A Guide to Accommodation, Activities, Restaurants & Businesses in Cape Agulhas, South Africa

 

​Cape Agulhas sits at the southernmost tip of Africa and is located in the Overberg region of the Western Cape.  A form of translation from Portuguese as the “Cape of Needles” named so after early navigators noticed that the compass north coincided with the true north of the region.  Until the 20^th century the town was known as Cape L’Agulhas and today carries various versions from Cape Agulhas to L’Agulhas.

The town is situated on a rocky headland where the Atlantic and Indian oceans spectacularly collide.  Infamous for stormy winter months and rogue waves Cape Agulhas can sometimes really feel like the edge of the world!  The conflicting currents of warm and icy water causes fairly hazardous wave conditions and after many ship wrecks in bygone times a lighthouse was erected in 1848.  Read about the two oceans meeting in this interesting article "Cape Point: Where South Africa’s two oceans meet" along with other great articles on this beautiful town.

The lighthouse today is a major tourist attraction in the form of a museum and has a charming restaurant as an added feature.  The light is operated by Transnet National Ports Authority.

Cape Agulhas is part of the developing Agulhas National Park which is host to over 1 700 botanical species and the breeding site for many rare birds such as the African Black Oystercatcher.

 

 

There are many accommodation options available in Cape Agulhas.  South African National Parks (SANParks) have excellent facilities and is extremely popular in season.  There are also a number of Bed and Breakfasts, Guest Houses and Self-catering options.

Cape Agulhas is all about relaxation and outdoor activities.  The beauty of the area combined with the quaintness will bring visitors back every year.  Some of the sights and activities are as follows:

• lighthouse - museum and restaurant
• fishing - known to be one of the best fishing spots in South Africa due to the shallow shoreline
• hiking - there are several hiking trails in the area
• local wine tasting
• art galleries
• mountain biking - natural paths interspersed with a variety of terrains
• Quoin Point Lighthouse - lies between Danger Point and Cape Agulhas, a 4x4 is needed to access
• Suiderstrand Beach - completely surrounded by the national park, a truly beautiful sight and extraordinarily relaxing.

As a popular tourist town Cape Agulhas is home to many restaurants, coffee shops and pubs offering superb local and fresh cuisine, along with some really special curio outlets and locally made products.

​See our Business Directory for a list of businesses in Cape Agulhas, or add your own free business listing.