Exploring Cape Agulhas,
the legendary "Cape of Storms"

The Cape Agulhas area has several attractions, which draw many tourists to its shores each year.

The nearby towns of L' Agulhas and Struisbaai offer facilities and water sports such as swimming and angling.

There are several nature trails in the Park, including a unique trail that passes through the area where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet.

The limestone lighthouse has a museum with a view of the ancient tidal fish traps constructed by the Khoi-Khoi people. Aside from the shipwrecks along the coastline, some items originating from the wrecks can be seen at the Bredasdorp Shipwreck Museum. The nearest town of any substance is Bredasdorp.

Wreck of the “Meisho Maru” at the southern tip of Africa
Photograph by Nick Reed
Areas of special interest in the developing Agulhas National Park that you will greatly enjoy, are the following;

The most southern tip of Africa

The official position of the most southern tip of Africa is 34° 49' 58" south and 20° 00' 12" east. A cairn marks the tip's exact location. It is at this longitudinal point that the Atlantic and Indian oceans officially meet.

The Lighthouse of Agulhas

This lighthouse, the second oldest lighthouse in Southern Africa, was built in 1848 to aid the early explorers on their passage through the rough seas off Cape Agulhas. Stone mined from the adjacent limestone quarry provided the raw materials for its construction. Seventy-one steps will take you to the top. Looking to the east you can see the remains of ancient stone fish traps used by the ancient Khoi people.

The Cape Agulhas lighthouse
Photograph by Leif Sobremonte

Graveyard of ships

The Zoetendal, Birkenhead and Arniston are some of the many shipwrecks found along the coastline. Showpieces from these shipwrecks are on display at the Bredasdorp shipwreck museum. Visitors to the area can still see the remains of the Meisho Maru 38 wreck on the shores of Cape Agulhas.

Fynbos

The Agulhas Plain has great diversity of flora. The area contains some unique types of vegetation, such as limestone fynbos, part of the famous Cape Floral Kingdom in South Africa, the smallest and richest of the world's six plant kingdoms. Although most species bloom between May and September, there are flowers to be enjoyed in any season.

Bird life

The Park also has a lot to offer to the birding enthusiast. The wetlands of the Park attract a host of water birds, with over 21 000 migrant and resident wetland birds estimated to occur in the area annually. The area is also known for the rare African Black Oystercatcher

Whale watching

Currently there are not many land animals in the Agulhas National Park, but the rare Cape Grysbok is something to look out for in the coastal fynbos. It’s a different story with the two oceans. Here you can look out for Cape Fur Seals and a variety of Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises. The Southern Right Whales come to the bays to breed from August to November.

A Humpback Whale breaching
Explore the region and visit the beautiful towns in the Agulhas National Park, enjoy their delightful ambience.

The old fishing village Arniston has a charmingly quaint atmosphere. Here the beaches are pearly white and the dunes, vast and unspoilt. The original name of the town is “Waenhuiskrans”, meaning “wagon house cliff”.
Visit Bredasorp with its Shipwreck museum where sunken ships have found their way in. Come and see the spectacular displays of the Bredasdorp lily.

Experience the solitude on the beautiful Struisbaai beach
Photograph by Robert Wallace

Take a trip to Struisbaai with its pretty whitewashed fisherman´s cottages and the Beautiful 14km sandy bay, fine for swimming, fishing and shell collecting.
Lastly is the village with the old world charm called Napier. Century-old cottages blend with modern houses resulting in a delightful rural ambience.

The hospitality of the people at the southern tip of Africa and the beauty of the surrounding countryside is certain to enrich you and make you wish to return to enjoy this region again.