Lagoon View

Why Churchhaven?

Because there’s nowhere else quite like it

A coastal hamlet hidden within a protected park and laced with stories of resilience and reverence. Once a small fishing community, this shore of the Langebaan Lagoon offers a lifestyle rooted in simplicity and sustainability. Here, houses are handed down like heirlooms. And when one becomes available – it’s a moment.

Untouched and timeless

The beauty of Lagoon View lies in its balance – a blueprint rooted in the humble traditions of West Coast design, and full of possibility. With uninterrupted views stretching across the lagoon, this water’s edge home offers the perfect canvas for future memories. Whether you’re envisioning a soulful artist’s haven or a barefoot family hideaway, the stage is set. All it needs is your touch.

In keeping with Churchhaven’s gentle footprint, Lagoon View is entirely off-grid. Solar-powered and water-independent, the home invites a self-sustaining lifestyle that doesn’t compromise on comfort. Sunlight powers your daily life.

And the best part? You’re sheltered from the summer southeaster, with the lagoon-view courtyard perfectly positioned for year-round enjoyment.

A legacy of living lightly

This land has always whispered of quiet resilience. Long before this part of Churchhaven became one of the West Coast’s best-kept secrets, it was the vast Stofbergsfontein Farm, a 900-hectare expanse stretching from the wild Atlantic Ocean dunes across to the tranquil waters of Langebaan Lagoon. It was here, along this narrow strip of coastline, that a small community carved out a life deeply attuned to the natural world.

From the early 1800s through to the mid-1900s, the families of Stofbergsfontein and Churchhaven lived simply and self-sufficiently. They built their homes by hand using local materials, caught fish from the lagoon, grew gardens in sandy soil, harvested veldkos and constructed a small church and one-room schoolhouse at the village’s heart. What they lacked in material wealth, they made up for in quiet abundance – a life of modesty and environmental harmony.

This lifestyle – sustained for generations – remained largely unchanged thanks to the unique communal ownership of the land. There were no formal property titles, no sprawling developments, no hurry to modernise. The place endured, held together by family ties and shared respect for its fragile beauty.

By the mid-1980s, the South African government recognised the ecological and cultural significance of the region and began negotiating to purchase the land as the cornerstone of a new conservation initiative: the West Coast National Park. After years of careful dialogue, the sale of Stofbergsfontein was agreed upon in 1991.

But this was no ordinary land transaction. As part of the agreement, the original farm owners retained 86 hectares of the original 900 – a portion of land that would become Stofbergsfontein Estate. Within this designated area, just 61 erven were created, with a kilometre of pristine water frontage. These erven are part of a landscape with memory – a chapter in a long, unfolding story of land, sea and the people who have loved them both. Lagoon View is rooted in that heritage – modest, meaningful, and deeply connected to its place.

Nature at your door

This is the epitome of relaxed coastal living. A short stroll brings you to Churchhaven’s main beach, where kayaks rest on the sand and the water glows silver at sunset. Walk, swim, paddle or simply sit – this is a place where time doesn’t tick, it breathes. Finding a house for sale in Churchhaven is always a thrill – and this beach cottage for sale on Langebaan Lagoon is one of those golden opportunities that come along once in a great while.

Written by Sally Rutherford

What are the property details?

• Erf size: 400m²
• House size: 140m²
• Bedrooms: 4
• Bathrooms: 2
• Power: 6 solar panels, 12 x 2V batteries
• Water: 30 000-litre tank, 2 x 12V water pumps
• 100% off-grid