At the Rocks, Langebaan

Spring Flowers at the edge of Langebaan lagoon August 2005

posted by Rod MacPhail @ 1:53 am 0 comments

Watersports abound in Langebaan ...

This is a view of our favourite waterskiing spot, Kraalbaai. The rock that you can see in the background is called "Preekstoel" which means "pulpit" in Afrikaans.

In the foreground you will see an enthusiastic water-skiing party comprising the MacPhail family.

Lots of adventurous activities available during the daytime such as kite-surfing, wind-surfing, kayaking, swimming, sailing, etc. Relax on the stope while you watch the sunset before going to one of the many restaurants for dinner.

posted by Rod MacPhail @ 12:27 pm 0 comments

At the Rocks, Langebaan - Progress

This is an early version of a web site that we intend to use for our new guest house at Langebaan. Some of the pictures you will see will show the views from the house, the construction as it proceeds, and some shots of wildflowers and kraalbaai, our favourite waterskiing spot.

Langebaan is a small village 130 km north of Cape Town on the West Coast. In days gone by it was primarily a fishing village, but is now a holiday village with most of its properties being owned as holiday houses.

It is a world-renowned centre for watersports the lagoon is approximately 18 km long and at its widest 4 km. The water, unlike the called southern Atlantic which feeds the lagoon, is warm and summer with temperatures up to 24° C. the lagoon and is only on average about 2 m deep and is a paradise for marine birds as well as pelicans and flamingos.

In the springtime the lagoon is surrounded by a landscape of wildflowers which is positively breathtaking. During the winter months the surrounding areas are green and lush, but in the summer the area returns to the typical semi desert dry scrub.

There is very little artificial light generated around Langebaan, and a short drive into the nature reserve will allow you to observe the southern sky at its best, untainted by the light pollution which is common in the of the major cities.

The prevailing wind in summer is the southerly and southeasterly winds. This provides sailors both large and small with the finest safe sailing conditions in the world.

For us water skiers the shelter of kraalbaai provides an opportunity, normally in the early morning or late afternoon to ski on flat water.

Langebaan is also home to "Lucy". Lucy is the footprint of one of the residents of the Langebaan area who lived there 117 000 years ago, thus making it one of the earliest known residential areas of Homo sapiens.

We hope to open our new guest house in the southern hemisphere autumn of 2006. The house will comprise five ensuite bedrooms all with sea views. The house is situated on the edge of a nature reserve and a 10 minute stroll through the nature reserve will take you to the beach.

There are approximately 14 restaurants in the village which provide a range of cuisine with a strong emphasis on seafood.This is a very relaxing part of the world. The skies are normally blue and clear, summer and winter (rainfall is only 100 mm a year in Langebaan).

posted by Rod MacPhail @ 1:30 am 0 comments