Mossel Bay, Garden Route

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Mossel Bay, Garden Route

Mossel Bay
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.

Mossel Bay, Garden Route
Mossel Bay is still famous for its mussels and oysters and some of the largest catches of tunny and black marlin are made on this part of the coast. Tunnel Cave is a 60-metre passageway through the headland of Cape St Blaize, which emerges on stretch of wild coast where the beaches are notorious for their variety of sea shells.

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

average visitor rating: 5/5"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

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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

The Honey Trail

Location: Mossel Bay
Duration: 3 days

More Information

event starts: 09 September 2012
September
TBC
Summer Blast

Location: Mossel Bay
Duration: 29 days

More Information

event starts: 10 December 2012
December
TBC

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On Holiday in Mossel Bay

Mossel Bay - A Visitors Perspective
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South Africa is one of the most diverse and enchanting countries in the world. With eight world heritage sites, a multitude of game reserves and national parks, over 1350 ha of national botanical gardens, and exotic combinations of landscapes, people, history and culture, South Africa offers the traveller a unique and inspiring experience. To start planning your holiday click here to find accommodation in South Africa. Enjoy your stay in Mossel Bay!
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