This coastal town along South Africa's Garden Route has ancient caves, a 500-year-old Post Office Tree, and warm waters where whales breach from June to November.
Mossel Bay stretches along South Africa's Garden Route with 60 kilometers of beaches. Swim in 20°C waters at Santos Beach, zip across the ocean on a 1.1-kilometer line, or watch southern right whales breach from the shore between June and November. Walk to the 1864 Cape Saint Blaize lighthouse, then follow the ancient Post Office Tree tradition by leaving a message in its shoe-shaped postbox, just as sailors have done since 1500.
Getting to Mossel Bay
Mossel Bay sits exactly halfway between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth, 400 kilometers from each city along the N2 highway. You can reach the town by train through a branch line to George, or drive here from any major Garden Route town within two hours.
Weather and Beach Activities
The warm Agulhas Current and sheltering Outeniqua Mountains create more than 300 sunny days per year. At Santos Beach - the only north-facing beach in Southern Africa - you'll swim in waters between 20-22°C year-round. During summer (December-January), up to 50,000 people visit the beach daily.
Marine Life and Ocean Activities
Watch hundreds of seals and their cubs on Seal Island from daily boat cruises or the shoreline. Pods of dolphins swim past the coast regularly, while southern right whales visit between June and November. Join shark cage diving expeditions throughout the year, or take fishing charters into deeper waters.
Adventure Activities
Walk the 14-kilometer St. Blaize Trail from the Cape St. Blaize Lighthouse to Dana Bay along the rocky coastline. Soar across the bay on the 1.1-kilometer ocean zipline, or try skydiving with beach landing options year-round. The waters around Mossel Bay drop to depths of 200 meters, making them ideal for deep-sea fishing.
Historical Sites
Inside the Bartolomeu Dias Museum Complex, examine a full-size replica of a 15th-century caravel ship and tools used by early Portuguese explorers. The Cape Saint Blaize lighthouse has guided ships since 1864 from its promontory position. Stop at the Post Office Tree, a centuries-old milkwood where sailors have left messages since 1500 - you can still mail letters here through a shoe-shaped postbox.
Exploring the Garden Route
As you travel from Mossel Bay, the landscape shifts from coastal fynbos plants to thick forests near George and Tsitsikamma. Inland, near Oudtshoorn, the terrain becomes semi-desert. Take regular buses to George, Knysna, and Plettenberg Bay - all less than two hours away.
