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THE PARK AT THE TIP

OF THE CONTINENT

Dries de Wet

www.dewetswild.com

dewetswild@yahoo.co.za

Fifteenth century Portuguese seafarers Alexandria, one of the seven wonders of The Park is still being developed, and as
named Cape Agulhas when they found the ancient world, and at night its beam such does not yet contain large terrestrial
that magnetic compass needles point- can be seen up to 60km offshore. One mammals in any significant numbers.
ed precisely true north here (“agulhas” of the most easily seen wrecks is that Most of the mammal species that occur
being Portuguese for “needles”). It is also of the Meishu Maru, a Japanese fishing here are either marine or small and rarely
the southern-most point of the African vessel with a cargo of 240t of tuna that seen. The Agulhas National Park is how-
mainland, where the Atlantic and Indian ran aground in 1982, happily without any ever a prime birding spot, both for land
Oceans meet, and has been inhabited loss among the 17 crew members. Today, and sea birds.
by humans for over a million years with a fascinating museum and information
several sites of archaeological interest. centre is housed inside the lighthouse. Guests can overnight in the main rest
The Agulhas Plain also has an incredible The vegetation of the Agulhas National camp, which consists of one or two
biodiversity and it was realised that what Park consists mainly of fynbos, with an bedroom cottages and the luxury Lagoon
remained of it was worthy of protec- estimated 2,000 plant species finding House, built right on the rocks at the
tion, leading to the proclamation of the protection within its borders, many of ocean’s edge. A few historic farm houses
Agulhas National Park in 1999. Today the which are rare and occur nowhere else on spread throughout the inland portions
park covers almost 230km². earth. The vegetation doesn’t grow very of the Park has also been renovated to
tall here due to the extremely windy con- accommodate guests. An extensive net-
This is one of the world’s most treach- ditions that prevail throughout the year. work of walking trails have been laid on
erous coastlines. Since 1552, at least The area is rather flat and featureless, around the main camp. All modern ser-
125 ships met their fate around Cape with rocky and sandy beaches alternating vices and amenities associated with small
Agulhas. For this reason the lighthouse and stretching for many kilometers. And holiday towns can be found in nearby
at Cape Agulhas was commissioned in the sunsets from the main camp, as the L’Agulhas and Struisbaai. The nearest big
1849, and is the second oldest of the 56 sun dips into the Atlantic Ocean (the town is Bredasdorp, 35km to the north.
working lighthouses along our coast. It camp lies west of the southernmost tip of Dries de Wet can be found at https://
was designed as a replica of the Pharos of Africa) is a sight to behold! dewetswild.com/

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