Tip of Africa Route

The 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 Bredasdorp, where the Shipwreck Museum alone is worth the venture, whilst the town's pretty architecture, Kapula Candles and Julian's brightly coloured gallery and restaurant are all worth visiting. Then follow the newly tarred stretch to Elim, a Moravian Mission village where you can follow a tour of the historical buildings, along with Sally the dog. Backtrack to Bredasdorp and then take the R319 to Struisbaai.

Option Two:
From Napier visit Elim and then Bredasdorp, and then on to Struisbaai. Either way, your final destination is L'Agulhas, via Struisbaai.

Struisbaai has a 14 km strip of pretty beach along which you drive to reach L'Agulhas, the southernmost tip of Africa, where the Indian and Atlantic oceans offically meet. This is a wonderful trip where a climb to the top of the Agulhas lighthouse makes fantastic viewing.

Partway back to Bredasdorp (all roads lead to Bredasdorp in this part of the world), a dirt road links the R319 to the R316 and on to the beautiful little seaside enclave of Arnisston/Waenhuiskrans. If you want the tarred version, you will need to go back to Bredasdorp. The village of Arniston is beautiful. In particular stroll through Kassiesbaai Fishing Village and visit the Waenhuiskrans cave (at low tide).

Finally, and if there is time, head back to Bredasdorp and on to De Hoop Nature Reserve where there are incredible whale watching spots on the cliffs and beaches, and a diversity of fynbos that will have you spellbound.