Saldanha

Saldanha at a glance

Saldanha is the smaller of the two towns along theLangebaan lagoonwhich forms part of the Saldanha Bay Local Municipality which incorporates 6 towns (Langebaan, Vredenburg, Hopefield, St Helena Bay, Jacobsbaai and Paternoster) in the West Coast region of the Western Cape.

Saldanha's demographics include a population of 22 765 adults with an average household income ranging between R9 000 to R17 000 (LSM 4 - LSM 7 Low). Saldanha has 6 030 freehold properties and 86sectional title properties.

Saldanha History

The area has an archaeological history of a few million years. The West Coast Fossil Park is located 30km east of Saldanha and houses a fossil deposit which is considered to be one of the richest in the world.

Saldanha is named after António de Saldanha, captain of a vessel in Albuquerque's fleet which visited South Africa in 1503. The name Saldanha Bay was first given to Table Bay, where Saldanha's ship cast anchor. On Table Bay being given its present name in 1601, the older appellation was transferred to the bay now called after Saldanha.

Langebaan lagoonwas once a safe haven for ships navigating the often treacherous Atlantic Ocean. Seafarers from all over the world were able to safely come to shore via the Langebaan Lagoon, and the stopover provided a chance to obtain fresh meat and agricultural supplies. They also used the safety of the bay to repair their ships.

During the first Khoi-Dutch War (1659) over loss of pastures the injured Khoi leader Doman retreated to Saldanha Bay to recuperate.

During 1662 Jan van Riebeeck sent scouts to the bay. Their negative report about the lack of fresh water however made him loose interest in the area. The bay was only used to provide the Cape with fish, eggs, and birds and to keep sheep on Schaapen Island, for the use of passing ships.

In the 1670s the Khoikhoi were defeated by the Dutch in numerous armed confrontations in the Saldanha Bay and Boland regions in the Second Khoi-Dutch War and the VOC allocated seized lands to farmers.

During the 17th century, French seal hunters often used the areas around Saldanha to store their sealskins and whale oil.

In 1781 a British squadron under Commodore George Johnstoneseized six Dutch East Indiamen, which, fearing an attack on Cape Town, had taken refuge in Saldanha Bay.

The area remained quiet until the guano (white gold) rush in 1844. For the next few years, hundreds of ships stripped the islands of guano.

Between the 1870's & 1880's the Bay of Saldanha became a quarantine station for those ships carrying contagious disease which had to be removed as far and as fast as possible from Cape Town.

Saldanha Bay is also home to numerous fish canneries. The most notable of these is the Saldanha Bay Canning Company, founded by James Kasner and Ellis Silverman in 1905.

In 1909 John Bryde opened a whaling station at Donkergat, when Greenland whales became scarce. The Great Depression of 1930 brought an end to whaling. The demand for whale-oil during the Second World War let to the reopening of the whaling station at Donkergat in 1947 - one of the southern hemisphere's biggest whale stations which was closed down in 1967.

In World War II, Saldanha was used as a base and a convoy staging post for the British fleet after the Suez canal was occupied by Axis forces and the increased pressure on Table Bay harbour necessitated the development of an sheltered and alternative harbour - especially sinceSaldanha has the deepest and largest natural harbour in the southern hemisphere and the safest one in South Africa. Catalina Flying boats were used to track German submarines from Saldanha.

The lack of water has always prevented large-scale urban and industrial development. The Second World War and also the development of commercial fishing along the West Coast therefor necessitated the building in 1943 of a water pipeline from the Berg River. The South African defence force established a naval base and a military academy after the Second World War.

The Saldanha Bay port developed into a modern harbour only in 1976, when it became necessary to facilitate the export of iron ore from the Northern Cape. This required the construction from 1973 of a railway more than 800 kilometres to the mines at Sishen in the Northern Cape and the construction of a deep-water jetty in Saldanha Bay to accommodate Capesize ore carrier ships.

(Sources - Bokkom / Farmhouse Hotel / Wikipedia / sahistory.org.za / westcoastescape.co.za)

Saldanha's Location, Lifestyle & Infrastructure:

Location

Saldanha is a town in theWestern Cape Province ofSouth Africa on the northern shore of Langebaan Lagoon. Saldanha is situated 105 km north ofCape Town, just off theR27, about 15km from Vredenburg and 20km fromLangebaan.

Lifestyle

Saldanha inhabitants are spoilt for choice when it comes to activities and attractions in the region. Water sport enthusiasts can take advantage of the mild climate and the protected and clear waters of the Langebaan Lagoon, which is perfect forkite surfing, windsurfing, wake boarding, tube riding and jet skiing or alternatively to go kayaking, sailing or even enjoy a relaxing boat cruise and fishing.

Those who enjoy a more peaceful lifestyle, or just being in nature, can go strolling on the shore of the Langebaan lagoon or visit the 1800 ha SAS Saldanha Nature Reserve and the close by West Coast National Park, where you can enjoy hiking trails, picnics, game viewing, bird watching and even whale watching. All the nature reserve areas of the West Coast is well known for its spectacular display of flowers between July through to September.

Infrastructure

The commercial center of Saldanha boasts a variety of shops - with a variety of the national retail stores represented including medical and healthcare facilities, banks, places of worship and other amenities.

Two regional shopping centres in close by Langebaan (Laguna Mall - 28min) and Vredenburg (West Coast Mall - 16 min) has a wide range of shopping and leisure options and boasts a variety of mainstream tenants.

There is a good choice of restaurants and coffee shops in Saldanha, with many of them offering a variety of fresh seafood. The fourth best restaurant in South Africa, Wolfgat in Paternoster, are only 30km (30 min) from Saldanha.

The popular Club Mykonos is 25km from Saldanha on the north eastern shore of the Langebaan lagoon. This Greek themed resort's onsite facilities include tennis and squash courts, sauna, swimming pool, a games room and several restaurants, as well as a casino. Club Mykonos Resort hosts a number of annual events, festivals and exhibitions.

Two private nature reserves are located close to Saldanha. Elandsfontein is situated next to the West Coast National Park and is home to more than 600 wild animals which roam freely as well as a famous fossil deposit. On Buffelsfontein game drives, you can get to see Lion, Buffalo, Giraffe, Zebra, Blue Wildebeest, Red Hartebeest, Kudu, Eland, Oryx (Gemsbok), Bontebok, Springbok, Duiker, Steenbok and Caracal.

Large-scale sporting events such as triathlons, the downwind dash, cycling, car gymkhanas and more are held in and around the Langebaan lagoon.

Saldanha is home to various B&B's, self-catering units, hotels and guesthouses.

Types of Real Estate available

Some of the most sought-after seafront properties on the West Coast are found on the Lagoon - especially in the Bluewater Bay suburb. TheSaldanha property marketconsist of 6116 permanent residential properties to be found across the town.

Various types of property are for sale in Saldanha, such as flats or apartments, town houses,houses, security complexes,vacant land or erfs to develop you own home as well as beach (lagoon) front homes.

Over the last decade there has been an influx of people from other provinces, especially from Gauteng, which strengthened the property market asSaldanha,Langebaan andVredenburg have developed into a business hub. This will gain momentum when the expected further investments into the Saldanha Industrial Development Zone takes effect. It is estimated that this development will bring a massive change in the local property market, as many homes will need to be provided for a new workforce, adding to the 6 030 full-title property and 86 sectional title units.

Vacant stand prices range from just below R200 000 (Hoogland Estate) up to R3 800 000 for beach front plots next to the Langebaan Lagoon. The majority of houses are currently (2018) selling in the price range between R800 000 and R1 500 000. On the high end of the market, properties are available up to R7 500 000.

If you want to make a property investment, to enjoy a care-free Cape West Coast and country lifestyle, contact the CCH team to learn more about our fine selection of Saldanha property (see contact details below).

Suburbs in Saldanha:

Langebaan property for sale includes real estate in suburbs such asBluewater Bay, which lies nestled on the sandy beaches of the lagoon;Hoogland Estatewith its unobstructed views over the Langebaan lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean (depending on where your plot is located);Saldanha Heights with beautiful views overlooking Langebaan Lagoon;Parkersdorp (within walking distance to the lagoon);Saldanha Central (ideally situated near the business district and the beach);White City (close to business center with some properties also with beautiful lagoon views) andDiazville which offers a variety of very affordable properties.

General Interest Information

Whale watching is possible from Tsaarsbank and there are picnics for day visitors. The park is located along the shore of the lagoon. This area is a protected wetland and provides a safe haven for thousands of birds, thus forming part of the Flamingo Birding Route.

Swimming and picnicking are very popular activities at Kraal Bay, where the water is sometimes as much as 10 degrees warmer than the sea.

Important fossil deposits are found within the West Coast National Park, with "Eve's Footprint" near Kraal Bay estimated to be 117 000 years old.

Langebaan Lagoon

The Lagoon stretches for 17km from Saldanha Bay, past Langebaan, to Geelbek in the South, and in places is up to 4km wide. The Lagoon has channels of differing depths and this leads to the different shades of turquoise colouring. Some days, it really looks like the Lagoon has turned itself into a turquoise peacock posing for a photograph.

The Langebaan Lagoon is one of only three lagoons in the world that is nourished by the sea and not rivers. The Lagoon was shaped by the rise and fall of sea levels during pre-historic times. This is quite unlike typical lagoons which form where fresh water rivers enter the sea. The result is a purely salt water lagoon.

The way in which the southern winds blow surface water into the sea, has led to a welling up of deep nutrient-rich water from the Benguela current which replaces the surface water. This plankton-rich water streams into the Lagoon twice a day with the tides. With the tide streaming in and out at the Saldanha Bay entrance, as fast as 1 meter per second, the Lagoon, which is at the end of this stream, is constantly well-fed.

The shallow waters in the southern tip of the lagoon have developed into a salt marsh which means that it has a salt content of up to three times more than sea water. This type of wetland provides essential decayed plant material which is needed in the food chain. The Langebaan Lagoon is in fact one of the most developed salt marshes in South Africa.

The lagoon, with its strong winds and flat waters, was the perfect venue for the 2008 Hobie Tiger and Dragoon World Championships. Seventy-four teams, representing fourteen countries took part in this exciting international sailing event that showcased Langebaan as a world-class venue.

Climate

Saldanha has a Mediterranean climate with most of the rain fall during the winter. Summers are pleasant with temperatures of 26 degrees Celsius on average. June is the coldest month with 8 degrees Celsius on average. Saldanha is drier and warmer than Cape Town. However, a wind-chill is responsible for a colder feel. During the winter months a thick fog may cover the sea.

For more information about Saldanha's

• Owner Profile / Demographics;
• Property Sales In Saldanha - Property Market Size
• Capital Growth In Saldanha Property Market
• Saldanha Real Estate Market - Property Prices Analysis

please read the article on our website:https://www.cch.co.za/news/saldanha-bay-property-market-2018-property-sales-report/

If you arelooking to buy orsell a propertyin Saldanha or would like to know more about the town's lifestyle, please contact our local specialist estate agents to assist you:

Ronelle Cockrell -ronelle@cch.co.za / 083 232 1735

Source - Lightstone