Cape Agulhas is officially the spot where the two oceans meet and lies at the furthest tip of Africa in the Western Cape’s Overberg region. Historically, this part of the Cape coast has been renowned as treacherous for ships, particularly during the winter storms when huge rogue waves can reach a height of 30 metres. The lighthouse here was built in 1848 in an attempt to warn ships of the conflicting currents, with the west winds making it extremely dangerous.
Cape Agulhas takes its name from the Spanish word for needle, which is due to the fact that the first sailors to land on these shores noticed that needle in the compass reflected due south. Being the official meeting point of two oceans means that the cold Benguela current of the Atlantic Ocean and the strong Aghulhas current of the Indian Ocean literally come together just offshore. Places of interest here include Suiderstrand and Struisbaai, both of which have a variety of residential property.
The southernmost point on the African continent, Cape Agulhas has a curving coastline and rocky beach that is perhaps not well suited to bathing or swimming, but does offer an incredible rugged beauty. A national park has recently been proclaimed here and there are a variety of ancient archaeological sites that date back thousands of years in the vicinity. If you are keen to buy property in a somewhat isolated but incredibly beautiful area on the coast then Cape Agulhas has just that. |
