Southernmost Walk

The tip of the African continent where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet is in the south Western Cape region of South Africa, referred to as the Overberg. The name literally means over the mountain from Cape Town. The area is geographically striking. It boasts the unique floral wonders of the Cape floral kingdom and historical sites of note include the Khoi-Khoi Caves and old fishing villages that have survived to this day.  

Coast and beaches

Walk along interesting rocky windswept, ruggedly beautiful coastal plain. 14 km of white sand extends from Struisbaai to Arniston, the longest continuous beach in the Southern Hemisphere (Wikipedia). It provides safe bathing, boating and angling. The beach here is exquisite, with an almost subtropical feel. Whale watching from September to November.

Nature Reserves

Experience the De Mond and Cape Agulhas Nature Reserves, which has more that 8500 species of flowering plants and the coastline supports a rich marine and intertidal life, with breeding sites of rare birds such as the African Black Oystercatcher. The focus is on some of the most splendid examples of lowland fynbos and lowland fynbos on limestone soils - considered endangered and restricted largely to the southern Overberg.

The Agulhas National Park is the mainstay of the Agulhas Biodiversity Initiative, whose aim is to address the main threats to the globally significant lowland fynbos biodiversity of the Agulhas Plain, and to improve the livelihoods of the regions local communities.

Stunning views, beautiful beaches, pebble bays, rock pools.

Shipwrecks

The coastline is renowned for shipwrecks, and streets and businesses in Cape Agulhas bear the names of some ill-fated ships. These include Schonberg, St Mungo, Brederode, Nossa Senhora dos Milagros, Crentoo, Juno and Martha. Some 250 ships have been wrecked here over time.

History

The country's second oldest working lighthouse was built at L'Agulhas in 1848.

Other historical features

Include the 200 year old fishermen's village at Kassiesbaai and fisherman's cottages at Hotagterklip. You can also explore fish traps and other valuable historic and cultural legacy left by the Khoikhoi beach nomads who lived along this coastline for centuries.