Geelbek Nirvana Houseboat
been erected by Alexander van Breda, (Cape salmon) fish. Upper and lower deck. Perfectly
as the initials “AvB” and the date suited to corporate groups, family
Hiking Trails holidays and functions.
“1860” appear on the front gable.
Maps available at the
Open 09:00 – 17:00 seven days a week.
Geelbek Visitors Centre.
Tel: +27 84 406 7434
website: www.geelbek.net 50
email: admin@geelbek.info
rosa@geelbek.info Bird Hides West Coast
The Park’s bird hides give you the Gate
opportunity of viewing some of
the many bird species found here,
such as Curlew Sandpiper, Grey R
27
Driving Distances
Hiking Trails and Postberg Two-Day Hiking Trail Plover and Sanderling.
4 Distance from Cape Town to the
Cycling/MTB Routes Only during August and September. West Coast National Park is ±120km
This is a two-day hike. Overnight at
Plankiesbaai. From West Coast Gate
1 Strandveld Trail Two-Day Hike Day 1: 15.5km (6 hrs) (33º 14’38.92” S, 18º 12’08.66” E)
Day 1 takes you through about Day 2: 11.8km (3.5 hrs) T junction 6.3km
14km of Strandveld. This trail can take up to a maximum Abrahamskraal 7km
Day 2 is 14km long. The trail will number of 12 people.
Duinepos 9km
take you through Strandveld to Eve’s Trail (book online) Geelbek 10km
Sixteen Mile Beach, and back to A 2.5 day 30km trail – guided, Jo-Anne’s Cottage 18km
Geelbek. catered and portered. Kraalbaai 21.3km
www.capebiosphere.co.za Tsaarsbank 24km
2 The Bakoor Trail Langebaan Gate 25km
The Bakoor Trail is a short walk 5 Cycling Route Information
There are four routes available: Tarred Roads
from Langebaan Gate to Seeberg • 30km trail to Geelbek on tarred Information Accommodation 50 Speed
Limit
From Langebaan Gate
Viewpoint, which is 4.6km long. (33º 07’03.66” S, 18º 03’18.23” E)
road (start at Langebaan Gate). Dirt Roads
• 70km return trip from Langebaan Geelbek 15km
Hiking Trails
3 Steenbok One-Day Trail Gate to Kraalbaai. Main Gate Picnic Site Restaurant Duinepos 16km
Only during August and September. • 13km circular MTB trail around the Mountain Abrahamskraal 18.6km
Distance: 13.9km Seeberg Viewpoint. Viewpoint Hiking Toilets Bike Trails Jo-Anne’s Cottage 31.1km
(5 hours excluding breaks). • 30km circular MTB trail around Whale Mountain Wheelchair Restricted Kraalbaai 31.6km
The trail can take up to 20 people. Seeberg Viewpoint & Mooimaak. Watching Biking Access Area Tsaarsbank 34.3kmYou can also read
