West Coast National Park

Activities & Facilities

• Activities
• Facilities

The park has been divided into 3 recreational zones:

• Zone A: multi-functional section for most water sports.
• Zone B: reserved for sailboats and board sailing (no power boats or angling).
• Zone C: wilderness area, which is closed to the public.

Community Levy

Park Activities

• Restaurant & information centre are available in Geelbek Visitors centre.
• Bird watching in Geelbek, Seeburg and Abrahamskraal bird hide.
• Mountain bike & Cycling Route Trail.
• Strandveld hiking trails starting from Geelbek Visitors Centre.
• Picnic sites in Kraalbaai & Tsaarsbank.
• Whale watching – August to November in Tsaarsbak.
• Flower & Game viewing from own vehicle – August and September in Postberg.
• Kite boarding, Kayaking and other water sports can be done in Kraalbaai.

Walks

Geelbek Walks: short day walks

• 9 km: is to the dunes, is also a circle walk and starts outside Geelbek Info office
• 7km: includes 16mile beach, and it’s a circle walk – starts outside the Geelbek info office and is well sign-posted.

Trails

• Bakoor Trail
• Cycling Route Trail
• Strandveld Trail
• Postberg Two Day Hiking Trails
• Steenbok One Day Trail (Only during August and September)

Bakoor Trail

This is a short walk from the Langebaan gate to Seeberg view point, which is 4.6km long. Along this route bat eared foxes, Ostriches, Eland and many other animals can be spotted, as well as the beautiful view of the Langebaan lagoon.

Cycling Route Trail

Cycling route information

• All routes start from the Langebaan Gate.

***All cyclist are expected to pay normal conservation fees at the gate or buy a wild card.***

Cycling routes are as follows:

• Langebaan gate – Geelbek & return 30km on tarred road.
• Langebaan gate – Kraalbaai & return 70km on tarred road.

Mountain bike routes:

• The Green trail (follow Green signs) starts at the Langebaan gate and turns right off the tar down on the old Bottelary dirt road (lift your bike over the chain) and joins up with the original old "white road" where you will turn right. Turning left here is not permitted as there is a bush reclamation project underway there. This brings you back out at the Seeberg Bird Hide and it's an easy ride back to the gate. This trail should take you about an hour to ride (13 km).
• The Red trail (follow Red signs) uses a similar route, but has two deviations. The first is to turn off to the right up the steep Seeberg lookout road to the top, after which you rejoin the tar road at the same place and continue towards Geelbek. The second is to then turn left at Mooimaak and follow the Red trail signs around Mooimaak and down along a circular route back to the tar road where you would turn left for a short ride to the Bottelary turnoff as indicated on the Green trail. This one should take you just over an hour and a half to get back to the gate (17km).

Rules:

• Respect our Park and do not damage anything.
• Beware of and do not scare the animals.
• Leave no trace except tyre spoors on the route.
• Ride on marked trails only and heed no-entry signs.
• Be alert to other riders and cars.
• Normal road rules apply on the tar.
• No helmet - no ride.
• Except for the deviations described above, no bike may use any other trail or dirt road in the Park.

Strandveld Trail

Day 1:

It takes you through about 14km of Strandveld, which is unique to the West Coast of South Africa. You will be able to identify plants such as the wild asparagus, sedge – stemmed love grass and many more while walking on this trail.

Day 2:

This trail is 14 km long and will take you through strandveld to sixteen mile beach, where you will walk along the beach for 1km before turning back to Geelbek. You will see the water whole filled with water during winter when it rains; it attracts many bird spices and is surrounded by small patches of indigenous vegetation. You will also be walking amongst the dunes, formed when sediments is disposed on the beach by wave action. Different types of dunes will be visible, primary dunes and consolidated dines, which you will learn more about whilst on the hike.

Postberg Two Day Hiking Trails (Only during August and September)

NB: Bookings opens in June, contact numbers: (022) 707 9902/3

It is essential to read this information:

• Hikers start and finish at Tsaarsbank and overnight at Plankiesbaai.
• Duration: 2 days one night
• Day 1: 15.5 km (6 Hours)
• Day 2: 11.8 km (3,5 Hours)
• Maximum number of people: 12
  

Start:

Hikers must arrive at the Tsaarsbank gate at 09:00am to start the Trail. Cars can be parked at Tsaarsbank gate. All hikers to show their permit to the gate guard on duty before they start with the hike.

Sand dunes:

Do not take any short cuts and stick to the marked trail so that we can know if you have safely completed the walk by reporting back to the gate guard.

Overnight facilities:

The overnight point is situated at the southern end of Plankiesbaai. Look out for the stone ablution block built into a sand dune at Plankiesbaai. Tents should be put up on the level area close to the ablution block. Please keep off the dunes in the immediate areas of the ablution block and water tanks. Please bring your own tent and camping equipment.

Facilities:

• Ablution block with toilets, basins and drinking water.
• Braai grids and wood.
• Washing up stands and a large kettle to boil water on the fire.
• There are no showers, hot water or cooking utensils available at the overnight facilities.

There are no showers, hot water or cooking utensils available at the overnight facilities.

16 mile beach:

On the second day, walk along 16 mile beach towards the wrech (Patelis A lemos 1978) until you see a flag and sign which indicates the turnoff into the dunes

Emergencies:

In the event of any injury or similar emergency, please walk to the nearest road and advise passing cars to contact Park personnel at 022 7722 144.

Important Note:

• Water is only available at Tsaarsbank gate and overnight point at Plankiesbaai. No water is otherwise available along the rest of the trail.
• This trail has been completed by both young and old alike, but it is strenuous and should not be undertaken unless you are reasonably fit.
• Under no circumstances will vehicles be allowed to overnight, pick up or drop off people or equipment at Plankiesbaai.

Hikers with medical problems are advised not to start this hike. Remember to bring the map with you and enjoy the hike!!!

Steenbok One Day Trail (Only during August and September)

• Hike starts and finishes in Tsaarsbank.
• Duration: One day hike.
• Distance: 13.9 km (5 hours excluding breaks).
• Maximum number of people: 20

NB: Bookings opens in June, contact numbers: (022) 707 9902/3 Please keep permit/ receipt at hand.

Routine Markers:

The first section (±2 km) of the Steenbok Day Trail follows the route of the 2 day trail up to Konstabelkop. The 2-day trail is marked with flower sign boards. Where the Steenbok trail deviates from this trail, it is marked with Steenbok signboards. Please stay on the trail.

Water:

Water is only available at Tsaarsbank and Plankiesbaai, therefore ensure that you start the trail with sufficient water.

Start and Finish:

The trail starts and ends at Tsaarsbank gate. Once you are ready to begin, check in with the gate guard at Tsaarsbank. You are advised not to start later than 09:00. The Postberg section closes at 17:00, so please aim to complete the trail before closing.

Emergencies:

In the event of any injury or similar emergency, please walk to the nearest road and advice passing cars to contact Parks personnel at 022 7222 144.

Walking on roads:

It is unavoidable that some sections of the trail are on the roads used by the general public. For your own safety please be aware of vehicles.

Regulations:

The trail is situated within a national park and is therefore subject to the National Parks Act. The most applicable regulations are:

• No pets allowed.
• No picking of flowers.
• No removal of any material, plant or animal.
• Speed limit 50km/h.
• Do not litter
• No fires on the beach
• Please remain in you vehicle, for your own safety.
• Please do not pick up tortoises.

• Conference facilities in Houseboats.
• The Park also offers Educational Programs.

Facilities

• Information Centre at Preekstoel and Geelbek.
• Geelbe Information Centre:
  • Purchase Wild Card
    
  • View images/posters of fauna and flora that can be found at the Park
  • View Eve’s footprint
  • Book accommodation
  • Info on bird and bird hides