Thank you for visiting Mossel Bay: an idyllic coastal village and harbour situated between Cape Town and Port Elisabeth. This town is proud to be the historical capital of Cape Town's, world-famous Garden Route. What's more, it features inside the Guinness Book of Records as having the mildest all-year climate; second only to Hawaii. Both South Africans and Europeans regard Mossel Bay as his or her 'secret' holiday destination; whether your desire is for bustling summer holidays, or lazy winter retreats - get ready to enjoy this perennial Mediterranean climate all-year round.
Mossel Bay can be a town with a rich history. The initial recorded meeting involving the Europeans along with the local inhabitants of Southern Africa came about in Mossel Bay in 1488. An explorer, Bartolomeu Dias anchored within a bay, that they called Aquada de Sao Bras (watering location of St Blaize). In 1601 a Dutch navigator, Paulus van Caerden renamed it Mossel Bay, because mussels became a welcome accessory the diet of his crew. The 1st trading also happened here in 1497 between Vasco Da Gama as well as the local inhabitants. Later the city became a busy export harbour for wool, ochre and ostrich feathers.
The warm Indian Ocean surrounding Mossel Bay is home to world-famous mussels and oysters. Gourmets rate them as the best in the world. Incomparable seafood and 24km of unspoilt coastline get this village a trip haven.
What to do in Mossel Bay
Endless game drives place you in contact with the top Five in the numerous game reserves. Ride on elephants from the Botlierskop Game Reserve; take a boat day at nearby Seal Island; the house of about 3000 Cape Fur seals, with an ideal location for dolphin viewing and whale watching. For adrenalin junkies, there's sailing, bridge swinging, abseiling and South Africa's favourite thrill, shark-cage diving. You'll be able to scuba dive and shipwreck dive or go horse riding on the beach. For the less adventurous, there's an 18-hole course to relish. The Oyster Catcher Trail is an eco cultural hiking trail over the coast, starting from a Khoi San collapse Mossel Bay and ending on the Gouritz River mouth. Finally, for the fantastic strategy for whale watching, attempt a helicopter flip over the town and magnificent bay.
Special Events
Mossel Bay offers seasonal festivals and events, including annual flower shows every September and October. Most people are looking towards the Mossel Bay Off Shore Yacht Race 2006: from your Royal Cape Yacht Club in Cape Town to the Mossel Bay Boat and Yacht Club.
Culture
Mossel Bay is pleased with its rich cultural diversity and well-preserved buildings and houses, crafted from honey-toned local stone. Khoi-San artefacts, going back to more than 80 000 years, put together from the famous Cape St Blaize Cave.
Where to experience the current culture is a the Bartolomeu Dias Museum Complex. This complex is made up of the Maritime museum, Shell Museum & Aquarium, Granary, famous Old Tn post office Tree, Etno-botanical garden, Munro houses and fountain. Here you can visit the impressive life size replica of Bartolomeu Dias caravel; the ship in which he sailed into Mossel Bay. The cultural section focuses on the heritage with the town and district. The Shell Museum houses imaginative shell exhibitions and portrays a history in the using molluscs by man. Live animals happens to their natural habitat in aquaria. Probably the most popular attractions may be the Post Office tree. In 1500, Pedro de Ataide made important letter in a shoe or iron pot under a large tree. In 1501, Joao da Nova found this letter, and also the first "Post Office" came into being. Greater than Five centuries later, you can still come and post your letter here!
The Ethno-botanical Garden is often a collection of plants that occur naturally from the Mossel San francisco bay area and which, were chosen with the Khoi, San, Coloured, Xhosa and European settlers for shelter, food and medicinal uses, and for their superstitious beliefs and magic practices.
Restaurants
The best part of any holiday is the exotic and authentic food that will accompany your stay. Mossel Bay isn't exception! For anyone looking for a taste of Africa, there is a open-air restaurant from the Khoi village. Foreign-flavoured fare includes Thai, Cuban, Portuguese, and Italian.
Sample a few of the finest seafood at the many seafood restaurants being offered, and avoid the chance indulge in wild Mossel Bay oysters and Mossel Bay sole!On an outdoor romantic encounter, a good an alfresco meal basket approximately the sunlight House where one can admire the crashing Indian Ocean below.
Beyond its obvious attributes, Mossel Bay includes a certain pathos, that is evident within the landscape, and the friendliness and heat of the company's people. Mossel Bay leaves an indelible mark on visitors who holiday there; much like the old stone buildings form area of the landscape, you can not stay here and not feel the main place.
