Agulhas National Park, the place where two oceans meet
This page offers comprehensive information about
the Agulhas National Park and its accommodation and attractions, complete with maps. The Park is
situated at the southernmost tip of the African continent, there where the Atlantic and Indian
oceans meet, it is one of the many places on our planet that have fascinated explorers since times
immemorial.
From the days of the ancient discoverers to modern day humankind, the human
race has always been in pursuit of the hidden secrets of our globe.
And quests such as exploring the ultimate depths of its seas, conquering its
highest peaks, sailing around the tips of continents and exploring its desolate poles will continue
to challenge the human spirit
It was this spirit that made the pioneers of the past take up the challenge to
conquest one of the most arduous sea voyages of those times, sailing across the Atlantic ocean and
the Indian ocean, rounding the tip of Africa in between.
As the most southern tip of Africa, it has always had an aura of mystery and
adventure about it, still catching the minds of the explorers of today. The ancient people that
inhabited the region thousands of years ago, left their mark on the landscape.
View from the historical lighthouse in the Agulhas National Park at the southernmost tip of the African continent
General information
Archaeological discoveries show us the remains of a thriving hunter-gatherer
civilization, which existed in a harmonious relationship with its natural surroundings. A
cultural and historical heritage treasure going back many thousands of years to the days when the
Khoi people were using cunningly built traps to catch fish using the high and low tidal flow of the
sea.
Portuguese maritime discoverers were the first Europeans to circumnavigate the
most southern point of the African continent In the latter part of the 15th century. They found that
at that particular point the compass needles were not influenced by aberration, resulting in true
north to coincide with Magnetic north. That's why the Portuguese gave it the name "Cabo das Agulhas"
(Cape of needles), hence the name Cape Agulhas as we know it today.
The town of L’Agulhas nearby the National Park
The abundance of species and the wide variety of plants in the national park
area compares with the diversity and richness found in tropical forests, which makes the park
unique and different from the others.
The diverseness of the flora which comprises around 2000 different types of
indigenous plants, includes 100 species which are indigenous to the region and more than 110
endangered ones that are listed on the IUCN Red Data list of threatened species.
Examples of the latter are the Micro Frog (Microbatrachella capensis)
and the Cape Platanna or Gill's Platanna (Xenopus gilli) which can be found in the wetlands
of the park.
It is also houses a very important component of the famous Cape Floral Kingdom,
the smallest and richest of the world's six plant kingdoms, unique to South Africa. With its windy
conditions the seaboard and the close by islands are excellent breeding grounds for rare seashore
birds like for examples the African Black oyster catcher (Haematopus moquini), while the
extraordinary limestone "Fynbos" shrub species flourishes with the annual rainfall averaging
450 mm.
Standing at the rock jagged shoreline of the southern-most tip of the African
continent, at the exact point where two massive oceans meet, it almost feels like you are standing
on the edge of the world, like the excitement explorers feel in their quest for new discoveries.
Short video about Cape Agulhas and its National park;
Find excellent accommodation at the new Agulhas Rest Camp
of almost four-star quality. Eat at the historical lighthouse which dates back to 1848. Explore the "Fynbos" of the unique Cape Floral Kingdom found nowhere else in the
world. Watch the whales breaching the sea surface and slapping their tails, while
exploring the white sun drenched beaches. Discover the Elim wine route and taste some excellent sauvignon blancs. Enjoy activities such as scuba diving, hiking, deep sea fishing and many more.
