Accommodation in Diaz Beach Accommodation in Diaz Beach

The Greater Mossel Bay

Background

It is widely well known that the town of Mossel Bay can be found halfway between Port Elizabeth and Cape Town. The latter and Port Elizabeth are 800 km apart. Furthermore, Mossel Bay is a holiday destination with numerous festivals, events, adventures and attractions. Don’t believe that Mossel Bay is only sand and beaches. No, it also displays mountains, animals, water streams/rivers and rolling landscapes. But what about it other gems that all form part of the town of Mossel Bay ?

Hartenbos

Better known for Art, History, Holidays and Entertainment. Here one can find the ATKV Museum, displaying objects of the Great Trek as well as the Trek of 1938. Hartenbos is adjacent to Mossel Bay proper, close to the suburbs of Diaz, Voorbaai and Bay View.

Little Brak River, Friemersheim, Great Brak River, and Glentana

Also towards the East of Mossel bay, direction George, the following activities can be experienced :

• Walking Trails and short walks such as : 103 steps walk, Vleiland & Nature walk, History walk, Pepper Tree walk, Southern Cross walk, the Island walk, and the Circle walk.
• The Great Brak Museum as well as a Tourism Office (at The Dekke).
• Cycling Routes, including : Poeding Pad (20 km), Perdeplaas route (39 km), Frangrance route (36,5 km). These routes are easy to moderate.
• Fragrance Route. Lavender and chilli shortbread, a historical church, and armfuls of freshly cut lavender.

Herbertsdale

Also  known for its food, wine, beer, wildlife and architecture. As far as the latter is concerned, one can find churches, houses with paintings and even a spices storeroom as mortuary. Other interesting things :

• A beer brewery nearby called Glenhoff (only brewery in Mossel Bay), as well as Jakkalsvlei Private Cellar (only wine farm in Mossel Bay).
• Some wild life such as the Gondwana Game Reserve and the Indalu Game Reserve. The latter Reserve has a whole herd of elephants whom you can personally feed and walk with, under the supervision of some expert elephant coaches.

Vleesbaai, Boggomsbaai & Fransmanhoek

As for Herbertsdale, these 3 suburbs are also on the Western side of Mossel Bay proper. At the Southern side of the Bay is Fransmanshoek, which is a paradise for rock anglers. Fishing is the most popular activity at Vleesbaai and Boggomsbaai as well. Beaches here provide fishermen with multiple fishing spots, with the local shop providing bait, angling equipment (if necessary) and accessories. You most likely need to acquire a permit to fish here. Other activities :

• Water sports such as surfing (‘Toads’ being a popular spot), kayaking, sand boarding and kite surfing
• The sand beaches provide ideal long walks. The well known ‘Oystercatcher Hiking Trail’ passes through Vleesbaai. The latter trail should be seriously considered as a ‘bucket’ adventure.

Cape St Blaize Cave in Mossel Bay

The Portuguese Bartholomew Diaz was the very first European that set foot on (South) African soil – in 1488 at Munro beach Mossel Bay. Afterwards, the Cape was named in 1497 by Vasco da Gama,   another explorer. He arrived in Mossel Bay on the day of St Blaize. The well known Cave at the Point in Mossel Bay was then named the St Blaize Cave.

In 1810 there was evidence found that the Cave had been inhabited by hunter-gatherers who ate mostly shellfish. It was only in 1888 that Sir George Leith excavated and found conclusively that the shellmiddens had been left by pre-colonial inhabitants. There was evidence of Middle Stone Age occupation below the middens. Recent excavations at other sites in the vicinity by Prof Marean of the Institute of Human Origins at the University of Arizona, found evidence going back 160 000 years. One of these sites is located at Pinnacle Point, some 8 km outside Mossel Bay and can be visited by the public by pre-arrangement.

Bland street historical buildings in Mossel Bay

The Vincent building was built in 1820-24 by C. F. Pohl and used as a General Dealer. The discovery of diamonds at Hopetown in 1867 and Kimberley in 1870 chose Mossel Bay as its most convenient  import/export gateway. The Mossel harbour brought immense wealth to the Vincent business and led to more space being required. An extension to the Vincent building was built in 1901 & 1903 by C. Wilson and included a large arch to allow ox-wagons to enter the building to offload. Opposite this building is the Vincent Square.

Since 1900 the Mossel Bay Goods Shed in Bland street was used to store cargo from and to ships. The roof covers about 90m X 14m with no obstruction. On the North side of the shed is a platform from which rail carriages could be loaded without lifting. Today this shed is used as a very popular ‘flea market’ with stalls selling almost everything.

Church street historical buildings in Mossel Bay

The building of our Mossel Bay newspaper ‘Mossel Bay Advertiser’ is located in Church street and was  built in 1901 by builders Cochran & Cherry, and was occupied by Standard bank until 1950. Opposite this building was the ‘Outspan’ for ox-wagons and today is a large modernised parking area. Diagonally opposite the MB Advertiser building, is a building built in 1857 for Meyer & Co, used for business and housing the Victoria Hotel. On the 1^st floor was a warehouse, and an exterior hoist was used to lift goods from the street into the warehouse. The building was restored in 1989 and is occupied today by Rauch & Gertenbach attorneys. Ironically, the MB Advertiser used these premises between 1931-1988, before relocating to where they are today.