West Coast National Park

West Coast National Park
IUCN category II (national park)

Granite formations overlooking the Langebaan Lagoon
Map showing the location of West Coast National Park

Location of 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°ECoordinates: 33°7′15″S 18°4′0″E / 33.12083°S 18.06667°E
Area 27,500 hectares (106 sq mi)
Governing body South African National Parks
http://www.sanparks.org/parks/west_coast/

The West Coast National Park lies 120 km north of Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. It is 27,500 hectares (106 sq mi) in size. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on the west and the R27 coastal road, and runs from the town of Yzerfontein in the south up to the Langebaan lagoon. The park is particularly well known for its bird life and for the spring flowers which occur in the months from August to October, especially in the Postberg flower reserve section of the park. The park, with the islands in Saldanha Bay, has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area.[1]

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.

A flamingo population lives in the salt marshes of the Langebaan lagoon. Many species of sea birds, such as the African penguin, African oystercatcher and the endangered Cape gannet, breed on Jutten and Malgas islands in the West Coast National Park.

Photo gallery

References

  1. ↑ BirdLife International (2012) Important Bird Areas factsheet: West Coast National Park and Saldanha Bay islands. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 07/05/2012

External links

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