Struisbaai, Cape Agulhas

When asked to describe Struisbaai, many refer to the pretty little white-washed fishermen’s houses at the entrance to the village - the ‘Hotagterklip cottages’ - that have been restored and are now mostly holiday homes, despite their being national monuments, as a showcase for the area.

And it’s true that these, together with the white sands of the beach here that stretch right the way from Struisbaai to Arniston, are a good representation of what makes Struisbaai so attractive to visitors, who mainly flock here for the water sports. On most days it is easy to launch a kayak, a small boat or rubber dingy off the beach; and board and kite sailing are particularly good here.

Langezandt is a 93 hectare coastal estate within Struisbaai. The development lies on the border of the De Mond Nature Reserve right on the long beach of Struisbaai and is notable because it has maintained the region’s beautiful architectural heritage by only allowing the erection of houses that follow the design of original fishermen’s cottages. It also intends building a Prayer Park for Africa - a five hectare park that will be a place of solitude that all can visit when in the area for moments of quiet.

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, is worth a visit. It is often the venue for small weddings and local services.