12 things to do in West Coast National Park

​By Roxanne Reid
Just over an hour’s drive from Cape Town along the West Coast Way SA, you'll find the West Coast National Park hugging the Langebaan lagoon. It's a perfect place for a weekend break from the city or even a day trip. Here’s my pick of 12 things to do in West Coast National Park.

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1. Go birding

At Abrahamskraal we saw coots diving for lunch, Cape shovelers sleeping and dabchicks giggling.

Langebaan lagoon and the islands of Schaapen, Marcus, Malgas and Jutten are part of a Ramsar wetland. Thousands of seabirds like African penguin, Cape gannets and cormorants breed on the islands and the lagoon is an important feeding area for migrant waders. So it’s a big tick on any birder or eco-tourist’s wish list. You’ll find about 250 bird species here and wader numbers in the summer months can top 50 000.

There are four bird hides in the West Coast National Park. Two are near the Geelbek restaurant, one at Abrahamskraal near the West Coast Gate and one at Seeberg near the Langebaan Gate. At the Geelbek and Seeberg hides we saw avocets, sanderlings, whimbrels, kelp gulls, black oystercatchers and Kittlitz plovers strutting around as if they owned the place. A large flock of about 400 flamingo were panning for gold in the shallow water and it was a joy to watch about 50 take to the skies in an explosion of pink.

2. Take a game drive ​

Although birding is perhaps a bigger draw card here, wherever you drive in the park you have a chance to see large and small mammals such as eland, red hartebeest, springbok, wildebeest, Cape grysbok, mountain zebra, bontebok, steenbok, Cape fox and African wildcat, as well as tortoises – and perhaps even whales if you visit between August to October.

3. Eat in style

The smiling faces of Blessing Mudana (in white) and Charity Tsuro (in black) welcome you to Geelbek

​Have breakfast at Geelbek restaurant, almost slap-bang in the middle of the park between the West Coast and Langebaan entrance gates. Do yourself a favour and try the Lift Me Up breakfast, a twist on the usual bacon and eggs – sweet potato toast with basil pesto, rocket, bacon and a poached egg on top, surrounded by roast baby tomatoes. Yum! The restaurant also does generous portions of traditional dishes like delicious bobotie with pumpkin pie, curries, bredies and more. Or you can just pop in for coffee and cake.

Take a walk around the huge Cape Dutch farmhouse that houses the restaurant and soak in the atmosphere of a bygone age. Talk to the staff and you’ll discover some interesting snippets. For instance, in the 1920s Geelbek had the biggest wine cellar in the country and the owner, Henry de Villiers Steytler, used to throw wild parties that went on for days. He even had the lagoon dredged to allow boats to get closer for his parties.

4. Go back in time

The Seeberg info centre not far from Langebaan Gate on the northeastern side of the lagoon is housed in a restored stone hut perched on a huge rock overlooking the lagoon. Info panels tell the history of the area, from farms like Geelbek and Seeberg to settlements like Churchhaven and Oudepost. It also tells of the days of pirates and shipwrecks, of family life in the 1940s and 1950s, the days of whaling in the area, and the story of the birds and rangers on the isolated islands that are part of the park. It’s worth a visit if only to look at some of the old photos, though if you’re like me and you love stories of times gone by you’ll want to spend at least an hour here.

5. Go hiking

Eve's Trail - photo courtesy of capebiosphere.co.za

Whether you’re a casual day hiker or you’re looking for an overnight trail, West Coast National Park has something to put a spring in your step. The two-day Strandveld Trail covers 28km through Strandveld and then to 16-Mile Beach before returning to Geelbek.

The 2.5-day guided slack-packing Eve’s Trail, is a three-stage 30km hike across Strandveld and deserted beaches, with views of the lagoon as you trace Eve’s footsteps. All you carry is a small daypack; lifts and luggage are organised and local people prepare your meals in traditional West Coast style.

The two-day, 27km Postberg Trail is open only in August and September each year during the spring flower season (see no. 6 below). The trail starts and ends at Tsaarsbank and you overnight at Plankiesbaai. It’s not for sissies – you need to be fairly fit and to carry your own tent and camping equipment. Bookings through the Geelbek info centre open in June each year, tel 022 707-9902/3.

The one-day 13.9km Steenberg Trail starts and ends at Tsaarsbank. It’s also only open in August and September. Make sure you carry enough water with you.

Shorter walks for the less committed are the Bakoor Trail (4.6km from the Langebaan Gate to the Seeberg viewpoint), and two short walks that begin at the Geelbek Information Centre – a 9km circular walk to the dunes and back, and a 7km circular walk that includes part of 16-Mile Beach. Get more info from the Geelbek Information Centre, tel 022 707-9902/3, next to Geelbek restaurant.

6. See the spring flowers 

The Postberg section of the West Coast National Park is open to visitors only in August and September each year, when the spring flowers are in bloom. For photos and tips on making the most of your visit to Postberg, see Spring flowers at Postberg on the West Coast.

7. Go mountain biking
Bring your mountain bike and tackle a couple of the trails in the park: 30km from Langebaan Gate to Geelbek on tar; 70km return trip from Langebaan Gate to Kraalbaai; 13km circular trail around Seeberg view point not far from Langebaan Gate; 30km circular trail around Seeberg viewpoint and Mooimaak.

8. Enjoy a braai or picnic

There are stone braais overlooking the lagoon at Preekstoel near Kraalbaai, and you can learn about lagoon ecology at the small info centre. Even better, take the dirt road to Tsaarsbank and enjoy your braai or picnic looking out over the Atlantic Ocean. Bird watching and beach walking are favourite activities here.

9. Go whale watching
From the Tsaarsbank section of the park you might be lucky enough to see southern right whales play and swim in the Atlantic Ocean. The best months for whale watching are August to October.

10. Stay at Duinepos Chalets ​

 My favourite place to stay in the West Coast National Park are the delightful Duinepos Chalets not far from Geelbek. They sleep 4-6 (in two bedrooms with sleeper couch in the living room) and are fully equipped for self-catering. Relax and recharge your batteries, or use it as a pleasant base for your daily explorations. To find out why I love this place so much, read my post Duinepos chalets on the Cape West Coast.

11. Stay on a houseboat 

Photo: SANParks West Coast National Park

Two houseboats are permanently moored at Kraalbaai in the lagoon, so you can enjoy the water lifestyle even if you have no boating experience. One sleeps 6 people and the other 22. Find more info on the houseboats and other accommodation in the park here.

12. Knock yourself out with watersports
If watersport is your thing, you have plenty choices in the area, from kitsesurfing, waterskiing and kayaking to snorkeling, diving, or fishing. The best place to seek out these adventures is in the little town of Langebaan just outside the park. If you’ve never kitesurfed but you’d like to, sign up for a one-hour ‘taster course’; if you want more, find a beginners’ or intermediate course.

Whether you’re looking for a patch of peace where you can relax into some birding or simply stroll on the beach, or you prefer to fill every day with action and exercise, West Coast National Park has got you covered.

For info about other attractions along the Cape's West Coast, browse through West Coast Way SA's website.
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You might also like:
Walking at Langebaan Lagoon on the West Coast

Copyright © Roxanne Reid - No words or photographs on this site may be used without permission from roxannereid.co.za

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