Mossel Bay, on the Cape south coast, has the only north facing beach in South Africa. But for those in the know there is much more than surf and sand in this laid-back town; for here you will find a rich history, some of the best land-based whale watching in the world, adventure and some of the finest eateries in the region.
The Post Office Tree
Although its African roots go back tens of thousands of years, Mossel Bay’s recorded history stretches back only to 1488, when Bartholomew Dias, the first Portuguese navigator to round the Cape, landed here.
Twelve years after Dias’ short stay, another sailor, Pedro d’Ataide, addressed a letter to his colleague, Joao da Nova, and hid it in an old boot which he tied to a milkwood tree. Amazingly - in all the vastness of the almost empty African coast (as it was then) - da Nova found the boot and its contents: and thus began the tradition of the Post Office Tree.
A Nautical Town 
Mossel Bay is a nautical town – past and present. Pride of place in the Dias Museum Complex (a cluster of seven different museums which attract more than a quarter of a million visitors a year), is a full-sized replica of Dias’ caravel - the ship in which Bartholomew and his motley crew sailed round the Cape all those years ago.
Today the town boasts the only commercial harbour along this stretch of coast. Bulk carriers come into the bay to collect fuel from the Petro-SA plant, which synthesises petroleum products from natural, off-shore gas. Rather than detract, the refinery has been named the cleanest in the world and the busy port enhances the nautical atmosphere of the town.
Whale of a Time
‘Mossel Bay has the best whales,’ says the tourism office’s manager, Marcia Holm. ‘And you can’t beat our land-based whale watching.’ Especially as the town overlooks one of the biggest of the Cape’s classic half-heart bays (so named because of their shape) - which offer the moderate depth and excellent shelter which southern right whales prefer when they’re mating or calving.
‘On almost any day in whale season (May to October), you can sit at The Point with its sweeping views across the bay or anywhere along the cliffs and you’ll probably get at least one good sighting’ she said. ‘And if that isn’t close enough for you, you can also go out to sea with an expert guide on a licensed whale watching boat.’
Adventure Zone
The sea is the focus of many of the Mossel Bay’s activities and visitors can enjoy a range of ocean activities from yachting and kayaking to boat trips to Seal Island.
But that isn’t to say that the sea’s the only attraction in the town. Adrenalin junkies can jump off the Gourits Bridge or charge around on quad bikes. And nature lovers can go game-watching, birding, horse riding, scuba diving, hiking or cycling.
Fore
‘And don’t forget the golf,’ says Marcia. ‘Mossel Bay has a number of fine championship courses and it’s within a short drive of a number of others - like Fancourt, which hosted the President’s Cup a couple of years ago.’
Mossel Bay Golf Club boasts you can see the sea from every green. This course is home to an annual PGA-sanctioned Pro-Am, which attracts some of the world’s top golfers.
Fine Fare 
No holiday - no life - would be complete without those long, lingering lunches with friends or those intimate dinners for two. And Mossel Bay has attracted some of the finest chefs in the country. Which means that good food is a way of life - especially at The Point and in the old part of town where the restaurants have congregated.
‘There’s nothing like dining in style while you’re looking out over the Indian Ocean,’ says Marcia. ‘And can you imagine how exciting it is when the whales are showing off while you’re downing your chardonnay?’
For local flavour, tour operators in the town offer a range of options for visiting townships. Here you can experience the best in African hospitality, atmosphere and taste.
Staying Over
Outdoors or indoors, the selection of restaurants in Mossel Bay is bettered only by the range of accommodation establishments in the area.
Five-star game reserve chic, traditional South African guest house or B&B, elegant up-market hotel or backpackers hostel, airy self-catering apartment, caravan site or camping ground - Mossel Bay has the widest cross-section of places to stay.
Wherever you choose to lay your head, there is one certainty, it’s a place you’ll come back to again and again.
© Photos courtesy and copyright of Mossel Bay Tourism
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