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Events in L'Agulhas & Struisbaai
When someone mentions Struisbaai or L’Agulhas the first thing that comes to mind is the harbour, the lighthouse or the various shipwrecks that lay below the waves. But these southern towns hold some of the most colourful and adventurous events that show off the best that Cape Agulhas has to offer.
The southernmost town in Africa pulls out all the stops when it comes to their annual events calendar and everyone is welcome to take part. The events vary from fun filled family events to adrenalin pumping races and educational excursions for the kids.
We kick off with a big bang, the Cape Agulhas Mardi Gras. This fun and colourful festival combines all that is good about a proper celebration – arts, music and fun! The festival was a combined brainchild of the residents, local businesses and artists of the area and has since been listed as an annual event. The festival, in true mardi gras fashion, includes a float parade that takes you from Struisbaai all the way to L’Agulhas. The rest of the event is filled with a combination of music and arts to get your creative juices flowing. Further activities include kite surfing, trail running and a 3-way relay.
The nature lovers will also find a number of exciting events to take part in. The nearby Agulhas National Park welcomes young and old to share in the beauty of the fauna and flora found and protected in the area. For the young ones, there is a two day adventure in the Nature Reserve. The outdoor adventure stay is filled with learning all about the natural habitats, plant life and animal life in the reserve. The educational stay also includes interpretive walks, map work and a visit to the lighthouse at the southern tip of Africa. For the avid bird-lovers, there is the annual Big Birding Day. Heading out into the Agulhas wetlands you get to take part in an ostrich and big bird count. The day holds the opportunity to spot majestic birds like Blue Cranes, Secretary Birds, African Fish Eagles and Jackal Buzzards in their natural habitat.
For those seeking a thrill and looking to get their blood pumping, you’ve come to the right place. Ranging from endurance mountain biking to the toughest boat race around, Struisbaai and L’Agulhas are the places for any adrenalin-junkie. The end of the year event for any mountain biker has to be the mountain biking race that takes cyclists from one of the most well-known lighthouses in the area to the other. This race spans over a whole weekend and covers 180km in total. Following old wagon trails, the race takes you past some of the historic shipwrecks that came to rest here and through the myriad of coastal landscapes. Not suggested for the faint-hearted, this is the perfect way to end any year for the fit at heart.
Last but definitely not least, we have the event that combines both outdoor adventure and commemorates the history of Struisbaai and L’Agulhas. The Southern Tip Day, named after the area, was originally put together with the idea of celebrating the rich history of the towns. The day pays tribute to the countless shipwrecks and the all the sailors that lost their lives at sea. This beautiful celebration focuses on how these different aspects of the area’s history have affected our lives today. Of course, the day has grown quite a bit since its establishment and now also includes a number of outdoor activities like running, canoeing and mountain-biking.
Serving as a culinary indulgence to many, there is also the highly popular Struisbaai Geelstert Fees (Yellowtail Festival). This vibrant and entertaining festival allows for feasting on freshly caught fish and any other form of seafood caught right here.
The full schedule of Struisbaai and L’Agulhas will no doubt keep you busy while you’re here and also draw you into the local heritage and culture. Whether you are a nature lover, a sports lover or a history lover, this town has it all. What are you waiting for, start pencilling the dates into your diary!
