Cape Agulhas, Western Cape, South Africa

The Most Southern Tip of Africa

Jan 28, 2009 Bronwyn Moran

An historical seacrossing of the 15th century feared by seafarers for it's dangerous coastline and rough seas.

The Southern Most Tip of Africa

Contrary to what many believe, Cape Point is not the southern most tip of Africa. That title belongs to Cape Agulhas where the tip’s exact location is marked by a simple plaque that you can still see today.

Whoever said history was nothing exciting, has never been to Cape Agulhas. Just outside of Cape Town in the Western Cape, Cape Agulhas has always had a mysterious and adventurous reputation. With one of the most challenging sea crossings of its time it is bound to capture you, and your imagination.

The Cape of Needles

Cape Agulhas is a geographical extreme with its rocky coastline and seas so treacherous that a lighthouse had to be built to reduce the number of fatalities it caused. At the end of the 15th century the Portuguese seafarers christened this tip “Capo das Agulhas”, which translated means “Cape of Needles”.

This is probably because once they had reached this point where the Indian and Atlantic oceans meet, their compass needles showed no deviation between true north and magnetic north. The shallow stretch of coast around this southern-most tip of Africa is also known as the “Graveyard of Ships” because of its coastline being the cause of so many shipwrecks.

Lighting the Way

As you stand and lookout at the dangerous rock-strewn shoreline and jagged reefs today, you will be able to understand how difficult it must have been for the early seaman to sail around it safely. This is why the Cape Agulhas Lighthouse was constructed just a kilometre away from the southern most tip.

The red and white Cape Agulhas Lighthouse is one of the most powerful and brightest on the southern coast and the second oldest in South Africa. It also houses the only lighthouse museum in Africa. The architecture was inspired by the Egyptian style of the original Pharos Lighthouse, one of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the world. With such historical tales, its unique surroundings and significant scenery of the Agulhas National Park, have also had it declared a National Monument.

Discover the Adventurer in You

So if you dare to brave the narrow steps that climb to the top of the tower, beware of the gale-force winds. They might literally leave you holding on. But that’s not the only thing that will blow you away. The high swells of the controlling ocean and shipwrecks of this southern most tip of Africa will without a doubt satisfy the explorer in you.

The copyright of the article Cape Agulhas, Western Cape, South Africa in Historical Travel is owned by Bronwyn Moran. Permission to republish Cape Agulhas, Western Cape, South Africa in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.