The beauty of the West Coast National Park on the Cape’s West Coast is almost astounding. Feast on sights of rock-studded shorelines, sand dunes white as milk, the bright turquoise waters of the Langebaan Lagoon, and majestic carpets of flowers in springtime. As if this were not enough, the park will also delight you with sightings of many animals and birds. Flower season happens during the spring months – August and September …
Flower Season in West Coast National Park
Bright clusters of vygies, the sun-yellow Gousblom, fields full of daisies, the impressively colourful Suurvy (Sour Fig) and Elandsvy, and countless varieties of delicate veld flowers such as Sporrie, create an incredible landscape. Flowers are especially abundant in the Postberg section of the park, which needs to be top of a Western Cape springtime bucket list .
In addition to flower-viewing, the park offers a mountain bike and cycle trail; hiking trails; seasonal whale watching at Tsaarsbank; birding; picnicking; and animal sightings. Eland, red hartebeest, Cape grysbok, caracal and rock hyrax are some of the other animals to keep a lookout for. Tortoises and ostriches are bound to show themselves too, and perhaps also the odd mongoose.
Birders, the West Coast National Park is a must! Most of the Langebaan Lagoon is incorporated into the park, and it attracts some 70 000 migrating waders! September is a particularly good time to see them. The Geelbek hide provides a good viewing point at low tide. You’ll also have a good chance of seeing Flamingoes and White Pelican. The reserve’s fynbos is also host to many species of birds.
West Coast National Park Gate Times
September to March:
07:00 – 19:00
Last vehicle entry at 18:30
April to August:
07:00 – 18:00
Last vehicle entry at 17:30
Postberg opens during August & September:
09:00 – 17:00
Last entry to Postberg at 16:30
At Geelbek refreshments can be purchased. There are several public toilets in the park. The closest place for buying fuel is Langebaan, about 5km from the park.
Mail us to book accommodation in South Africa, or call 0860 102 907 (local) or +27 21 797-7122 (international).
