Mossel Bay, Garden Route
Mossel Bay is a bustling holiday town and port, set on the sunwashed slopes of Cape St Blaize overlooking the expansive bay, against the blueblack backdrop of the Outeniqua Mountains.
Mossel Bay lies halfway between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth, close to the towns of Swellendam, Outdshoorn, Plettenberg Bay and Knysna on the Garden Route and is synonymous with the Mossgas project, where offshore gas fields are mined for gas that is then converted into petroleum. Despite this obvious industrial leaning, Mossel Bay has a tradition of unhurried hospitality and there is sufficient natural beauty in the town and its surrounds to make a stopover essential. Mossel Bay features in the Guiness Book of Records as having the mildest all-year climate in the world, second only to Hawaii. Add to this the long stretch of beaches, the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, a championship golf course or two and Mossel Bay becomes an ideal retreat for both summer and winter.
Mossel Bay has a significant history and there are a number of historic houses worth a visit, including about 200 stone homes built a century ago by Cornish stonemasons. She received her present name in 1601 when the Dutch navigator, Paulus van Caerden found a collection of mussel shells in a cave at the headland of Cape St Blaize although Mossel Bay was ‘discovered’ as far back as 1488, when Dias first encountered the ancient Khoi-San people upon stepping ashore.
Of real interest is the fact the very first Post Office in South Africa was at Mossel Bay in 1500, when a man named Pedro de Ataide left a letter in a shoe under a milkwood tree. Today the ancient Post Office is a national monument and mail is still sorted here.
Amongst the surfing fraternity, Mossel Bay is up there on the list with Jeffreys Bay and Port Elizabeth and Outer Pool is probably Mossel Bay’s most famous wave. Water sports are enormously popular and whale and seal watching and scuba diving a way of life. Mossel Bay with its wide beaches for safe swimming and the awesome cliffs of Cape St Blaize’s southern shores, with the ever-watchful Outeniqua Mountains in the background provides a welcome and a worthwhile stopover on the Garden Route.
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Mossel Bay Reviews
"We always stop in Mossel Bay when we have the opportunity - it holds special family memories. It has been great to watch the town grow and establish itself ..." - Mark, Cape Town
Visitorials: We Love South Africa
Mossel Bay Visitorial
I Love Mossel Bay because ...
Featured in: Visitorials: We Love South Africa
We’ve asked those in the know to share their favourites things about Mossel Bay. Find out where locals go for the best cup of coffee, lunch suggestions and much more. We’re letting you in on all of their secrets ... I Love Mossel Bay because ...
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Featured Attractions in (or near) Mossel Bay
Botlierskop Game Reserve
Botlierskop is named after one of the spectacular rock formations on the reserve. Botlierskop is a well stocked, free roaming private game reserve, which gives visitors the opportunity to view South African wildlife from the safety of 4x4 vehicles, in its natural habitat. Rhino's, buffalo, giraffe... more information
Garden Route Game Reserve
Garden Route Game Reserve situated in the heartland of the world famous Fynbos Botanical Route, welcomes you to the majestic beauty that fauna and flora has to offer. Come and view the Big Five (still in small family numbers) at Garden Route Game Reserve, in a malaria free environment, world renowned... more information
Garden Route National Park
The new Garden Route National Park, established by SANParks and also known as GRNP, spans an impressive 121 000 hectares and includes the existing Wilderness and Tsitsikamma national parks, the Knysna Lakes area and roughly 52 000 hectares of newly proclaimed land. Still regarded as 'new' the ... more information
Mossel Bay Golf Club
The 18-hole links course has recently been remodeled and upgraded and is getting rave reviews. The golf club is situated above a peninsula that juts out into the Indian Ocean with terrain that is densely vegetated and undulating. An excellent hole on the front nine is number 4 which is a 140-metre... more information
Pinnacle Point Golf Course
The Pinnacle Point Golf Course is an immaculate eighteen-hole championship golf course, co-designed by renowned golf architect Peter Matkovich and professional golfer Darren Clarke. The golf course stretches along four kilometers of spectacular coastline and boasts dramatic cliff-side holes and over... more information
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Things To Do in Mossel Bay
Buy African Curios at Jacana
Where: Mossel Bay
How much (per person): Free to Browse
Jacana caters for the needs of tourists visiting the Bartolomeu Diaz Museum complex. The store showcases a range of curios, clothing, access ... more information
Deep Sea Fishing
Where: Mossel Bay
How much (per person): On Request
Deep sea fishing for the brave. Leaving early in the morning or even evening trips. These are for the fishing enthusiast and a fun and rewar ... more information
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Events and/or Festivals in Mossel Bay
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On Holiday in Mossel Bay
• Mossel Bay - A Visitors Perspective
• Visitorial - I ♥ Mossel Bay because …
• Mossel Bay Accommodation
• Mossel Bay Hotels
• Garden Route Accommodation
• Garden Route Hotels
• Mossel Bay Map
• Western Cape Accommodation
Visiting Mossel Bay?
Also see Things To Do in Garden Route to view activities by category, including watersports, sightseeing activities, arts & crafts and many, many more.
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