157km from CT

Velddrif is situated on the northern bank of the Berg River, adjacent to Port Owen and 2 km east of
Laaiplek. It is here where the meandering Berg River flows into the Atlantic, and also the finish-line of
the annual Berg River Canoe Marathon from Paarl to Velddrif. It’s a charming and modest town which
attracts many tourists in all seasons. The town is known for its seafood, birdlife and spring flowers.
The Berg River estuary is home to about more than 200 bird species.
Velddrif began as a cannery and evolved around this industry. Laaiplek (“loading place”), within
walking distance, was the “harbour” where local farmers gathered to send their produce to Cape
Town. Drif is the Afrikaans for “ford” and Velddrif refers to the fording place to cross the river before
the bridge was built.

Langebaan is one of the oldest towns in South Africa, with a history dating back more than 400 years. It has an archaeological history of a few million years. Twelve kilometres east of the farm Elandsfontein, a fossilised skeleton was found that dates back to the Stone Age.

Langebaan was officially established in 1870 on the farm Geitenmelksfontein and it is speculated that the town was named after the meandering dirt road behind the sand dunes that lead to the original homestead at Lynch Point.