04/01/2026
Langebaan se blou 🙌🏻🤩
1000 Dae
The Langebaan Lagoon is on South Africa’s West Coast and forms part of one of the country’s oldest inhabited regions. People lived in this area long before written history. Archaeological evidence in the wider region dates back thousands of years, and fossil discoveries nearby point to human presence in the Stone Age.
European sailors reached the area in the early 1600s. French seal hunters used Schaapen Island as a base for processing seal skins and storing whale oil. At the time the island was known as Isle à la Biche. It later became a stopover for ship repairs and was used by the Dutch East India Company to graze sheep destined for Cape Town.
Early Portuguese navigators mistakenly believed the sheltered waters were part of what is now Table Bay. The wider bay was named Saldanha after António de Saldanha, even though he never entered the lagoon itself.
During the 17th century, the French and Dutch competed for control of the bay. The French eventually withdrew, and the Dutch used the lagoon to supply fish and penguin eggs to the Cape settlement. A military post was established to prevent illegal trading between local fishermen and passing ships.
In the 18th century, sea traffic increased and the lagoon became dangerous for navigation. Several ships were wrecked on the surrounding islands, some of which still lie beneath the water. In 1844, the discovery of guano on the islands caused a rush, with hundreds of ships anchoring in the bay. At the same time, farmers settled along the lagoon’s shores.
During the American Civil War, the Confederate warship CSS Alabama stopped in the bay to take on supplies. One crew member, George Lloyd, deserted and later founded Churchhaven on the lagoon.
The name “Langebaan” is generally linked to the long, calm stretch of water formed by the lagoon, which sailors used to anchor and clean their ships. The settlement grew slowly, shaped mainly by fishing.
In 1909, a whaling station was established at Donkergat, followed by other fishing businesses. An oyster shell factory opened in 1918 on the site where the yacht club stands today. Whaling ended in 1968, after which the village remained small and focused on fishing.
In the late 20th century, Langebaan Lagoon became known as a holiday destination.