West Coast National Park
| West Coast National Park | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | Western Cape, South Africa |
| Nearest city | Langebaan |
| Coordinates | 33°7′15″S 18°4′0″E / 33.12083°S 18.06667°E |
| Area | 362.59 square kilometres (140.00 sq mi) |
| Established | 1985 |
| Administered by | South African National Parks |
| Website | West Coast National Park - SANParks |
The West Coast National Park lies 88 km (55 mi) north of
History of protection
The Langebaan Lagoon, a Ramsar site, was proclaimed as a marine reserve in 1973. Concerns over the condition of the Langebaan Lagoon and neighbouring Saldanha Bay led to a proposal in 1976 that the Langebaan Lagoon, the peninsula, the offshore islands and the surrounding land urgently be proclaimed as a nature reserve. The Langebaan National Park was declared in 1985, after a long process, and it was expanded in 1987 when some land which had been managed by the Department of Forestry and neighbouring farms were included in the park. In that same year an additional 1,800 hectares (4,400 acres) of land around Postberg was included as a "contractual national park". Expansion has continued since then. Its name was changed to West Coast National Park in 1987.[3] In 2000, the park and Langebaan Lagoon was added to the UNESCO Cape West Coast Biosphere Reserve.[4]
Fauna
Wildlife in the park includes large antelope such as eland, red hartebeest, bontebok, kudu, gemsbok, steenbok, mountain zebra, duiker and ostriches in the Postberg section. Other smaller animals include the bat-eared fox, caracal, and Cape gray mongoose.[5]
Many
On the land, the
Flora
Although the thousands of migrating birds are an important part of the conservation, the flowers are also a major attraction. The park is composed of various kinds of habitats — as well as the Langebaan
Postberg
The area of Postberg, where the carpets of Spring flowers can be seen, is only open during the months of August and September. The most common flower species are Suurvy (
Photo gallery
-
Livingstone daisy, C. bellidiforme -
Livingstone daisy, C. bellidiforme in the park -
Spring flowers in the park -
A field of flowers in the park -
Spring flowers in the Postberg area during August to September -
Spring flowers in the Postberg area during August to September -
Spring flowers in the Postberg area during August to September -
Spring flowers in the Postberg area during August to September -
Spring flowers in the Postberg area during August to September -
Spring flowers in the Postberg area during August to September -
Spring flowers in the Postberg area during August to September -
Spring flowers in the Postberg area as they appear from August to September -
View of the Langebaan Lagoon seen from the west side of the park -
Geelbek Restaurant in West Coast National Park -
Abandoned historic shepherds hut located in the park -
.jpg)
See also
Notes
- ^ Measured from Cape Town City Hall
References
- ^ "Important Bird Areas factsheet: West Coast National Park and Saldanha Bay islands". BirdLife International. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
- ISBN 1 86812 419 3.
- ^ West Coast National Park Management Plan For the period 2013 -2023 (PDF) (Report). South African National Parks. 2013.
- ^ "Gazetted Name: West Coast National Park" (PDF).
- ^ "Mammals". South African National Parks. South African National Parks. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
- ^ a b "Birding in West Coast National Park". South African National Parks. South African National Parks. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
- ^ "Langebaan". The Ramsar Convention Secretariat. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
- ^ a b "Vegetation". South African National Parks. South African National Parks. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
External links
