Western Cape Article - South African Vacations

Fynbos: Mossel Bay is situated in the famous Cape Floral Kingdom and is home to manydifferent species of fynbos.Mossel Bay Seal Island: Boat trips to a nearby island offer stunning views of the 5 000-strongseal colony. It is hard to believe that so many creatures can live, feed and breed in such asmall area, but they seem quite content with their lot.Porpoises: Porpoises often travel from the bay, past the point into the open sea and this iswhen they are best visible from shore.HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREBartholomeu Diaz Museum: The museum complex, housed inside a converted granary, builtin 1901, consists of four different museums. The displays of the Maritime Museum include alife-size replica of the ship that Diaz used in 1488, and which sailed from Portugal to SouthAfrica in 1988 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Diaz’ landing in Mossel Bay, as wellas other models of ships. The complex also houses the Cultural and Shell Museum, theGranary and the Post Office Tree.Buildings: Mossel Bay still has many old buildings, including Munro’s Hoek House dating backto 1830, now a national monument; Old Barry Building dating from 1849; 10 Church Streetbuilt in 1857; Old Black’s Office built in 1904; the Masonic Lodge dating back to 1884 andmany more.Cape St Blaize Lighthouse: The lighthouse dates back to 1864.Chapel: The Chapel was the first building in the area where Christians could come together toworship. It was built in 1501 by Joao da Nova.Crime and Disaster Tour: This tour, with its unusual name, is surely an attraction unique toMossel Bay. The tour visits various sites where ghosts still walk, perhaps to try and explain tothe living the mysterious and unexplained events that occurred here.First Post Office: South Africa’s first letter was posted at the Post Office Tree here in 1500.Passing ships would leave letters under this tree for other ships to pick up later.Lazaretto Cemetery: The cemetery has gravestones dating back to 1809.NATURE’S VALLEY117Close your eyes and conjure up a pictureof a place your imagination would nameNature’s Valley. If you see a valley ringedby mountains and surrounded by forest,covered in lush trees and plants, you arenot far off. This captivating village with itshomes hidden among the trees overlooks asandy beach and despite its popularityamong holidaymakers successfullymanages to retain its unspoilt character.Entry into the valley is entry into a worldwhere you are only allowed to coexist withnature if you know your place.