Just inland from the secluded harbour of Saldanha Bay one finds the azure waters of the Langebaan Lagoon, focal point of the West Coast National Park. The West Coast is popular amongst outdoor enthusiasts, particularly bird watchers, and the West Coast National Park is home to impressive numbers of seabirds, including thousands of migrant seabirds which flock to the area each year.

At the heart of the park is the Langebaan lagoon which is a registered wetland and one of the richest masses of water in South Africa. The lagoon and surrounding salt marshes are home to about 60 000 birds, most notable waders, and over 200 species can be accounted for when the migratory visitors are ‘in residence’. A number of well-constructed bird hides within the park allow for excellent viewing and the Geelbek hide in particular offers excellent viewing at low tide.

Birds to look out for include flamingoes and pelicans, sandpipers, gulls, cormorants and plovers to name a few. The coastal dunes and fynbos within the park are also home to a variety of wildlife including mountain zebra, bontebok, gemsbok, kudu and eland. In spring the landscape is covered in a mass of multi-coloured wild flowers and during the months of August and September the Postberg section of the park is open to the public for flower viewing. Visitors can enjoy a series of scenic drives throughout the reserve and can stop for a picnic at one of the many viewpoints.