Stroll
along the endless beaches Test
the water temperature Stand
at the point Visit
the lighthouse Visit
the Shipwreck Museum Swim
at Arniston Have
tea in Napier Go
fishing at Struisbaai
At the southern most tip of the African continent, about
2 hour's drive from Cape Town, lies Cape Agulhas, a small settlement
flanked by stretches of long
white
beach and rocky shores. The name Agulhas is derived from
the Portuguese word for "needles" and is testimony to the many
sharp rocks and reefs that have wrecked countless ships since
the
early
sixteenth
century.
The cape is the official meeting point of two mighty
oceans,
the Indian and Atlantic at 20°00 east. However, contrary
to popular legend no physical evidence of the dividing line
between
these
two
oceans can actually be seen. In reality the border between
the warm Agulhas and the colder Benguela current shifts
up and down this coast depending on the prevailing seasons
and weather conditions.
According to maritime records, more than 125 sailing vessels
have sunk to a watery grave on this coastline since
1552. The high swells, gale-force winds and constantly
changing currents that took these ships are still in evidence today
and continue to put fear into
the heart of even the bravest sea captain.
Little evidence of most of these ships was ever found, but
one is still visible today - that of the Meisho Maru
which can be seen from the shore a few kilometers west of
the cairn marking the point. The Shipwreck Museum in
Bredasdorp also displays a few items
from these wrecks, including figureheads, anchors, porcelain
and rare coins.
The lighthouse is one of the oldest in South
Africa and was erected in 1848 to guide sailors through this
treacherous
stretch of water and onto the final leg of the journey down
to Cape Town. In 1988 the tower was restored to its original
glory after falling into disrepair, and permission was granted
for it to be used as a museum.
The area around Agulhas is a picturesque blend
of distant mountains, golden hills, working farms and
tracts of Cape fynbos in the valleys.
Arniston (Waenhuiskrans) is
an old fishing village with beaches and dunes of pure white
sand. Take a drive down to
Struisbaai to see whitewashed fisherman´s
cottages and the sweeping shores of the bay - perfect for swimming,
fishing and collecting shells. Or spend an afternoon in the
charming village of Napier with its old cottages
and peaceful rural atmosphere. This region of the Western Cape
has much
to offer the traveler who has a little time to explore its
many moods and nuances.
Stroll
along the endless beaches
Freestate 
