What’s in a Name
Langebaan is situated about an hour by road from Cape Town. It is set on the edge of the large and sheltered Langebaan Lagoon. The history behind the name 'Langebaan' is quite interesting.
When the Dutch settlers arrived they made Saldanha Bay their first safe port of call after their long journey down the African West Coast. Finding their way through the deep water channel into the lagoon, they referred to it as 'Die Baan', thus giving Langebaan its name.
“Church Haven is a small village on Langebaan Lagoon, nowadays it is more of a fishing and holiday area than a village. Church Haven is named after St Peter’s Fisherman’s Church, built in the early 1900’s.
It is said that some of the first inhabitants of the area were pirates who would look from the hill towards the sea and on spotting a ship returning full of treasures from the East, set sail out of the lagoon and into the sea to intercept their prey, later scuttling back into the safety and hidden corner of the lagoon.” - Ann Gadd
Watersports Galore
Langebaan is one of the premier windsurfing and kite-surfing destinations in the world and boasts great facilities for both the novice and expert. The main industry in this seaside town is fishing, so the coast is littered with charming fishing harbours. Accommodation ranges from campsites to comfortable guest houses, with restaurants ranging from casual beach bars and burgers spots, to sophisticated eateries.
The West Coast National Park borders one side of the lagoon. The nearest airport is in Cape Town. This town is a very popular weekend and holiday destination, with lots of youngsters descending onto this quiet little town to enjoy the sun, sea and surf. The lagoon offers exciting water activities including paddling, sailing and snorkelling, and is one of the premier windsurfing and kite-surfing destinations in the world.
Langebaan, few towns in South Africa exude as much of a beachy-breakaway feel as this spread-out dorp shimmering along the West Coast shores...