THE LURE
The white sandy beaches and constant cross-shore wind in January make this arguably the absolute best spot in South Africa to kite. January is the ‘wild wind month’ averaging 25 – 30 knots on most days, so unless you’re an accomplished rider time your visit either side of that month or get up early in the morning!

THE SET UP:
Exit Cape Town International airport, shed a few layers of clothing, find a car, point it north up the coast and drive 130 kilometres in a dead straight line along a tarred road with not a single road coming off it until you get to the small town of Langebaan.

Langebaan lagoon is a two kilometre wide, shallow freestyle heaven. The turquoise blue water of the 20 x 1.5 kilometre lagoon is suitable for anyone from beginners upwards, but the choice of terrain to ride is actually high in Langebaan outside of the lagoon areas, and of course if you fancy some hardcore wave action then Cape Town is back down the road.

WIND & WEATHER:
Cross-onshore to cross-offshore from the left. From September to the end of March the wind stats sit at 80% of days above 15 knots.

WATER:
The water temperature averages 16 – 22°C year round.

OFF THE WATER:
There are lots of nice little restaurants and bars just off the beach. There is one nightclub in town (which is a five minute drive from the lagoon) and a bar with live music on certain days of the week. There are plenty of other activities in the area, such as windurfing, kayaking, pilates and yoga lessons, and within a reasonable distance, a Gary Player signature golf course, horse riding, fishing, sight seeing in the wine-lands and Cape Town and the surrounding area.

AIRPORTS:
Cape Town international airport (CPT) – Two hour drive to Langebaan.

About the West Coast Fossil Park

Five million years ago the Cape west coast was very different from what it is today with a wide range of now extinct animals living in riverine forests, wooded savanna, the adjacent sea and on offshore islands. Phosphate mining operations at Langebaanweg uncovered one of the richest fossil sites in the world. Over the past 40 years bones of 200 different kinds of animals, many of them new to science have been recovered. A few years after mining operations ceased in 1993, a 14 ha fossil-rich area within the mine property was declared a National Heritage Site. Iziko Museums of Cape Town and SAMANCOR launched the Fossil Park in 1998 to bring palaeontology to the public.

The first phase of the West Coast Fossil Park was launched by Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Dr Pallo Jordan on 22nd September 1998. Guest speakers included Mrs Evita Bezuidenhout, Dr Mike Cluver, Mr Mike Salamon, Mr Wynand Dreyer and Ms Laurine Platzky. A test trench was excavated by a contract Archaeology team from UCT and the remains of several extinct giraffes called sivatheres were uncovered and left “in situ” for public viewing. This first phase also included the renovation of the old Chemfos mine office block to provide a display area, lecture room, laboratory, offices, tea room, curio shop and research accommodation for a team of up to 12 people.

Map of the west coast

Shark Bay
Although the name spells doom, beautiful Shark Bay in Langebaan got its name from it’s numerous and harmless sand-sharks, not the greater and whiter variety.

Shark Bay is part of Langebaan lagoon, next to the West Coast National Park and is a quiet haven of shallow blue water, good fishing and fantastic kite surfing conditions.

If you like many visitors are planning on learning to kitesurf while you are here, there is no better place in South Africa to learn, with flat water, consistent wind and relatively warm water compared to the rest of the Atlantic.

Cape Sport centre , Windchasers, Siren Kiteboarding and Best Kiteboarding Africa are amongst the lesson operators in Langebaan and offer training packages for all levels. Prices are from R150/hour ($20) to R1100 for a full day ($160).

goto www.lessons.co.za to book your kitesurfing lessons

If kiting is not your bag, the surrounding scenery is breathtaking and the fishing, superb. To get there follow the R27 (West Coast Road) from Cape Town, for about 1.5 hours until you reach the sign for Langebaan just after the Engen petrol station. Follow the road into Langebaan, through the town and onto a small dirt road (-+ 1km) until you see the lagoon and kites in the sky. If you don’t find the dirt road just ask a local.

After your day of getting pounded by water and wind, have a great pizza at Pearly’s at main beach and watch the pro’s do there stuff.

Accommadation in Langebaan

goto www.lessons.co.za to book your kitesurfing lessons