From a new entrance gate to refreshed accommodation, South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced a raft of upgrades for the West Coast National Park.
Located just an hour’s drive from the city, the Park is one of the most popular day trips from Cape Town. Although home to a range of antelope and bird species the Park is perhaps famous for its spring flower displays, while the wide beaches and warm(ish) waters of the Langebaan lagoon are idyllic on hot summer days. In winter the seas offshore play host to migrating Southern Right whales. The wide, shallow lagoon is also a designated Ramsar site, making it a wetland of global importance and a hotspot for birders who flock to the over-water bird hides.
The Park is set to benefit from a share of R700-million in funding that has been set aside by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and Environment (DFFE), which will be spent over the next three years to improve the visitor experience.
In total, the West Coast National Park will receive around R31-million, which will be spent on a range of projects.
First on the slate is the construction of an upgraded entrance gate on the R27, the coastal road north of Cape Town. The main entrance to the Park is severely congested in the peak flower season, and the enlarged facility will help to smooth the process of getting into the Park.
Next on the list is a revamp and upgrade of the Duinepos chalets. Set in the heart of the Park, these 11 chalets were once a popular spot for weekend getaways, but have been shuttered since the pandemic.
Once those projects are completed, additional infrastructure upgrades will see the improvement of the Geelbek precinct into an activity node, along with new public ablutions at the popular Kraalbaai beaches. Construction work is set to get going soon, with the jobs done and dusted by 2026.
No surprise that the West Coast National Park is on our list of The 9 best day trips from Cape Town!