Local municipality · West Coast District
# Saldanha Bay

Saldanha Bay is a local municipality of South Africa in West Coast District, Western Cape Province. It had an estimated 127,121 people in 2020 on 2,015 km² (about 63 per km²). 38 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 541 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.
- 127,121 people (2020)
- 2,015 km²
- 541 mapped services
- 20 m typical elevation

## How many people live in Saldanha Bay?

Saldanha Bay had an estimated 127,121 people in 2020 — 25.6% of West Coast District, 82nd of 190 local municipalities. There are 974 women for every 1,000 men (close to the West Coast District figure of 976). Spread over 2,015 km², that is about 63 people per km², 67th of 190 local municipalities.

24.3% of people are children under 15 and 6.2% are 65 or older; the median age is about 31 years (it is 31 across West Coast District). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 44 children and older people.
- 0–4 10,784
- 5–9 10,118
- 10–14 10,001
- 15–19 8,659
- 20–24 10,517
- 25–29 11,842
- 30–34 12,354
- 35–39 11,360
- 40–44 9,811
- 45–49 7,569
- 50–54 6,426
- 55–59 5,291
- 60–64 4,470
- 65–69 3,637
- 70–74 2,203
- 75–79 1,308
- 80+ 771

Source: Statistics South Africa 2016 Community Survey Population via OCHA HDX, population 2020 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO).

## Where is Saldanha Bay?

Saldanha Bay lies in West Coast District, Western Cape Province, South Africa. It borders 2 other local municipalities: Bergrivier and Swartland. By area it is the 160th largest of 213 local municipalities in South Africa. It covers 6.5% of West Coast District. The centre of Saldanha Bay is about 1,254 km in a straight line from Pretoria, the capital. It is about 39 km from Moorreesburg, the main town of West Coast District. The centre point is at 33.0105° S, 18.2732° E. Local names: WC014.

Source: South African Municipal Demarcation Board via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO).

## Things to see in and around Saldanha Bay

OpenStreetMap lists 25 named sights in Saldanha Bay: 9 viewpoints; 9 nature reserves; 3 attractions; 1 archaeological site; 1 memorial; 1 museum; 1 beach.
- West Coast Fossil Park Exhibition · museum
- Fossil dig · archaeological site
- Cape Columbine Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Groot Paternoster Private Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Hopefield Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Orangevlei Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Postberg Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- SAS Saldanha Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Swartriet Private Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- West Coast National Park · nature reserve
- West Point Private Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Britannia Beach · beach
- Atlantic Viewpoint · viewpoint
- Bird Hide · viewpoint
- Green Route View Jacobsbaai · viewpoint
- Max & Lili whales viewing point · viewpoint
- Plankiesbaai · viewpoint
- Seeberg Bird Hide · viewpoint
- Seeberg View Point · viewpoint
- Tsaarsbank · viewpoint
- Uitkyk · viewpoint
- Abrahamskraal Bird Hide · attraction
- Preekstoel · attraction
- Shelley Point Lighthouse · attraction
- Memorial to Vasco da Gama · memorial

Source: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements.

Named attractions, museums, viewpoints, historic sites and natural features mapped in OpenStreetMap. Places of worship are not listed.

## Know before you go: Saldanha Bay
- Time zone UTC+2, no daylight saving · Africa/Johannesburg
- Currency Rand (ZAR)
- Country calling code +27
- Languages Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Pedi, English, Tswana
- Plug types Type C, D · 230 V
- Driving side Left
- Postcode format 4 digits (####)

### Nearest airports
- Cape Town International Airport (CPT) · Cape Town 111 km

### Nearest railway station

Portugees (Saldanha Bay), about 8.6 km from the centre.

### Daylight

Days are longest in Dec (about 14.3 hours, sunrise around 05:32) and shortest in Jun (about 10.0 hours, sunrise around 07:47, sunset around 17:46).

Source: GeoNames country and time-zone files (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata (CC0) — plug types, mains voltage, driving side; retrieved 2026-11-03; OurAirports (public domain).

Airports with scheduled passenger flights; straight-line distances. Daylight is calculated for the 15th of each month in local standard time. Check entry and visa rules with official government sources before travelling.

## Villages and localities in Saldanha Bay

Open gazetteers list 38 villages, towns and localities in Saldanha Bay. The largest with a recorded population: Saldanha (68,284), Vredenburg (45,986), Saint Helena Bay (13,813), Langebaan (9,940), Hopefield (7,457) and Paternoster (2,360). Settlements here lie between about 5 m and 129 m above sea level (median 20 m).
- Bekbaai
- Bottelary
- Bovenfontein
- Britannia Bay
- Churchhaven
- De Brug
- Diazville
- Donkergat
- Grootfontein
- Hopefield
- Jacobs Bay
- Jacobsbaai
- Laingville
- Langebaan
- Langebaanweg
- Louwville
- Milnavair
- Myburgh Park
- Môreson
- Noordbaai
- Ongegund
- Oudekraalfontein
- Parker's Town
- Paternoster
- Rusfontein
- Saint Helena Bay
- Saldanha
- Sandy Point
- Seeberg
- Shelley Point
- Stofbergsfontein
- Stompneus Bay
- Stompneusbaai
- Tierkloof
- Vredenburg
- West Point
- White City
- Witteklip

Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features; © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements.

## Landscape and landmarks of Saldanha Bay

Named natural and historic features inside Saldanha Bay, from the GeoNames gazetteer.

### Coast and islands

12 headlands; 6 islands; 1 bay.
- Baviaanspunt
- Britannia Point
- Donkergat Bay
- Elandspunt
- Jut Point
- Jutteneiland
- Kleineiland
- Langebaan Point
- Malgas Island
- Meeu Island
- North Head
- Salamanderpunt
- Sandy Point
- Shell Bay Point
- Skaapeiland
- South Head
- Stony Head
- Vondelingeiland
- West Point

### Hills and mountains

31 hills; 1 mountain.
- Betjieskop · 217 m
- Patrysberg · 212 m
- Vlaeberg · 184 m
- Witte Klip Hill · 184 m
- Kasteelberg · 172 m
- Konstabelberg · 169 m
- Kaalberg · 156 m
- Karringberg · 155 m
- Klipheuwel · 151 m
- Soetlandskop · 150 m
- Suurvykop · 147 m
- Massenberg · 131 m
- Besaansklip · 127 m
- Seeberg · 127 m
- Postberg · 126 m
- Die Kop · 124 m
- Heuningklip · 120 m
- Anyskop · 119 m
- Kleinberg · 109 m
- Malgaskop · 108 m
- South Head Hill · 102 m
- Ysterberg · 101 m
- Stinkkruidkop · 98 m
- Maermanskop · 93 m

…and 8 more.

### Forests and nature

1 nature reserve.
- Postberg Nature Reserve

### History

1 ruin.
- Hopefield Fossil Site

### Getting around

2 airports; 2 airfields; 2 railway stations.
- AFB Langebaanweg
- Danger Bay
- Langebaanweg
- Saldanha /Vredenburg Airport
- Stompneusbaai
- Vredenburg

Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features.

Places of worship are not listed. Elevations are from the GeoNames terrain model and are approximate.

## Weather in Saldanha Bay and the best time to visit

Using the climate of West Coast District, the warmest month is Feb (average 24 °C) and the coolest is Jul (12 °C). About 332 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Jun (71 mm) and the driest Feb (6 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are January to December.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
| Month | Average °C | Rain mm |
| Jan | 24 | 6 |
| Feb | 24 | 6 |
| Mar | 22 | 8 |
| Apr | 19 | 23 |
| May | 16 | 40 |
| Jun | 12 | 71 |
| Jul | 12 | 64 |
| Aug | 12 | 53 |
| Sep | 15 | 23 |
| Oct | 18 | 15 |
| Nov | 21 | 13 |
| Dec | 23 | 9 |

Source: NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29.

## Nearest hospital, bank and fuel from Saldanha Bay
| Need | Nearest mapped | Distance | |
| Hospital | Langebaan Animal Hospital & Vet Shop · Saldanha Bay | 24 km | Map |
| Bank | Capitec Bank ATM · Saldanha Bay | 21 km | Map |
| ATM | Capitec Bank ATM · Saldanha Bay | 8.9 km | Map |
| Petrol pump | Engen · Saldanha Bay | 9.4 km | Map |
| Hotel | Emmanuel Farm Self Catering Houses -Langebaan · Saldanha Bay | 6.7 km | Map |
| Mall | Laguna Mall · Saldanha Bay | 21 km | Map |
| School | Babbelbekkies Playgroup · Saldanha Bay | 8.0 km | Map |
| College | Langebaan Hair Academy · Saldanha Bay | 23 km | Map |
| Police station | SAPS Vredenburg · Saldanha Bay | 28 km | Map |

Source: Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

Straight-line distance from the centre of the division, within 40 km.

## Hospitals, banks and other services in Saldanha Bay

Places mapped inside Saldanha Bay in open map data, by type.
- Hospitals 6
- Banks 25
- ATMs 12
- Petrol pumps 24
- Hotels 122
- Shopping malls 6
- Schools 179
- Colleges and universities 6
- Pharmacies 12
- Restaurants 143
- Police stations 3
- Dental clinics 3

Source: Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

Coverage depends on what has been mapped; contact details are not shown.

## Other local municipalities in West Coast District
- Bergrivier
- Cederberg
- Matzikama
- Swartland

## Quick answers
- Where is Saldanha Bay? In West Coast District, Western Cape Province, South Africa
- What is the population of Saldanha Bay? 127,121 (2020 estimate)
- What is the median age in Saldanha Bay? About 31 years (2020 estimate)
- What is the population density of Saldanha Bay? About 63 people per km²
- What borders Saldanha Bay? Bergrivier and Swartland
- What is there to see in Saldanha Bay? Abrahamskraal Bird Hide, Atlantic Viewpoint, Bird Hide, Britannia Beach
- What time zone is Saldanha Bay in? UTC+2
- What currency is used in Saldanha Bay? Rand (ZAR)
- What language is spoken in Saldanha Bay? Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in Saldanha Bay? 38 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of Saldanha Bay? Settlements lie between 5 m and 129 m
- What is the highest point in Saldanha Bay? Betjieskop (217 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Saldanha Bay? January to December
- Where is the nearest hospital to Saldanha Bay? Langebaan Animal Hospital & Vet Shop, about 24 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest bank to Saldanha Bay? Capitec Bank ATM, about 21 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest ATM to Saldanha Bay? Capitec Bank ATM, about 8.9 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest petrol pump to Saldanha Bay? Engen, about 9.4 km from the centre
- How many hospitals are in Saldanha Bay? 6 mapped
- How many banks are in Saldanha Bay? 25 mapped
- How many ATMs are in Saldanha Bay? 12 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Saldanha Bay? 24 mapped
- What is the P-code of Saldanha Bay? ZA1014 (OCHA common operational dataset)

At a glance
- Type: Local municipality
- Area: 2,015.4 km²
- P-code: ZA1014
- District: West Coast District
- Main town: Vredenburg

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Canonical: https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/western-cape/west-coast/saldanha-bay/ · Updated 2026-11-03 · Data: national censuses and statistics offices (sources named in each section); © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL); Overture Maps; GeoNames; NASA POWER.