Thursday, June 23, 2011

The best village to visit along the West Coast, Langebaan

By Anika Schelhase


You will find the idyllic little seaside town of Langebaan on the West Coast of South Africa. Located on the edge or the beautiful blue and tranquil Langebaan lagoon, just 12kms north of Cape Town, this town is the perfect place for a fabulous holiday by the sea. Although the seasons and landscape are considered by some to be hard, they are nonetheless extremely dramatic and unique. This adds to its charm and you will leave filled with memories of colourful spring flowers, the amazing smell of fish on the barbeque, the beautiful blue oceans and dramatic sand dunes.

Serving as a whaling station, the town was officially established in 1922. Through the years it has transformed undoubtedly into one of the West-Coast's most popular and busiest holiday destinations. It draws all sorts, from families with children, to young and old. It is the perfect spot for all nature -lovers and especially water-sport enthusiasts. The West-Coast National Park is a protected area of which the lagoon forms a part. With birds from as far away as Russia stopping there annually, the park is also known as a fantastic birding spot.

When the coastal wild flowers bloom from July to September, the landscape of this little town is transformed into the most beautiful natural garden and the area explodes in a riot of colours. During the winter months you might be lucky enough to catch site of a Southern Right whale as they return to the lagoon each year to calve. The sunsets on the west-facing coast are the stuff legends are made of and combined with a nice glass of wine, produced at one of the nearby wine farms, it truly will be an unforgettable experience.

With a very rich history, the area resulted in the unique blend of cultures found there today. From the indigenous Khoi, Hottentots and Strandloper people, to the European's that settled there in the early 1600's all had a hand in creating the fascinating little town it is today. The French and Dutch were in constant conflict about the area due to the region's rich guano deposits and during the American Civil War, the Confederate Warship, The Alabama stopped for refreshments in the bay. Some of the men on board deserted and remained in the area. As late as 1909 a whaling station was established by a group of Scandinavians which started a new era for the town as an important outpost for the fishing trade.

There are plenty of great places to stay should you wish to visit Langebaan. I recommend taking a leisurely trip up the West Coast and getting to know this beautiful area first hand. Be sure to include this fabulous town on your itinerary!




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