Langebaan is a popular beach destination about a 1.5-hour drive from Cape Town. This is the only place in South Africa with warm, calm water. And the beaches with their turquoise-blue sea look like you are in the Caribbean. In this blog, we tell you everything about Langebaan, the hotspots, fun activities, and great accommodations.
How we slowly fell in love with Langebaan in South Africa!
Let’s be honest: Langebaan wasn’t love at first sight for us. We really had to get used to it. To the ugly suburban housing estates surrounded by massive gates, the lack of authentic cottages, and the long distances to get from one side of the city to the other. But after a few wonderful days, we fell in love with Langebaan, and we highly recommend that you visit this place!
Langebaan: a city stretching over 15 kilometres.
In Dutch, Langebaan translates towards ” long track”, which is fitting for this city. Stretching over a full 15 kilometres, it is very extensive. It lies on the Langebaan Lagoon, a saltwater expanse with calm and relatively warm water. The white beaches with the clear turquoise water have a Caribbean feel, and that is immediately one of the charms of Langebaan itself! It feels as if you aren’t in South Africa, but at a tropical destination.
Langebaan is a coastal town consisting of various neighbourhoods, mostly featuring vacation homes and resorts. For instance, in the north, you will find the Club Mykonos region. This is a large resort district with houses built in the Greek style. It is very touristy here. You will find large shopping centres, a casino, and restaurants. This isn’t really our thing, but many people, especially families, find this a pleasant location. In Langebaan, you will also find a country club district with golf courses and a number of gated communities, such as the Calypso district.
Further south, you will find the city centre where many locals live. This is the area around Bree Street, which is also Langebaan’s only real shopping street. In itself, this still isn’t much to look at; there are a few restaurants, tourist shops, and kite shops. The real attraction here is access to the beautiful beach, Main Beach. We stayed in this area and were very happy with it. Because more locals live here and you are close to a lovely beach, the vibe is relaxed and nice!
Lambs on the beach, collecting shells, and going to the market
Every morning, we walk along the beach to the town centre to get a coffee. We collect beautiful shells, our son chases the seagulls, and we greet the two village sheep. Did you read that right? Yes, two different sheep are taken out onto the beach every day. One of them is currently still a lamb, obediently following his owner. The other is an adult sheep wearing a diaper that walks through the centre with its owner and dog. Both are abandoned lambs that are now embraced by the entire town.
We are lucky, because we are staying in Langebaan on the last Saturday of the month, and that means the Craft Market is on. A market with food, drinks, art, and clothes. It is fun to walk around and is very suitable for children. Click here for the location of the Denlyn Park Craft Market. Furthermore, we enjoy the beautiful water, explore the West Coast area from Langebaan, and Ries takes some e-foiling classes. After a lovely week, we leave again, but we will never forget Langebaan!
How many days do you need for Langebaan?
We stayed six nights in Langebaan, which is perfect because we travel at a relaxed pace and have two small children. If you travel at a faster pace, 3 to 4 days in Langebaan will also be enough time.
The 7 best things to do in Langebaan and the surrounding area:
Langebaan is more than just a city on the beach. There is plenty to do in Langebaan and the surrounding area. Below, we list the best activities for Langebaan, with and without children.
1. Water sports: kitesurfing or e-foiling in Langebaan
The Langebaan lagoon is the perfect place to kite, surf, or e-foil. This is because the water is not very deep, there aren’t many waves, and it is much warmer than the rest of the South African Sea. There is often quite a bit of wind, making it the perfect place to learn to kite.
Ries had wanted to try e-foiling for a long time. E-foiling is a type of surfing on an electric board that allows you to float above the waves. I had given him a class as a birthday present to do here in Langebaan. And we were lucky; e-foiling is easiest to learn when there isn’t too much wind, and during our stay in Langebaan, the wind was much lighter than usual. It was a really cool experience. Ries explains that the learning curve is steep because it is simply much easier than surfing.
Because of the gentle wind, we see few kitesurfers, but plenty of SUPers and people practicing board surfing. Do you want to kite or try another water sport? You will find various providers around Bree Street. Ries took two e-foil lessons at Flamingo Wing-Foil Center.
2. Visit Paternoster or Yzerfontein from Langebaan
There are more charming little villages along the west coast. We found Paternoster, an old fishing village, to be the most delightful. Paternoster is a 40-minute drive from Langebaan. While Langebaan is long and expansive, Paternoster is much smaller and more authentic. Here you will find several small bays, a small harbour, and a lot of white fishermen’s cottages. Brightly colored fishing boats lie on the beach, and there are several nice restaurants and shops.
It can get quite busy here, as Paternoster is a popular spot. If you want to eat at one of the fine-dining restaurants, a reservation is a must. For example, at restaurant Wolfgat, which was named the best restaurant in the world in 2019 (reservations must be made at least several months in advance). With children, we found restaurant Voorstrandt on the beach to be perfect. Other hotspots in Paternoster include Leeto (fine dining), the Hobnobbery for a good coffee and a look around their shop, and the restaurants at the Waterkant such as the See Kat.
Another charming village to visit is Yzerfontein. To be honest, there is less atmosphere here than in beautiful Paternoster, but it is still nice to drive by and check out the beautiful beach. We had a healthy lunch in Yzerfontein at Grounded, and stopped briefly at Weskus Padstal for a coffee and a play session.
Tip: we are traveling to Langebaan with a rental car from Sunny Cars. In South Africa, we always rent a car through them because comprehensive insurance is included as standard. Any hassle with the insurance is handled by Sunny Cars, so you can simply enjoy your holiday.
3. Kid-Friendly Langebaan: Enjoying the sea on the best beaches in Langebaan
Yes, with that warmer water and relatively little current or waves, Langebaan is the place to enjoy the beach and the sea. It can get quite windy here, so if you want to relax on the beach or play in the sand with children, go in the morning; the wind usually picks up in the afternoon.
There are several beautiful beaches in Langebaan. We list them below.
1. Main Beach: child-friendly and popular beach in the heart of Langebaan. We found this to be the nicest beach in Langebaan. Perfect for swimming with children (shallow and little current), practising water sports, or taking beach walks. There are a few restaurants at the beach entrance, and further north, 3 beach bars. Click here for the location of this beach in Langebaan.
2. Shark Bay: Child-friendly and the most beautiful beach in Langebaan. It’s located at the southernmost point of Langebaan. And no, you won’t find any sharks here. So what will you find? Clear and shallow water, incredibly beautiful colors, and on weekends, many families paddleboarding and swimming here all day long. There is one snack bar where you can get ice cream and toasted sandwiches. Click here for the location of this beach in Langebaan.
3. Calypso Beach: a beach close to Mykonos. This beach is a long sandy beach just south of the Mykonos resort area. A nice beach, but with a bit more current, and we found it somewhat less beautiful than Main Beach. You will find a few beach bars at the beginning (north). Click here for the location of this beach in Langebaan.
4. Sandbaai Beach: a small beach popular among locals. This small bay is especially popular among locals who enjoy paddleboarding here or anchoring their sailboat in the small marina. We found this slightly less suitable for children. There are many rocks and stones mixed in with the sand. Click here for the location of this beach in Langebaan.
4. Kid-friendly Langebaan: Go on a safari at one of the nature reserves near Langebaan
There are some nature reserves located near Langebaan (so just over an hour’s drive from Cape Town) where you can go on safaris. These are not the places to see real predators in the wild; they are not large enough for that. It is simply a fun way to get a kind of light safari experience (especially with children) for 1.5 to 3 hours.
What can you see? Different types of deer and roe deer, wildebeest, buffalo, zebras, ostriches, and giraffes. And, of course, all kinds of beautiful birds. We went on a 1.5-hour safari at Thali Thali Resort, and it was a fun afternoon activity that our three-year-old son truly loved. Now, five weeks later, he is still talking about it! It’s also possible to spend the night at Thali Thali; click here for more information. In addition to Thali Thali, other safari parks here are Buffelsfontein and West Coast Safaris.
Tip: We went on a slightly more exciting safari at Botlierskop, but one that is still kid-friendly. Read more about this safari at Botlierskop Park, in our Wilderness blog.. You can also go on a safari at Aquila Private Game Reserve, about a 2.5-hour drive from Cape Town. You can book this here, including a transfer.
5. Langebaan with children: Boat trip on the lagoon
To explore the Langebaan Lagoon better, we decided to take a boat trip. Our boat departs from Club Mykonos for a 90-minute trip. Along the way, we see seals, sail among the kitesurfers, and get a completely different view of Langebaan as we see the most beautiful houses standing high on the rocks.
At first, the water is a bit rough, but as soon as we sail further into the lagoon, it becomes calm, and everyone enjoys the cooling wind and the beautiful view. The 90 minutes flew by, and afterwards, we would have really liked to book the 3-hour trip. That one also passes by the West Coast National Park and the beautiful beaches there. For more information about the boat trip we took, click here.
Langebaan is not the only place on a beautiful lagoon in South Africa. We also found the city of Knysna on the Garden Route beautiful. Read more about Knysna and the lagoon where this city is located in our blog!
6. Visiting the West Coast National Park
Langebaan is located close to the West Coast National Park. On our last day, we decide to visit the park, and we don’t regret it! Upon entry, we receive a map with the park’s highlights and an overview of all the animals that live here. We visit the West Coast National Park in our own car, and you can drive around on good roads. Our son immediately starts looking for animals with enthusiasm, and every time we spot one, he crosses it off on the map. And we see quite some animals: various deer, roe deer, and bucks, herons, marmots, and ostriches.
The park is situated on the Langebaan Lagoon and has some of the most beautiful beaches in South Africa. Clear blue water, white sand, and large rocks. We visit the beautiful beaches of Kraal Bay and Preekstoel. We also look for flamingos and pelicans from the Bird Hide, but unfortunately, we don’t see any.
There are several cool hikes and walking trails in the West Coast National Park, but we have to skip these since we are with children. In spring, a large part of the park is beautifully in bloom with enormous flower fields. And finally, we stop at a viewpoint (Tsaarbank) from where we can see Table Mountain. Between August and October, you can spot whales here.
Allow about half a day for West Coast National Park and take into account waiting times when entering the park during peak season. For more information and a map of the park, click here.
You can find other cool national parks along the Garden Route, among others. Read our Garden Route itinerary for inspiration!
7. Enjoy a 10-course lunch at Die Strandloper
Dining at Die Strandloper is an experience in Langebaan that you really, really don’t want to miss! At this special restaurant in the dunes, a 10-course lunch and dinner are served in a truly unique way: you eat with your hands on wooden beach benches (using mussel shells as cutlery). A new course is served every 20 minutes. Existing of the most delicious seafood dishes we have ever tasted. The dishes are prepared on an open fire, music is played during the meal, and to cool off, you can take a dip in the sea while the kids play in the sand. We ate, among other things, freshly baked bread, delectable mussels, lobster, various types of fish, and a delicious meat stew. The atmosphere is fantastic, the clientele is very diverse, and because each course is served like a buffet, you connect with the people around you.
Neither our children nor we have ever eaten such delicious seafood in such a fun way. And all for an incredibly low price. We pay the equivalent of €25 per person (excluding drinks); children under 5 eat for free. You are allowed to bring your own drinks. Payment is cash only. Keep in mind that you will need about 4 hours for the 10 courses.
Please note: reservations at De Strandloper are necessary. This restaurant is often fully booked months in advance, so be sure to book early! Click here for more information.
Other good restaurants and hotspots in Langebaan
We visited several great hotspots in Langebaan:
RocXiBeach is a restaurant on Bree Street (city center) where you can enjoy a delicious breakfast and eat really excellent sushi. Click here for the location of this restaurant in Langebaan.
Another nice spot in the center for breakfast and coffee is GB Coffee Cafe, where you can safely play with children in the courtyard. Click here for the location of this hotspot in Langebaan.
You can get the very best coffee in Langebaan at coffee roastery Wings Coffee, where they also sell stroopwafels. This is truly a top spot! Click here for the location of this hotspot in Langebaan.
Friday Island, Wunderbar, and Kokomo are beach bars where you can enjoy watching the sun set into the sea. At Friday Island, you eat with your feet in the sand, while at Wunderbar, you sit above their Kitecentre. At Kokomo, there is a nice playground on the beach. All three serve great food, but the focus here is mainly on the relaxed atmosphere with a view of the sea. Click here for the location of Friday Island, here for the location of Wunderbar, and here for the location of Kokomo (they are located next to each other). We were also recommended Marc Beachbar a few times, partly because of the playground, but this wasn’t quite our thing.
The recently opened La Vibra is a nice place with children. There is a small playground, for instance. The Dutch owner is happy to come and have a chat. Click here for the location of this hotspot in Langebaan.
The best accommodations in Langebaan
There are plenty of hotels and, especially, many apartments in Langebaan. As described above, you can choose to stay in the Club Mykonos resort area. We deliberately chose not to do that and stayed in the center of Langebaan. Below are three options if you also want to sleep centrally in Langebaan. And click here for an overview of all hotels in Langebaan.
Atlantic Beach Cottage €
We stayed 6 nights in this small two-bedroom cottage 25 meters from the beach. A nice, budget location with a small garden and facilities for children. Please note: no air conditioning. You can stay here from €152 per night (4 people).
The Farmhouse Hotel €€
The beautiful Farmhouse Hotel overlooks the lagoon, located 300 meters away. There is a small but lovely swimming pool and a beautiful restaurant (Petite Maison). Please note: no air conditioning. from €125 including breakfast (2 people).
Beach Tower House €€€€
This beautiful 4-bedroom house is located right on the beach. So, you can walk straight into the dunes from your front door. There is an infinity pool, a braai (barbecue), and every bedroom has its own bathroom. From €524 per night (8 people).
Read our South Africa hotel guide here, with a selection of the best hotels in South Africa!
Click here for more of our blogs on South Africa
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