The West Coast in Spring

The flowers open between 10h and 16h. As the flowers turn toward the sun, it is recommended to drive in the morning towards the west and in the afternoon eastwards.

Most visitors are so impressed by the variety of flowers that they can be clearly identified by there dirty knees. But remember, do not pick flowers. If you are not able to take photographs, you can acquire pictures at  the information centre, or simply contact our editor from our website.

                       Beautifully narrated by David Attenborough

The West Coast National Park with its lagoon and wetlands is also of enormous
importance to wildlife. In this area live,either permanently or seasonally, 50 per sent of the world’s population of swift terns, 25 per cent of the world’s population of Cape gannets, 15 per cent of the world’s population of crowned cormorants, and 12 per cent of black oyster-catchers.

The tragically declining population of jackass penguins also find a sanctuary on the islets. From September to April of each year there is an almost unbelievable influx of migrating wading birds such as curlew sandpipers. They nest, raise their chickens, and in August set out on a 15 000 km flight which terminates for most of them in the area of the West Coast National Park.

Some 250 species of birds frequent Langebaan (long channel). There are huge flocks of Cape weavers, pied and wattled starlings,European bee-eaters, turnstones and swift terns. A tarmac road runs around the verges of the lagoon and traverses the Postberg area, with side roads open for the public during the spring flower season.