West coast national park

West Coast national ParkJust 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. It has no river flowing into it and is almost empty twice a day, only to be fed again by the plancton rich waters of the cold Benguela stream.

Thousands of seabirds roost on sheltered islands, pristine golden beaches stretch endlessly into the early morning mist and brooding salt marshes are home to vast concentrations of migrant waders from the northern hemisphere. During the spring the strandveld is embroidered with a tapestry of multi-hued flowers, while in the Postberg section many antelope are to be seen in a setting that is as unique as it is idyllic.

The park extends from Saldanha Bay toYzerfontein and includes Postberg Nature Reserve, Langebaan Lagoon and the islands of Malgas, Jutten, Marcus and Schaapen. Proclaimed in 1985, West Coast National Park represents a unique niche in the conservation programme of the National Parks in South Africa. It is one of the few coastal National Parks in the country.

Mammals

The largest concentration of mammals is in the Postberg Reserve, but this is only open to public during flower season. However mammals are found throughout the rest of the reserve. Eland, red hartebeest, Cape grysbok, caracal and rock hyrax are some of the terrestrial species to search for. Visitors should also keep an eye on the Atlantic Ocean for passing whales and dolphins.

The area surrounding the Langebaan Lagoon is unique in that traces of prehistoric life have been found, for a period starting about 20 milliom years ago right up to present times. Most of the earlier deposits which have been uncovered to date are outside the park, but many remains from the later periods exist within the boundaries and await discovery and study. Limited activity such as canoeing and sailing is allowed on the lagoon which is part of the reserve.

Though the thousands of migrating birds is one the main reasons for the conservation of the West Coast National Park, the showy plants of the area, usually growing on granite or limestone rocks, especially during spring time, are what attracts most of its visitors to this fascinating park.

Vegetation

One of the summer-flowering west coast plants is the kukumakranka (koeke-makranka - Afrikaans, Khoi). There are about 32 Gethyllis species, of which G.afra and G.spiralis are perhaps the most commonly used ones. Koekemakranka is one of the few Khoi words still in use today and an interesting example of the contribution, which the Khoi people have made to the cultural wealth of the Western Cape Province.

These interesting plants all have an underground bulb of which the scales form a distinctive neck at ground level. The long, thin leaves are usually spirally twisted or coiled. The attractive flowers appear in summer when the leaves have already died. They have a narrow tube which extends below the ground where the fruit will eventually develop. In mid-winter, the long, club-shaped berry emerges from the ground. It has a fragrant pulp in which numerous seeds are embedded.

The ripe fleshy fruits are gathered. They are highly aromatic and have a powerful sweet, fruity odour. The gathering of the inconspicuous fruit depends to a large extent on a good sense of smell.

Kukumakranka brandy is one of the early Cape remedies for colic and indigestion. Traditionally an alcoholic infusion or tincture is made from a few ripe fruits in a bottle of brandy or witblits. The edible fruit was also highly valued to perfume rooms and linen.

Birding

The park surrounds the Langebaan Lagoon, which is a world Ramsar site (site’s deemed to be of global significance to wetland bird species). Many of the wader species are Palearctic migrants, so summer is the best time to visit the lagoon, particularly in September as species return fatigued from their transcontinental travel, and March when they congregate in large numbers to feed heavily prior to undertaking the reverse journey. In such times, the birds are often changing into or out of their Northern Hemisphere breeding plumage.

The best time to observe the lagoon waders is to visit the Geelbek hide from low tide as the tide is coming in. As the water level rises the waders are forced closer to the hide until eventually they must fly off until the tide has receded once more. The smaller species depart first, with the more long-legged godwits, whimbrels and curlews the last to leave. Knot, Sanderling, Little Stint, Ruff, Marsh, Terek and Curlew Sandpiper, Turnstone, Ringed and Grey Plover, Greenshank, Whimbrel, Curlew and Bar-tailed Godwit are present on most occasions, while there is always the possibility of seeing rarer species. Little Egret and South African Shelduck may be seen alongside the waders. Flamingoes and White Pelican frequent deeper water, and there is chance of seeing Osprey. Another isolated hide west of the Geelbek educational centre overlooks a salt pan that is an excellent place to see Chestnut-banded Plover

The reserve’s fynbos surrounding the lagoon hosts Southern Black Korhaan, Cape Spurfowl and Grey-winged Francolin, Southern Grey and Cape Penduline Tit, Ant-eating Chat, White-throated and Yellow Canary, Karoo Lark, Chestnut-vented Tit-babbler, Bokmakierie and Cape Bunting are all easily seen. African Marsh and Black Harrier can often be seen quartering the ground.

The coastal islands at the mouth of the lagoon are breeding havens for a number of species such as Kelp and Hartlaub’s Gull, Cape Gannet , and African Penguin. Cormorants and terns are present too. The park is widely know for it's variety of birds including the Black Shouldered Kite, the Cape Francolin, African Black Oystercatcher, the Whitefronted Plover, the Kelp Gull and many, many more. The Postberg section of the park is open to the general public during the months of August and September, when world famous displays of wild flowers are at their best. The bird Islands are breeding colonies for penquins, gannets, cormorants, gulls and oystercatchers, among others.