Agulhas National Park
The southern-most tip of Africa still captures the imagination of contemporary explorers and visitors alike. The name Agulhas was derived from the Portuguese word for needles - the early navigators found that here, their compasses were not affected by magnetic deviation, 'bearing directly upon the true poles of the earth.'
The cape itself is the southern part of a substantial inland plain which, after a mild interruption of a small range of hills, slips quietly under the sea to become the vast, shallow Agulhas Bank, the most extensive part of southern Africa's continental shelf. The shallow waters of the 250km-wide bank, warmed by the westward-flowing Mozambique-Agulhas current, are among the southern hemisphere's richest fishing grounds, sustaining huge numbers of sole, kabeljou (cob) and other bottom-dwellers. A lighthouse (18 million candlepower, built in 1848, stands at the cape; close by is the tiny village and beach resort of L'Agulhas. The nearest town of any substance is Bredasdorp.
Amongst the mysteries associated with this region are the middens, reminding man of the successful hunter-gatherers of the Khoi-khoi people dating back thousands of years. The Khoi-khoi trapped fish using ingeniously constructed tidal traps. For bird lovers, the area is also known for the African Black Oystercatcher and the Southern Right Whale is a regular visitor to the waters during spring and early summer for calving.
Accommodation
The only accommodation in the area is privately owned as the area has only recently been proclaimed the Agulhas National Park and as yet, there are no park run camps.
[Click here for accommodation in or close to Agulhas]
Facilities
- Several nature trails and a unique trail to traverse the southern-most tip of Africa.
- An environmental education centre.
- A museum and interpretative centre.
Extra Information
The Agulhas area has several attractions, which draw tourists to its shores each year. The nearby towns L’Agulhas and Struisbaai offer several water sports such as swimming and angling. Within the confines of the developing national park, tourists can enjoy the following places of interest:
The southern-most of Africa – The official position of the tip 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 at Cape Agulhas – The lighthouse was built to aid the early explorers on their passage of the rough seas off Cape Agulhas. Seventy-one steps lead up to the top of the second oldest working lighthouse in southern Africa. Stone mined from the adjacent limestone quarry provided the raw materials for its construction. The building also houses a unique lighthouse museum. Remains of ancient stone fish traps used by the Khoisan people can be seen to the east of the lighthouse.
Graveyard of ships – The Zoetendal, Birkenhead and Arniston are some of the many shipwrecks found along the Agulhas 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 Agulhas area contains representatives of unique vegetation such as limestone fynbos. Although most species bloom between May and September, there are flowers to be enjoyed in any season.
