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CAPE AGULHAS - CAPE OVERBERG
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Cape Agulhas Region, 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. |
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| 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. |
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CAPE AGULHAS DESTINATIONS
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  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 to a large cave in the
vicinity which can be visited at low tide ... More » Arniston attractions
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 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. The proteas grow on the ridges of the hill and serve as
one of the ... more about » Bredasdorp attractions
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 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 lies halfway on the dirt road
between Gansbaai
and Bredasdorp ... more about » Elim
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 Infanta:
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 western
flank. You would be forgiven for thinking time had ... more about » Infanta
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 Agulhas:
L’Agulhas or Agulas: 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
meeting place of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans ... more about » Agulhas
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 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 fish and birds and is one of the largest rivers in
the country, the little historical ... more about » Malgas
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 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 wheat and barley fields, at the
southern-most region of Africa ... more about » Napier
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 Witsand:
The peaceful, coastal town of Witsand (white sands) lies on St Sebastian’s
Bay just off the N2 on the Cape South Coast, three hours from Cape Town. St
Sebastian Bay and Witsand are virtually synonymous with the Southern Right Whale. This bay
is the most important nursery for the ...Visit: Witsand »
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CAPE AGULHAS ATTRACTIONS
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 De Hoop Nature Reserve: The De Hoop Nature
Reserve Seven ecosystems are found within the reserve, which serves mainly as an
educational centre. The vlei teems with waterbirds, and bontebok and mountain zebra are
protected in the reserve. There is a walking trail on the Potberg Mountain ... Visit the De Hoop Nature
Reserve »
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