A Sunburned Haven for Sea Birds and Hardy Fishermen part 1 October 10, 2008
Posted by dodo in : Africa, Cape Town, Destination, Hotels, Restaurant, Round The World, South Africa, Tickets, Tour, Trails, Travel Insurance , trackbackSaldanha Bay and Langebaan Lagoon are the focal points of this drive through some of the finest west coast scenery. From Saldanha the route leads around the lagoon to the Postberg Nature Reserve — then heads north to the historic fishing harbours that dot the coast between Laaiplek and Paternoster. Roughly half the route is tarred, the rest is good gravel.
Before leaving Saldanha, drive inland along Diaz Road. Turn right into Sea Bride Street, then left at the T-junction into Windhoek Street. After 200m turn right into Panorama Drive, and now take all turn‑offs leading uphill. This will bring you to a magnificent viewsite, 1 km from Windhoek Street. Away to your right is the entrance to the bay. At your feet lies the town, with Hoedjies‑kop rising among the streets and buildings.
Beyond the town stretches the lagoon, an enormous expanse of sheltered water, with the ore-loading quay forming an unnatural, straight line across it. To your left the land stretches away flat and fertile, into a region renowned for the production of wheat and sheep.
Saldanha to Postberg
Leave Saldanha by driving along Kamp Street, which heads east along the north shore of the bay. You pass a caravan park and holiday resort on your right, and 6,2 km after leaving Saldanha you reach an intersection and a railway level crossing. Keep straight here, but if the railway crossing is blocked by an ore- train, turn left and use the level crossing a few hundred metres along the road.
Note your kms at the railway crossing on the main road, and drive on towards Langebaan. After 8,4 km turn right onto gravel, and note your kms. (You can see that the tar ends just after this turn.) You now pass beaches alongside the lagoon, and reach a T-junction with a tarred road after 4,6 km. Turn right onto the tar to reach Langebaan village.
The road changes to gravel as you leave Langebaan. Note your kms here, and after 17km turn right for Churchhaven. Roughly 15 km after the turn, after passing the picturesque cottages of Schrywershoek and Churchhaven, you reach the Postberg Nature Reserve (entry fee). Although this is open only in September, the main road through the reserve can be followed at any time as far as the SADF security fence 5 km from the reserve entrance. Even when the reserve is closed, there is a good chance of seeing game from the road, and the views are attractive.
Postberg to Dwarskersbos
Retrace your route through Churchhaven, then turn right at the T-junction, towards Darling and Cape Town. At the T-junction with the tarred R27, turn left for Velddrif.
As you enter Velddrif you come to a stop street. Turn right here into Voortrekker Road. After 2 km you will see on your right a black and white gravestone, surmounted by a cross. 100m after this turn right into Vyelaan.
Vyelaan winds along the river bank, past fisheries and old cottages, with bunches of bokkerns’ or Cape herrings hanging up to dry. At the first stop street turn right, then turn left at the intersection with Voortrekker Road and drive through the town. At the T-junction with Jameson Street turn left, then turn right into De Villiers Street to reach the entrance to Laaiplek harbour. (There are hotels and restaurants in
Velddrif and Laaiplek, which are virtually opposite ends of the same town.)
After visiting Laaiplek harbour, turn left into Jameson Street, reaching Dwarskersbos after 10 km. Turn left here into Iris Road to reach a parking area on the beach. This is an attractive place for a walk, a swim, or a picnic lunch.
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