The Region
Welcome to Cape Agulhas! Part of the Cape Overberg, the Cape Agulhas municipal area is the southernmost region in Africa, with the town of L’Agulhas being the southernmost on the continent. Cape Agulhas is also the official meeting place of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.
Stretching from Die Damme in the west to the De Hoop Nature Reserve in the east, the Cape Agulhas region includes the towns of Napier, Elim, Bredasdorp, Arniston/Waenhuiskrans, Struisbaai, L’Agulhas and Suiderstrand, as well as De Mond Nature Reserve and the Agulhas National Park.
The undulating landscape north of Bredasdorp has the Riviersonderend and Langeberg mountain ranges as background and is known as the Ruggens, whereas the southern coastal region beyond the Bredasdorp-Napier mountain range is known as the Strandveld.
The region is best reached from Cape Town by travelling along the N2 and turning off at Caledon onto the R316. Alternatively take the scenic coastal route from Somerset West along the R44, and approach from Hermanus or Gansbaai in the west. From the Garden Route, turn off the N2 just past Swellendam onto the R319. A less popular but interesting route is by crossing the Breede River at the small riverside settlement of Malgas. Here you will find the last remaining hand-drawn pontoon in the country.
The Cape Agulhas Region is predominantly a dairy, wool and wheat farming area, but, being flanked by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Indian Ocean to the east, fishing has been an important industry since the early days. The towns of Arniston/Waenhuiskrans and Struisbaai developed as a result of the fishing industry, and today are still fishing villages as well as popular holiday resorts. The unique character of the remaining fishermen’s cottages is typical of the region, and many are proclaimed national heritage sites.