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National Parks
L'agulhas National Park
Province: Western Cape
Region: Overberg
Features: Southernmost Tip of Africa
MAIN ATTRACTIONS
1.The Southern Tip of Africa
2. Southern Right Whale
3. African Black Oystercatcher
4. Damara Tern
5. Cape Platana (Frog)
AREAS OF SPECIAL INTEREST
The Agulhas area has several attractions, which draw tourists to its shores each year. The nearby towns L'Agulhas and Struisbaai offer several water sports such as swimming and angling. Within the confines of the developing national park, tourists can enjoy the following places of interest:
The southern-most of Africa- The official position of the tip is 34° 49' 58" south and 20° 00' 12'' east. A cairn marks the tip's exact location. It is at this longitudinal point that the Atlantic and Indian oceans officially meet.
The lighthouse at Cape Agulhas - The lighthouse was built to aid the early explorers on their passage of the rough seas off Cape Agulhas. Seventy-one steps lead up to the top of the second oldest working lighthouse in southern Africa. Stone mined from the adjacent limestone quarry provided the raw materials for its construction. The building also houses a unique lighthouse museum. Remains of ancient stone fish traps used by the Khoisan people can be seen to the east of the lighthouse.
Graveyard of ships - The Zoetendal, Birkenhead and Armiston are some of the many shipwrecks found along the Agulhas coastline. Showpieces from these shipwrecks are on display at the Bredasdorp Shipwreck museum. Visitors to the are can still see the remains of the Meisho Maru 38 wreck on the shores of Cape Agulhas.
Fynbos - The Agulhas Plain has great diversity of flora. The Agulhas area contains representatives of unique vegetation such as limestone fynbos. Although most species bloom between May and September, there are flowers to be enjoyed in any season.
NATURAL AND CULTURAL HISTORY
The area around the southern-most tip of Africa, often referred to as the Agulhas Plain, has rich natural and cultural features, which make it worthy of national park status. The Agulhas Plain is of international significance due to its rich plant biodiversity, with species richness values equalling those of tropical rain forests. It has approximately 2000 species of indigenous plants including 100 which are endemic to the area and over 110 Red Data Book species. Consequently, the Agulhas Plain is a very important component of the Cape Floral Kingdom, the smallest and richest of the world's six plant kingdoms.
The Agulhas Plain is unique in that a wide variety of wetlands occur in the area, contributing to a high diversity of wetland plants and aquatic invertebrates. This is also home to the endangered Cape platanna and the micro frog. In addition these wetlands attract a host of water birds, with over 21 000 migrant and resident wetland birds estimated to occur in the area annually. The coastline supports a rich marine and intertidal life, with breeding sties of rare coastal birds such as the African black oystercatcher. The nearby islands are home to a variety of seabirds and seals. In spring and early summer southern right whales frequent the waters of the Agulhas coast. Besides its ecological importance, the Agulhas area has a rich cultural heritage. A reconnaissance of the area has established the presence of significant archaeological sites along the coast. The discovery of stone hearths and pottery, together with shell middens, link the archaeological deposits with the era of Khoisan migration and settlements.
The Agulhas area also provides history of a different kind - numerous shipwrecks of the early explorers attempting to conquer the wild seas off the southern tip of Africa, dot the coastline. Many national monuments are found in the area, such as the historical Cape Agulhas lighthouse, which has been in operation since 1849. In addition, historical buildings such as the water mill at Elim and certain homesteads reflect the European influence in the history of the region.
FACILITIES
Tourist Facilities
Since this is developing park, there are no tourist facilities such as camping, overnight accommodation and restaurants. However, these facilities are available in the nearby towns L'Agulhas and Struisbaai.
WHEELCHAIR ACCESS
The southern tip of Africa and the Agulhas Lighthouse can be reached by car, but mobility over the rocks is only for the physically strong. Access to the museum and tearoom at the bottom of the lighthouse is up steps, and wheelchair users will require assistance. Access to the lighthouse tower is not an option.
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