Cape Agulhas, Western Cape
Cape Agulhas, or the place where two oceans meet, lies at the furthest tip of Africa, a region that includes the towns of Arniston, Bredasdrop, L’Agulhas, Napier, Elim and Struisbaai.
Historically, the cape has been known to sailors as particularly hazardous, notorious for winter storms and huge rogue waves that can reach a spectacular height of 30 metres, so it’s no surprise that the coast is littered with wrecks or that the large red and white striped lighthouse was built as early as 1848 in an attempt to warn ships of the conflicting currents, the west winds and the extremely perilous waves that combine to make it the ‘Cape of Storms’. Cape Agulhas is the official point at which the cold Benguela current of the Atlantic Ocean and the strong Aghulhas current of the Indian Ocean meet. Technically speaking it is the southernmost point in the continent of Africa, but it is not as well known or, some say, as beautiful as the Cape of Good Hope. Agulhas features a consistent curving coastline and rocky beach that pales in comparison with the splendour of Cape Point.
This rugged part of the coastline has a beauty all its own and has recently been proclaimed the Agulhas National Park. Ancient people have bequeathed their mark on the landscape leaving archaeological middens that date back thousands of years to the time of the Khoi-Khoi people, who trapped fish in tidal traps along this same coast. And there is plenty to do in this part of the world: southern right whales frequent the coast, the African black oystercatcher is protected along many of the beaches and the abundant variety of fynbos, including unique representatives such as limestone fynbos and 2000 species of indigenous plants, 100 of which are endemic to the area.
Destinations / Town & Suburbs of Cape Agulhas
Arniston
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Arniston
Arniston, also known as Waenhuiskrans, is an attractive fishing village, very popular among artists because of its fishermen's cottages, turquoise seas and undulating white sand dunes. The Afrikaans name "Waenhuiskrans" refers ... arniston information
Bredasdorp
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Bredasdorp
The quaint town of Bredasdorp, which claims to be the first town or ‘dorp’ established in South Africa, lies on the slopes of a fairly high hill known as the Preekstoel (pulpit), in the midst of giant proteas and wheat fields ... bredasdorp information
Elim
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Elim
This charming little village, dominated by white-washed fishermen’s cottages and fig trees, is one of the few surviving South African mission stations, founded in 1824 as the third Moravian mission station in the Cape, that today ... elim information
Infanta
Where to Stay: Cape Agulhas Accommodation
The little village of Infanta is one of several villages that lie on the banks of the Breede River as it flows from its source near Ceres, although it is Witsand and Infanta that lie at its mouth - Witsand on the eastern bank and Infanta on its ... infanta information
L'Agulhas
Where to Stay: Accommodation in L'Agulhas
The biggest draw card for Agulhas, other than the fact that it lies only two hours from Cape Town on one of the most beautiful coasts in the country, is that this little village lies on Cape Agulhas, the end of the African continent and the ... l'agulhas information
Malgas
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Malgas
The town of Malgas, only 30 minutes from Swellendam, is a perfect stopover for exploring the Overberg and the De Hoop Nature Reserve. Set on the west bank of the Breede River, which supports a significant variety of ... malgas information
Napier
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Napier
The road to Napier takes you through never ending fields of wheat and barley, where the endangered Blue Crane can be seen gathered together in large flocks. Napier is situated under the Soetmuisberg, surrounded by rolling ... napier information
Struisbaai
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Struisbaai
Struisbaai’s quirky little harbour, originally built in 1959 but enlarged in 1990, serves both fishing and ski boats for the myriad visitors to the town during holiday season, and the Anglican Church, also a restored national monument ... struisbaai information
Cape Agulhas
Featured and "Must See" Attractions in Cape Agulhas
Agulhas National Park
Lying in what is known as the Agulhas Plain at the southernmost tip of Africa is the Agulhas National Park, just 45 kilometres from the popular village of Gansbaai. This might be the meeting place of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, but the Agulhas National park’s focus is on some of the most splendid ... more information
Breedekloof Wine Route
The youngest wine route in South Africa and just 90 km outside of Cape Town, the Breedekloof wine route lies in the Breede River Valley, which stretches from Gouda in the west, McGregor in the south, Montagu in the east and the Tankwa-Karoo National Park in the north. Wine in this region was initially ... more information
De Hoop Nature Reserve
The De Hoop Nature Reserve is approximately 34 000 ha in size and one of the largest natural areas managed by Cape Nature Conservation. It is a favourite destination for hikers, cyclists, bird watchers and during the winter and early summer months, whale watchers. The entire length of the De Hoop coast is ... more information
Cape Whale Coast
The coming of the whales to the Cape Overberg coastline, also known as the Cape Whale Coast, every year between June and November, not only creates a stir, but brings to our shores a large, intelligent and remarkable giant of the sea and the only mammal to have adapted to life in the open oceans ... more information
Cape Agulhas Wine Route
Elim is something of a phenomenon as its unique ‘terroir’ has caused much excitement in the wine community worldwide. The cool and strong winds that prevail - south westerly and south easterly - have the effect of providing a very cool ripening season, perfect for Sauvignon Blanc and promising for ... more information
Waenhuiskrans Nature Reserve
Formerly known as Waenhuiskrans until a ship by the name of Arniston was wrecked here, the village is a much sought after holiday residence because of its sea views and stands on a hill overlooking the harbour, approximately 190 kilometres from Cape Town and close enough to Cape Agulhas to claim a share as ... more information
Waenhuiskrans Cave
Waenhuiskrans (wagon house cliff) is the highlight of a visit to Waenhuiskrans Nature Reserve in Arniston. What makes the Waenhuiskrans Cave so exciting is the low-tide leap-and-a-bit to reach it, over barnacle-encrusted rocks with one's eye on the sea for the odd freak wave ... more information
Heuningberg Nature Reserve
If you are in pursuit of the Bredasdorp Lily then a trip to the Heuningberg Nature Reserve, set on the slopes of Heuningberg (Honey Mountain) south east of Bredasdorp, is a good place to start, particularly as the core of the reserve started its life as a wildflower garden. Today the over 800 hectare nature reserve ... more information
Salmonsdam Nature Reserve
Just 20 kilometres east of the pretty village of Stanford, in the hills of the Perdeberg Mountains, the Salmonsdam Nature Reserve is well known as both a hikers’ and birders’ delight, not least because of the particularly attractive mountain landscape, and the ... more information
Rasperpunt Hiking Trail
More commonly known as the Agulhas walking trail, because it takes place within the Agulhas National Park, the Rasperpunt hike begins just west of the famous Agulhas lighhouse - the reason so many visitors come to L'Agulhas in the first place. Actually the Rasperpunt Hiking Trail is a circular trail that ... more information
Spookdraai Hiking Trail
There is no secret behind the name of this hiking trail at Cape Agulhas. There have been so many shipwrecks along this coastline that even if you do not believe in ghosts (spook) you would have to at least acknowledge the possibility that a fair number of discontented souls may well continue to ... more information
Tip of Africa Route
Based on the Overberg Tourism map, the Tip of Africa Route starts in Cape Town, where you take the N2 via Grabouw and Caledon to the pretty town of Napier (make sure to stop off at the Napier Farmstall en route), after which you have a couple of choices - Option One: You can take the R316 to ... more information
The Whale Trail
The Whale Trail is not a new trail, having been around since about 2002, but it has become extremely popular. Nonetheless, the five-day Whale Hiking trail must be one of South Africa’s greatest selling points. It is truly a unique experience, perhaps comparable with the likes of the Otter Trail that rates as one of the ... more information
Cape Agulhas
Featured Things To Do in Cape Agulhas
Visit the Bredasdorp Shipwreck Museum
Where: Bredasdorp
How much (per person): R1 to R100
The Bredasdorp Museum is primarily a maritime Museum whose primary theme is "Shipwrecks along the dangerous Southern Cape coast and their in ... more information
Visit Cape Agulhas Lighthouse
Where: Cape Agulhas
How much (per person): R1 to R100
The Cape Agulhas Lighthouse has stood for over 150 years as a maritime chaperone over the notorious 'Cape of Storms', at the most southern t ... more information
Cape Agulhas
Holiday Accommodation in Cape Agulhas
For accommodation in Cape Agulhas see:
• Arniston Accommodation • Baardskeerdersbos Accommodation • Bredasdorp Accommodation
• Elim Accommodation • L'Agulhas Accommodation • Malgas Accommodation
• Napier Accommodation • Struisbaai Accommodation
Or to see all accommodation in this region at once, visit Cape Agulhas Accommodation.
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destinations / attractions in the western cape
