This time I decided to go and touch the south-most tip of Africa. Hold it! Like everybody else do not think that the Cape of Good Hope is the place. It is a very common misconception. The reality is that I had to navigate my way to Cape Agulhas (also called L’Agulhas) which is the meeting point of the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean. It took a 2 and half hour drive from Cape Town to cover the 220 kilimetres. It is a very rough ocean here because the warm-water Agulhas current meets the cold-water Benguela current. It houses many shipwrecks and adventures of sailors trying to navigate the tip to reach Asian trade routes.
The Cape Agulhas lighthouse, inaugurated on March 1, 1849, marks the southernmost point of Africa. Its construction was partly funded by traders from distant places like Mumbai, India, because their trade had suffered greatly due to the once-unguarded dangerous coastline. This area is also the location of the Agulhas National Park. I hate hiking (I mean hike with tentacles is tough) but people go there to hike, to see fynbos (means fine bush in Afrikaans language) flora, spot birds. The viewing points with stunning sea views brought out the photographer in me! Southern Right Whales migrate to the Cape every year but I did not meet any. In addition to whales and seals, Cape Agulhas is home to a rich diversity of marine life, including various species of fish, sharks, and dolphins.
Cape Agulhas blew me away, I mean this location is renowned for its strong winds, particularly during the summer months, which can make the climate feel much cooler. The constant wind and weather patterns contribute to the wild and untouched beauty of the landscape. The place gets its name from the Portuguese word “agulhas,” meaning “needles,” referring to the sharp, needle-like rocks in the area that were hazardous to early sailors. After all these sights, I went down to nearest village for a cup of coffee before I hit the road back to Cape Town.
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Lovely read!! 😍