Cape Agulhas
You might think that Cape Point is the southernmost tip of Africa, but it’s not! That honour belongs to Cape Agulhas, some 125 km East of Hermanus and easily done in a day trip from there. The road takes you through the town of Bredasdorp, home of Julian Keyser Ceramics, which you will see in the duty free shop in Cape Town Airport. They have a great little restuarant there too.
But it is Cape Agulhas we have come to see, officially recognised as the place where the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic meet. Standing proud on a ridge above the beach is the beautiful, historic red and white Cape Agulhas Lighthouse, the icon that denotes the tip of Africa. You can go inside and climb to the top, up the wooden steps that are little more than ladders in some sections.
That makes it a must-visit spot for any serious traveller, and you just have to go down to the shoreline to get your photo taken in front of the stone plaque that marks the place, right on the beach.
Historically, this has always been a treacherous place for sailors, notorious for the winter storms and huge waves that can reach as high as 30 metres, so it’s no surprise that it’s littered with wrecks. Within the village you can still see some of the old fisherman’s cottages, it must have been a terrifying place to earn one’s living.
But nowadays, you can simply sit and enjoy the warm and beautiful sandy beaches … and the crystal-clear night skies have to be seen to be believed.