The largest and deepest natural bay in the nation is Saldanha Bay, where the seaside village of Saldanha is located. Travellers from all over the world can stay in guest homes, lodges, bed and breakfasts, and hotels in Saldanha. The northernmost point of Saldanha Bay, South Africa’s largest and deepest natural bay, is where the beach village of Saldanha is located.
The attractive harbour town of Saldanha, which is located around 110 kilometres (km) up the Cape West Coast from Cape Town, depends heavily on exports and the fishing sector; its economy is driven by crayfish, fish, mussels, oysters, and seaweed.
The Sishen-Saldanha iron-ore project dominates this harbour, which is also home to a naval training base, the South African Military Academy, and a large fleet of fishing boats that give the bay its distinct personality.
Seagulls, cormorants, Cape gannets, duikers, and terns, which typically outnumber people by a ratio of approximately a million to one, are also found in this largely unspoiled region of the world, and ecotourism is a growing industry.
The West Coast Fossil Park features one of the biggest collections of late Tertiary vertebrate fossils in the world. The first European sea traders arrived in Saldanha around 500 years ago, and fossilized evidence suggests that humans may have lived here as long as 117 000 years ago.
Yellowtail and tuna are simple to catch, and snoek is available in the winter, so Saldanha bay and Langebaan lagoon, on the south side of the bay, are particularly popular with the yachting community and game fishing fanatics.
With its five islands and an abundance of marine life, the bay has plenty of fresh sea air, is a favourite of kite surfers and water skiers, and provides unparalleled chances for fishing, deep sea diving, and whale watching.
Saldanha Map
Things To Do In Saldanha
Slipway Waterfront Restaurant
Only 90 minutes from Cape Town, the Slipway Waterfront Restaurant is tucked away at the edge of Saldanha Bay Harbour’s calm, windless waters. It gives tourists a breathtaking variety of experiences ranging from floral beauty to cultural history passing through gastronomic excellence. It is located in the Langebaan Lagoon.
Their speciality is fresh bay-grown mussels and oysters that are delectable. You won’t be disappointed with any of the endless alternatives for mussels, including mussels with bacon bits, mussels in wine, and mussels in sweet-and-sour sauce. Alternatively, choose from fresh line fish, pasta, steaks or rings of calamari, plus the greatest steaks on the West Coast. For group reservations, don’t forget to set your own menus or provide the kids’ menu.
Their exclusive “Bill Henry” bar is open seven days a week, including Friday and Saturday evenings in the summer, and is completely licensed.
South Head Lighthouse
By virtue of its name, the South Head lighthouse indicates that the North Head lighthouse is its partner, which it is. The current concrete tower lighthouse, which has a deep red top and a white bottom, is located in the Langebaan National Park on a prominent promontory close to Saldanha Bay’s southern entrance.
Similar to the North Head lighthouse, the South Head started out as a 23-meter-tall aluminium lattice tower with a Stone-Chance lantern atop it. This lantern had a bulb that produced four white flashes every thirty seconds. The current lighthouse is located in a region known as Donkergat that is under the supervision of the National Defense Force; as a result, the lighthouse is protected by locked gates. It is rather evident that the public cannot access it.
To warn boats and ships of the dangerous rocks in this area, the North and South Heads are present on either side of Saldanha’s entrance. Numerous ships are buried in the ocean’s sand, which serves as evidence of this. In December 1969, the twins—as they are commonly known—started their operations. At first glance, they were identical twins.
Only the shapes of the lighthouses nowadays are comparable. They are painted in entirely different colours, which is perhaps a good idea because it clearly distinguishes between the north and the south. In contrast to South Head’s white and red paint job, North Head is decorated with diagonals of black and white.
Saldanha Nature Reserve MTB Trail
Don’t let the military connection turn you off; the natural reserve is located on a peninsula inside the military facility at the end of Saldanha Bay. The reserve offers stunning views of the ocean, and the combination of the rocks and greenery creates a lovely backdrop. Public access to the reserve is available; use the military academy’s boom gates to enter.
The ride is easy because most of the terrain is flat, and the routes are not difficult to figure out because they follow jeep tracks and dirt roads around the peninsula. However, the trail markings are not particularly clear—there used to be clear red, green, blue, and yellow trail indicators—and many of the route markers are either old or broken.
The estuary in Langebaan is a great place for kiteboarding, windsurfing, fishing, bird watching, and hiking, so the whole family can enjoy it.
Best Accommodation Options In Saldanha
Blue Bay Lodge Cottages
A number of well-designed, cosy self-catering cottages are located next to Blue Bay Lodge, giving visitors even more seclusion. Each cottage has a television and a separate “braai” area. Laundry services are offered at a small additional cost. The Blue Bay Lodge facilities, including the Play Park, swimming pool, tennis court, and meters of beachfront, are undoubtedly available to visitors.
The one, two, or three-bedroom cottages are constructed among the Cape fynbos and blend seamlessly with the surrounding environment. Each apartment features a fully functional kitchen, light-filled rooms, and nicely decorated furniture. In the privacy of the resort, parents may watch their children play on the beach from the cottage windows, safe in the knowledge that they are safe from the outside world and can enjoy the trampoline and play parks to their heart’s content. only some satellite television channels.
Blue Bay Lodge
Overlooking the lagoon is Blue Bay Lodge. Visitors can unwind while they loiter on the terraces of the upscale Blue Bay Café and observe dolphins and whales swimming by or seagulls circling overhead. The restaurant offers a delectable breakfast buffet and excellent a la carte meals every day, along with a variety of Cape wines. The inclusion of daily “specials,” which are made by highly skilled workers, frequently changes the menu. There is also a bar with a full license.
At Blue Bay Lodge, every detail has been given careful consideration to ensure our visitors’ comfort and enjoyment. Natural and blue tones were used to attractively design each area. The crisp, chilly décor has undertones of warmth and echoes the hues of the sea and sand.
Each of the 16 opulent guestrooms and suites has a private bathroom, DSTV, a hairdryer, and coffee-making amenities. The hotel also features a tennis court, a “braai” area, and a dazzling pool for those who have had their fill of swimming in the ocean.
Vintour Guest House
The Saldanha Bay mountains border the double-story Vintour Guest House, which provides guests with expansive views of the Bay. Visitors can take in panoramic views from the meeting room, dining room, and three full bathrooms (bath and shower). The fourth bedroom offers a private bathroom and a stunning mountain outlook.
All rooms have a flat-screen TV with full DStv packages, linen, towels as well as tea and coffee facilities. Laundry service available on request. While sitting on the balcony enjoying the beautiful views of the bay or even lying in bed you can make use of our free wireless internet.