Mossel Bay

Mossel Bay means Bay of Mussels in Afrikaans, named after a pile of mollusc shells found on the floor of Bats Cave

Attractions

Also see the neighbouring towns

Seal Island is a small island in the bay and host to about 2000 seals. The tree where the Portuguese began leaving messages, as well as the fountain next to the tree are still around and are national monuments. There are several museums in town. San rock paintings can be seen in the Khoi-San cave. There is also a replica of a Khoi village inside St Blaize Cave. Boat trips for whale watching is offered, as well as shark cave diving.

Photos: Dirkie Vorster, Bloemfontein

St Blaize Lighthouse

St Blaize Lighthouse was built in 1864 and has a 20'000 candlepower light.

Photos: Henry Vorster, Bloemfontein

History

During the time of the Portuguese sailors Khoi-Khoi nomads used this area as pastures for their cattle. Bartholomeu Dias sailed here in 1488 and saw them, calling the bay Angra dos Vaqueiros (Cowherd Bay). In 1497 Vasco da Gama sailed here and began trading fresh water and meat from the Khoi-Khoi natives. After that the Portuguese regularly stopped here for trade, and also left messages here, originally hanging in the branches of a milkwood tree next to a fountain or carved in rock.

The name Mossel Bay was given in 1595 by the Dutch sailor Cornelis de Houtman. The first settlement was only made in 1787 when a granery was built there for wheat grown in the area that was to be shipped.

Mossel Bay became a magistracy in 1848 with the name Aliwal, and to disintguish it from aliwal North, it was called Aliwal South. But the previous name proved to remain popular. During the ostrich feather boom in the Oudtshoorn area, Mossel Bay was the port used for export.

Climate

Rainfall is 375mm per year.

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