West Coast National Park

West Coast National Park is located along the coast of the far southwestern part of South Africa. The park covers an area of 140,000 square miles (362.59 sq km). It is not far from the renowned Table Mountain National Park.

The national park service of South Africa describes the protected area as azure colored waters with white dunes and green wetlands as the backdrop.  This coastal paradise is a tremendous place for biking, hiking, and exploring while keeping eyes up for the variety of birds found across the park.

The majority of the park landscape is accounted for by strandveld vegetation. A secondary vegetation habitat on display is the Hopefield Sand Plain Fynbos.  Combined with the waterways and wetlands, this is a tremendous sanctuary for a number of bird species.

This west coast region is recognized as both an Important Bird Area and protected wetlands under the Ramsar Convention. Numerous species of birds migrate or nest in the region. Summer is the best time to visit creating an opportunity to experience the largest number of migrant species that will visit the area.  One of the highlights for bird lovers is the African penguin but there are many other species to enjoy.

Although the West Coast National Park is more renowned for birdwatching and the rich birdlife environment, there is a variety of wildlife species found throughout the park. Some of the popular species include antelope, bontebok, duiker, eland, gemsbok, hartebeest, kudu, mongoose, ostrich, and zebra.