The seaside town of Mossel Bay lies exactly halfway between Cape Town in the Western Cape and Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape and, interestingly enough, has the smallest commercial harbour on the South African coastline.
Mossel Bay is a very pleasant, interesting little place making it appealing to a broad spectrum of holiday makers, who avail themselves of the many B&Bs and self-catering chalets that dot the town.
Despite its reasonably small size, a trip to the town can satisfy history buffs, adventure junkies and beach bums. There are even a few wine cellars in the area and the many culinary delights of the Garden Route are nearby.
The beaches in and around Mossel Bay are of the white, sandy variety, ideal for long beach walks, volley-ball or touch-rugby games and soaking up some sun with a good book. The favourable conditions extend to the warm, dry climate of the area and the high temperature of the Indian Ocean.
For the adrenaline-starved there are a variety of adventure activities in the area ranging from abseiling, shark cage diving and mountain biking to scuba diving, quad-biking and sailing. For those interested in South African history, Mossel Bay won’t disappoint either.
While many historians, palaeontologists and archaeologists believe that this area is where modern human behaviour originated, perhaps Mossel Bay is most famous, historically speaking, as being the point where European explorers first rounded the Cape. There is an entire museum complex devoted to Bartholomew Dias, including a replica of the boat on which he arrived, in the maritime section of the complex. Amateur historians and lighthouse lovers can also visit the Cape St Blaize lighthouse which is one of only two manned lighthouses in South Africa today.
Mossel Bay is an extremely popular place to visit, especially in the high season between December and January, so if you would like to make your next holiday there, best you get planning soon!
