Struisbaai

Struisbaai is a coastal village boasting the longest continuous stretch (14km) of white sand coastline in the Southern Hemisphere. Collect shells, sunbathe or swim in the safe azure ocean in this unspoiled corner of South Africa.

The quaint, picturesque fishing harbour has collection of very small fishing boats and is also used by ski boats. Boat based whale watching from the Struisbaai harbour is a popular attraction when these gentle giants arrive from the arctic waters to mate and calve during May to December. Fishing trips are also available on charters from the harbour.

The fishermen’s cottages at Hotagterklip have been declared national monuments. They are often featured in the paintings of South African artists. Most of the old cottages were allowed to fall into ruin, until recently, when the original cottages have been expertly restored.

The low shrub-covered terrain bordering the sandy coast is certainly ostrich country and you will still see a good number of these giant birds sharing the land with dairy cattle and merino sheep.

Many visitors flock to Struisbaai for the water sports. On most days it is easy to launch a kayak, a small boat or rubber dingy off the beach and board and kite sailing are particularly good here.

Visit the nearby Agulhas National Park the southern-most tip of Africa, where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet.

Visit the shell shop – a must visit for the shell collector and browser.

Visit the Bredasdorp Shipwreck Museum: Graveyard of ships, the Zoetendal, Birkenhead and Arniston are some of the many shipwrecks found along the Aghulhas coastline. Showpieces from these shipwrecks are on display at the Bredasdorp Shipwreck Museum.

For more information on this area, visit ShowMe Cape Agulhas.