| me to Mossel Bay: an idyllic coastal village and harbour | | | | Culture |
| situated between Cape Town and Port Elisabeth. This | | | | Mossel Bay is proud of its rich cultural diversity and |
| town is proud to be the historical capital of Cape | | | | well-preserved buildings and houses, crafted from |
| Town’s, world-famous Garden Route. It also | | | | honey-toned local stone. Khoi-San artefacts, dating |
| features in the Guinness Book of Records as having | | | | back more than 80 000 years, were found in the |
| the mildest all-year climate; second only to Hawaii. | | | | famous Cape St Blaize Cave. |
| Both South Africans and Europeans regard Mossel | | | | The best place to experience the existing culture is |
| Bay as their ‘secret’ holiday | | | | at the Bartolomeu Dias Museum Complex. This |
| destination; whether your desire is for bustling | | | | complex consists of the Maritime museum, Shell |
| summer holidays, or lazy winter retreats - you can | | | | Museum & Aquarium, Granary, famous Old Post |
| enjoy this perennial Mediterranean climate all-year | | | | Office Tree, Etno-botanical garden, Munro houses and |
| round. | | | | fountain. Here you can visit the impressive life size |
| Mossel Bay is a town with a rich history. The first | | | | replica of Bartolomeu Dias caravel; the ship in which |
| recorded meeting between the Europeans and the | | | | he sailed into Mossel Bay. The cultural section focuses |
| local inhabitants of Southern Africa took place in | | | | on the heritage of the town and district. The Shell |
| Mossel Bay in 1488. An explorer, Bartolomeu Dias | | | | Museum houses imaginative shell exhibitions and |
| anchored in a bay, which he called Aquada de Sao | | | | portrays the history of the use of molluscs by man. |
| Bras (watering place of St Blaize). In 1601 a Dutch | | | | Live animals exist in their natural habitat in aquaria. |
| navigator, Paulus van Caerden renamed it Mossel Bay, | | | | One of the most popular attractions is the Post |
| because mussels had become a welcome addition to | | | | Office tree. In 1500, Pedro de Ataide left an |
| the diet of his crew. The first trading also took place | | | | important letter in a shoe or iron pot under a large |
| here in 1497 between Vasco Da Gama and the local | | | | tree. In 1501, Joao da Nova found this letter, and the |
| inhabitants. Later this town became a busy export | | | | first “Post Office” came about. More |
| harbour for wool, ochre and ostrich feathers. | | | | than 500 years later, you can still come and post |
| The warm Indian Ocean surrounding Mossel Bay is | | | | your letter here! |
| home to world-famous mussels and oysters. | | | | The Ethno-botanical Garden is a collection of plants |
| Gourmets rate them as some of the best in the | | | | that occur naturally in the Mossel Bay area and which, |
| world. Incomparable seafood and 24km of unspoilt | | | | were used by the Khoi, San, Coloured, Xhosa and |
| coastline make this village a holiday haven. | | | | European settlers for shelter, food and medicinal |
| What to do in Mossel Bay | | | | uses, as well as for their superstitious beliefs and |
| Endless game drives put you in contact with the Big | | | | magic practices. |
| Five at the numerous game reserves. Ride on | | | | Restaurants |
| elephants through the Botlierskop Game Reserve; | | | | The best part of any holiday is surely the exotic and |
| take a boat trip to nearby Seal Island; the home of | | | | authentic food that will accompany your stay. Mossel |
| about 3000 Cape Fur seals, and an ideal spot for | | | | Bay is no exception! For those looking for a taste of |
| dolphin viewing and whale watching. For adrenalin | | | | Africa, there is the open-air restaurant in the Khoi |
| junkies, there is bungee jumping, bridge swinging, | | | | village. Foreign-flavoured fare includes Thai, Cuban, |
| abseiling and South Africa's favourite thrill, shark-cage | | | | Portuguese, and Italian. |
| diving. You can scuba dive and shipwreck dive or go | | | | Sample some of the finest seafood at the many |
| horse riding on the beach. For the less adventurous, | | | | seafood restaurants on offer, and don’t pass |
| there is an 18-hole golf course to enjoy. The Oyster | | | | up the chance to indulge in wild Mossel Bay oysters |
| Catcher Trail is an eco cultural hiking trail along the | | | | and Mossel Bay sole!For an outdoor romantic |
| coast, starting from a Khoi San cave in Mossel Bay | | | | encounter, why not take a picnic basket up to the |
| and ending at the Gouritz River mouth. Finally, for a | | | | Light House where you can admire the crashing |
| truly unique way of whale watching, embark on a | | | | Indian Ocean below. |
| helicopter flip over the town and magnificent bay. | | | | Beyond its obvious attributes, Mossel Bay has a |
| Special Events | | | | certain pathos, which is evident in the landscape, and |
| Mossel Bay offers seasonal festivals and events, | | | | the friendliness and warmth of its people. Mossel Bay |
| such as annual flower shows every September and | | | | leaves an indelible mark on visitors who holiday there; |
| October. Everyone is looking forward to the Mossel | | | | just as the old stone buildings form part of the |
| Bay Off Shore Yacht Race 2006: from the Royal | | | | landscape, you cannot stay here and not feel part of |
| Cape Yacht Club in Cape Town to the Mossel Bay | | | | the place. |
| Boat and Yacht Club. | | | | |