Southern tip of Africa

On impulse we decided to take a few days off from home..and headed south..to a little  fishing village called 

Arniston.

 Arniston forms part of a few villages bordering the most southern tip of Africa, Cape Agulhas being at the most south-a few kilometers on.

we live in STELLENBOSCH  which is situated to the west of the map, 50 km inland from CAPE TOWN    Arniston is a 3 hour drive to the south.

 there it is...the almost tip of Africa!

Arniston Harbour

1836

Arniston is a small seaside settlement in the Overberg  region on the Cape South coast, close to Cape Agulhas,  the southern-most tip of Africa .

 Prior to the loss of the Arniston, it was known as Waenhuiskrans, an Afrikaans name meaning literally  "Wagon house cliff", after a local sea cave large enough to accommodate a wagon and a span of oxen.

In May 1815, a British East Indiaman, the Arniston, was rounding the Cape in convoy on a journey to repatriate wounded English soldiers from Ceylon.

 The ship lacked a chronometer – an expensive instrument at the time – and consequently had to rely on other ships in the fleet to calculate the longitude  of the group. After being separated from the convoy in heavy seas, the captain of the Arniston was obliged to rely solely on dead reckoning  to navigate. Thinking incorrectly he was 100 miles west of the Cape of Good Hope, the master steered north for St Helena and ran the ship onto the rocks at Waenhuiskrans. Only six of the 378 souls on board survived the stranding. 

The survivors spent several days on the beach before being discovered by a farmer's son.  A memorial, a replica of which can be seen today, was erected on the beach by the wife of Colonel Giels, whose four unaccompanied children were lost in the tragedy

At first only a fishing community, Arniston has become a renowned holiday destination and its hinterland a respected region for viticulture. The fishing village - characterized by its lime-washed and thatched houses - remains unspoiled and has been declared a National Monument in its entirety. Fishermen still go to sea in boats of the style that would have been familiar to locals in the early nineteenth century.Whale watching  is a popular tourist activity. 

Kassiesbaai

Fishing is a integrated part of Arniston, it is the fishermen's heritage, it is their pride, their livelihood.

The fishermen's village Kassiesbaai, lies to the left of the town, the one and only hotel can be seen on the very left of the image below and has been turned into the four star Arniston Spa- hotel.

this is a postcard of the hotel  we stayed-

 my apologies for not taking a better photograph.

We were captivated by the colorful fishing boats. Early morning one hear the men getting ready to  take to  the sea, all excited and eager they load their gear, nets and fresh water and meals to be enjoyed out there... far into the sea. Some times they stay out all day and night, returning with the tide. huge grins can be seen from the little harbor - their families waiting. Local visitors and permanent residents, have access to the freshest fish daily. 

 We go down to Arniston every start of the new year, it just happened one year and it has become a tradition to visit here on our wedding anniversary.

  this little village has touched a very special place in my heart...the humble way these people make fishing their living..their spontaneity, their sharing with others..

it almost makes me long for less "stuff" and more

just the essential...

the beauty that changes with each tide, and yet stays the same.

I would love to spend longer then just a few days in this  beautiful village..long enough to notice a new paint color on a much loved boat..
can you imagine...choosing a new color...or touching up with a new "band" of red or yellow..those are important decisions to make!

 I love how the paintwork is naturally chipped and worn away..

What stories could MRS H share?....

DD enjoying the waves

 I am always ready to go right back to this beautiful little village... and further on to Cape Agulhas where two oceans meet..

Colx