Cape Agulhas

Cape Agulhas is the official place where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet. The warm Agulhas current comes down South Africa’s east coast and the cold Benguela comes down the west. Cape Agulhas is also technically the southern most point in Africa, but it has always been overshadowed by the more famous Cape Point.

You’ll not find sandy beaches along this stretch of coastline, but another kind of beauty, not always inherent to the land itself. Although the rocky shores, with their notoriously rough seas (waves sometimes reaching as high as 30m), do posses a beauty of their own, it is the Southern Right Whales that continues to draw tourists year after year. The Cape Agulhas region has recently been converted into the Agulhas National Park, to help protect the endangered lowland fynbos (flora), as well as animals and birds that inhabit the area. Birds such as the African Black Oyster catcher can often been seen along the Agulhas coast.

Cape of Storms

Ships have always been cautious of the Cape Agulhas coast, often referred to as the Cape of Storms because of the rough seas and high winds that can often be found just off the coast. The reason for the sea being so rough in this region is because of the two currents that flow into one another. The warm Agulhas and cold Benguela differ in density because of their different temperatures, causing them to bounce around each other, rather than mixing smoothly.

The many shipwrecks in the area are a clear warning to all who try to navigate these waters. In 1848 the now famous red and white Cape Agulhas lighthouse was built to help try and reduce the chance of ships wrecking themselves on the rocks. Despite much advancement in technology, particularly in satellite tracking and surveillance, the Agulhas lighthouse is still fully operational, with a powerful light that can be seen from up to 60kms away.

The nearby town of Struisbaai is a little fishing village, with a popular stretch of sandy beachfront and little whitewashed fisherman house. If the city of Cape Town is too far away for your liking then Struisbaai is the perfect place to set up camp if you’re looking to check out Cape Agulhas.