Travels around the world 2009-2024
Exploring our beautiful planet

From place to place

April 18, 2014  —  South Africa

The coast

Cape Agulhas - South Africa
A Japanese boat.

We are continuing our exploration of new places in South Africa.

Here, we are at Cape Agulhas. This site is the most southern point of the whole Africa. Moreover, it is the official area where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet. This zone is very important since the mix of the warm waters from the Indian Ocean and the cold waters from the Atlantic creates a unique environment where several endemic species live. It is more than a mix of species from two oceans, it is a whole set of creatures unique to the region.

Even on the dry land, all this region of the country is unique. Numerous plants and animals are unique to the region. For example, there are more than 20,000 species of plants, 10% of all the species of the world. All those species on a land area that is only 1% of all the land of the planet.

Cape Agulhas - South Africa
The most southern point of the whole Africa.
Cape Agulhas - South Africa
Cape Agulhas's lighthouse.
Road from Mossel Bay to Cape Agulhas - South Africa
One of the numerous beaches.
Danger Point - South Africa
The lighthouse at Danger Point.
False Bay - South Africa
False Bay.
Mossel Bay - South Africa
Mossel Bay - South Africa
A tidal pool where the children can play and swim safely... It's a great setup. The waves fill the pool.
Road from Mossel Bay to Cape Agulhas - South Africa
Road from Mossel Bay to Cape Agulhas - South Africa
South Africans are great fans of fishing.
Cape Agulhas - South Africa
Shipwreck near Cape Agulhas.
Road from Agulhas to Danger Point - South Africa
False Bay.
False Bay - South Africa
False Bay - South Africa

Hermanus

Hermanus - South Africa

Hermanus is one of the nicest towns we have seen on the section of the coast that we explored.

Hermanus - South Africa
Hermanus - South Africa
A nice public bench.
Hermanus - South Africa
Hermanus - South Africa
Hermanus - South Africa

Bontebok National Park

Bontebok National Park - South Africa
New species - bontebok.

The Bontebok Park protects this antelope named a 'bontebok' It is a lovely and quite rare animal.

Bontebok National Park - South Africa
A bontebok.
Bontebok National Park - South Africa
New species... of mouse.
Bontebok National Park - South Africa
Bontebok National Park - South Africa
Bontebok National Park - South Africa
Bontebok National Park - South Africa
Bontebok National Park - South Africa

Cape Winelands

Franschhoek - Cape Winelands - South Africa

The Cape Winelands region, similarly to Route 62, is a nice region where wine producers are numerous. The region is more touristy than Route 62, but it is nevertheless quite pleasant. Some people say that the best wines come from here... but we are not so sure.

Franschhoek is a small town whose first inhabitants where the Huguenots that came from France. Several wineries or restaurants have French names, sometime weird, but nowadays nobody speaks French anymore.

Franschhoek - Cape Winelands - South Africa
Franschhoek - Cape Winelands - South Africa
In this store, one can find local wine as well as some imported from France. In the cellar, there are wines more than 20 years old and worth a lot of money.
Cape Winelands - South Africa
Cape Winelands - South Africa

Museums

Swellendam - South Africa

We visited two nice museums in the area. The first was showing how the people were living in the years 1800. The second one is about the numerous shipwrecks that occurred on the coast. There are hundreds of shipwrecks.

Swellendam - South Africa
Swellendam - South Africa
Swellendam - South Africa
Swellendam - South Africa
Bredasdorp - South Africa
Bredasdorp - South Africa
A superb hearse.
Stellenbocsh - Cape Winelands - South Africa
Stellenbocsh - Cape Winelands - South Africa
Stellenbocsh - Cape Winelands - South Africa
Bredasdorp - South Africa
A canon from one of the shipwrecks.
Bredasdorp - South Africa
Bredasdorp - South Africa

Miscellaneous

Swellendam - South Africa
Church in Swellendam.
Marloth Nature Reserve - South Africa
Swellendam can be seen in the background.
Marloth Nature Reserve - South Africa
View from Marloth Nature Reserve.