Best trails in West Coast National Park

The Bakoor trail was recently extended into a circular walk starting at the Langebaan entrance gate. The Green route (2.4km) takes you from the gate to up to the Seeberg Viewpoint with its historical cottage. The trail then goes down towards the lagoon again for 2km (Yellow route), where it meets up with the Blue route (2.1km) that will take you to the Seeberg bird hide and back to the entrance gate and parking area.

The West Coast National Park is known particularly for its abundance of flowers in the season of Spring ie September to November. This circular trail takes you from Geelbek restaurant to the Sixteen Mile Beach where you do a short beach walk and then head round towards Geelbek. It's very easy going in that sense that there is no real elevation or tricky parts. Wildlife sitings include may include Eland, Gemsbok wonderful birdlife and tortoises.

This trail is truly is gorgeous in flower season. On this hike stroll among the flowers, swim in the lagoon and walk on the beach. Parking for the Postberg Nature Reserve Flower Hike is at the Tsaarsbank Gate in West Coast National Park. This hike is only open in August and September. Bookings open in June. Since numbers are limited, the weekends sell out almost straight away. Phone the Geelbek Visitor Centre (022 707 9902/3) for more information.

Just inland from the secluded harbour of Saldanha Bay, and only 1,5 hour's drive from Cape Town's City Centre, one finds the azure waters of the Langebaan Lagoon, focal point of the West Coast National Park. The West Coast National Park is home to over 250 bird species, reptiles and mammals. Not to mention, it is seasonally visited by pods of whales. Nature-loving families will be in their element, spotting all the different fauna.

The Postberg trail can be found in the Postberg section of the West Coast National Park. This section of the park only opens for the spring months of August and September each year. During this time the main attraction is the exquisite daisy flower display. In addition to experiencing one of the worlds great flower shows on foot, the trail offers spectacular mountain and sea views, white sand beach crossings, as well as the chance to bathe in and explore the exquisite Langebaan lagoon. The...

Reservations are required to access this trail. Open and accessible during August and September. On the optimal date around 1 September (officially the first day of Spring in SA) this trail is a day spent in a fairyland of flowers. With the added bonus of eland, springbok, zebra and bontebok standing about in swathes of pink, orange, yellow and white flowers.

The 16 Mile Beach Challenge, is a slackpacking trail that takes place between Yzerfontein and Langebaan that offers a unique experience of the West Coast over the stretch of 3 nights and 2 days. The hike has been designed to suit anyone who is moderately walking fit, and is suitable for a group or family but with no children under 16. You can book via 0861 321 777 or bookings@kettietravel.co.za

The West Coast National Park lies 88 km north of Cape Town. The park is particularly well known for its bird life and for the spring flowers which occur in the months from August to September, especially in the Postberg flower reserve section of the park. Take enough water and food as there is none along the way. Remember sunscreen as you will be in the sun most of the time.

The West Coast National Park lies 88 km north of Cape Town. The park is particularly well known for its bird life and for the spring flowers which occur in the months from August to September, especially in the Postberg flower reserve section of the park. This is a short trail which takes you to a large area of sand dunes.