LULA IN THE WEST COAST NATIONAL PARK
88km from cape town, za.
33.1709° s, 18.1492° s
The West Coast National Park, which stretches from Yzerfontein to Langebaan, was established in 1985 with the aim of conserving the Langebaan Lagoon, a Ramsar site & the surrounding landscapes. As you drive through this pristine, raw and untouched part of the Western Cape, the habitats are varied. Once, lions & elephants used to roam during the Dutch East India Company (VOC) period in the 17th century, but you can still spot springbok, kudu, gemsbok, eland and if you’re really lucky, the rare mountain zebra or the cunning caracal. In summer, hundreds of tortoises patrol and if you visit in August – September, you’ll encounter a carpet of beautiful Namaqua Daisies, which seem to erupt from the postcard-perfect white sands into a mosaic of colour as if from nowhere.
This ancient part of the Cape is rich in fossils & reported remains of human occupation date back to the Holocene Age. Discovered in 1995 at Kraalbaai, the famous footprints of a young woman who lived 117 000 years ago have been dubbed as belonging to Eve, from who it is suggested that all human life – well before the emergence of Homo sapiens – is thought to have descended.
Even further back, circa 5.2 million years ago, when the sea levels were higher & many now-extinct animals lived in the riverine forests, wooded savanna and along the sea coast near the present-day Langebaang site. Fossils have been discovered, including bones of over 200 different animal species. This represents possibly the greatest diversity of five-million-year-old fossils found anywhere in the world.
home to eve’s footprints – a young woman is thought to have who lived 117000 years ago
This secluded harbour attracts visitors to the exquisite Langebaan Lagoon, with its cyan, shallow & warm waters. Thanks to its breath-taking beauty, this place is, undoubtedly, the jewel of this treasure trove. Not too far away the powerful Atlantic Ocean crashes against the rocks, glittering with enormous mussel shells, or lapping lazily onto the sandy shores.
Endless secret breaches, uncrowded braai spots, bird watching, outdoor adventures and some of the best wild-flower spotting anywhere are just some of the wondrous attractions that make this unblemished paradise-on-earth the ultimate escape.
LULA IN THE WEST COAST NATIONAL PARK
88km from cape town.
33.1709° s, 18.1492° e
The West Coast National Park, which stretches from Yzerfontein to Langebaan, was established in 1985 with the aim of conserving the Langebaan Lagoon, a Ramsar site & the surrounding landscapes. As you drive through this pristine, raw and untouched part of the Western Cape, the habitats are varied. Once, lions & elephants used to roam during the Dutch East India Company (VOC) period in the 17th century, but you can still spot springbok, kudu, gemsbok, eland and if you’re really lucky, the rare mountain zebra or the cunning caracal. In summer, hundreds of tortoises patrol and if you visit in August – September, you’ll encounter a carpet of beautiful Namaqua Daisies, which seem to erupt from the postcard-perfect white sands into a mosaic of colour as if from nowhere.
This ancient part of the Cape is rich in fossils & reported remains of human occupation date back to the Holocene Age. Discovered in 1995 at Kraalbaai, the famous footprints of a young woman who lived 117 000 years ago have been dubbed as belonging to Eve, from who it is suggested that all human life – well before the emergence of Homo sapiens – is thought to have descended. Even further back, circa 5.2 million years ago, when the sea levels were higher & many now-extinct animals lived in the riverine forests, wooded savanna and along the sea coast near the present-day Langebaang site. Fossils have been discovered, including bones of over 200 different animal species. This represents possibly the greatest diversity of five-million-year-old fossils found anywhere in the world.
This secluded harbour attracts visitors to the exquisite Langebaan Lagoon, with its cyan, shallow & warm waters. Thanks to its breath-taking beauty, this place is, undoubtedly, the jewel of this treasure trove. Not too far away the powerful Atlantic Ocean crashes against the rocks, glittering with enormous mussel shells, or lapping lazily onto the sandy shores.
Endless secret breaches, uncrowded braai spots, bird watching, outdoor adventures and some of the best wild-flower spotting anywhere are just some of the wondrous attractions that make this unblemished paradise-on-earth the ultimate escape.
what we learned
- Take your cozzie – this may actually be the only place in the Western Cape where you won’t freeze when swimming in the ocean.
- The West Coast National Park is home to over 250 bird species, reptiles & mammals, so don’t forget your binoculars!
- Watch out for snakes & tortoises crossing the roads. Thanks to the thick veld, there’s an abundance of them.
- Visit in August & September to see the landscape transform into a floral mosaic masterpiece. We’ll be back!
- Most roads are tarred in the park itself, so a 4×4 is not necessary, but if you do have one, don’t miss out on the road from Paternoster to Brittania Bay, which takes you away from the West Coast National Park through the Cape Columbine Nature Reserve.
- If you’re not picnicking or braaing in the West Coast National Park, head out to the small fishing village of Velddrif in the Bergrivier Local Municipality, approximately 145km from Cape Town, for the freshest calamari & chips in the world.
- Velddrif is famous for its flamingos but the Berg River estuary & the floodplains are rich in a wide variety of birdlife. Look out for pelicans & of course, the geese that live at Ek & Djy Visserye.
- Not too far away is the picturesque town of Paternoster. Pop in for an abundance of white & blue Mediterranean-eque architecture, white sands & adorable gift shops.
our trip
- We day-tripped from Hout Bay to the West Coast National Park & spent the morning watching African Spoonbills preening themselves.
- We headed for the lagoon. The last time we visited, the tide wasn’t as low as it was this time so it took a little more effort to wade out to knee-deep. Because the water is so shallow there, it’s heated by the sun & is significantly warmer than the Atlantic Ocean on either side of this sheltered bay.
- We’ve stayed in Paternoster before, so for nostalgia’s sake we headed away from the West Coast National Park & popped in again. We said hello to our beach, walked between the white & blue houses & picked up some small handmade gifts for family.
- Off on an unmarked dirt track, which took us through the Cape Columbine Nature Reserve, we could see the turquoise waters as we traveled over sand dunes.
- Finally, we stopped in Velddrif, one of our favourite places, for lunch on the water.
what we learned
- Take your cozzie – this may actually be the only place in the Western Cape where you won’t freeze when swimming in the ocean.
- The West Coast National Park is home to over 250 bird species, reptiles & mammals, so don’t forget your binoculars!
- Watch out for snakes & tortoises crossing the roads. Thanks to the thick veld, there’s an abundance of them.
- Visit in August & September to see the landscape transform into a floral mosaic masterpiece. We’ll be back!
- Most roads are tarred in the park itself, so a 4×4 is not necessary, but if you do have one, don’t miss out on the road from Paternoster to Brittania Bay, which takes you away from the West Coast National Park through the Cape Columbine Nature Reserve.
- If you’re not picnicking or braaing in the West Coast National Park, head out to the small fishing village of Velddrif in the Bergrivier Local Municipality, approximately 145km from Cape Town, for the freshest calamari & chips in the world.
- Velddrif is famous for its flamingos but the Berg River estuary & the floodplains are rich in a wide variety of birdlife. Look out for pelicans & of course, the geese that live at Ek & Djy Visserye.
- Not too far away is the picturesque town of Paternoster. Pop in for an abundance of white & blue Mediterranean-eque architecture, white sands & adorable gift shops.
our trip
- We day-tripped from Hout Bay to the West Coast National Park & spent the morning watching African Spoonbills preening themselves.
- We headed for the lagoon. The last time we visited, the tide wasn’t as low as it was this time so it took a little more effort to wade out to knee-deep. Because the water is so shallow there, it’s heated by the sun & is significantly warmer than the Atlantic Ocean on either side of this sheltered bay.
- We’ve stayed in Paternoster before, so for nostalgia’s sake we headed away from the West Coast National Park & popped in again. We said hello to our beach, walked between the white & blue houses & picked up some small handmade gifts for family.
- Off on an unmarked dirt track, which took us through the Cape Columbine Nature Reserve, we could see the turquoise waters as we traveled over sand dunes.
- Finally, we stopped in Velddrif, one of our favourite places, for lunch on the water.
