Struis Bay, Western Cape

Struis Bay (Struisbaai) is a quaint little fishing village in the Overberg region, 8 km from the holiday resort and lighthouse at the most southerly point of Africa - L'Aghulhas. this popular little holiday town promises white-washed fishermen’s houses, colourful fishing boats, a working harbour, and plenty of coastal charm.

The fishermen's cottages at Hotagterklip have been declared national monuments and are often featured in the paintings of both South African and overseas artists. These landmark cottages together with the white sands of the beach that stretches right the way from Struisbaai to Arniston are probably two very popular attractions that make Struisbaai so attractive to visitors! In fact, this little coastal village boasts the longest continuous stretch of white sand coastline in the Southern Hemisphere, 14 km in total, and is very popular with swimmers and anglers. On most days it is easy to launch a kayak, a small boat or rubber dingy off the beach; and board and kite sailing are particularly good here.

The towns quirky little harbour, originally built in 1959 and enlarged in 1990, as well as the Anglican Church, now also a restored National Monument, are both worth a visit when visiting the town. Meet the fishermen at the harbour as they come in with their catch and get some fresh fish for dinner! Other attractions also include visiting the various reserves for an abundance of wildlife, birdlife, fynbos, fishing, whale watching and hiking.

Holiday makers will be able to visit a number of charming restaurants and pubs and Struisbaai boasts accommodation to suit any pocket and incudes holiday resorts, guesthouses, self-catering cottages as well as a caravan park and camping facilities.  from cosy guest houses & bed and breakfasts to holiday resorts in and around the Drakensberg area.

Places to Visit

Things to do and see

• Cape Agulhas National Park
• De Hoop Nature & Marine Reserve
• De Mond Nature Reserve
• Cape Agulhas Lighthouse
• Quoin Lighthouse
• Rasperpunt Hiking Trail
• Spookdraai Hiking Trail
• Struisbaai Beach
• Cape Agulhas Wine Estate
• Whale Watching
• Waenhuiskrans Cave
• Struisbaai Harbour
• Struisbaai Fun Park

Climate

Struisbaai receives approximately 303 mm of rain annually with the majority of its’ rainfall occurring during the mid-summer months.

Summer months, November to March will have average temperatures of between 15˚C and 25˚C.

Winter months, May to August will have average temperatures of between 6˚C and 17˚C.

Transport

There are daily flights into Cape Town International Airport, 205 km away via the N2 and R316. Car hire facilities are available at the Airport.

History

There has been a debate over the exact origin of the towns name. The name supposedly has three origins, the first of which is accredited to the straw (“strooi” in Afrikaans) roofs of the original fishermen cottages. A second possibility is the ostriches (“struisvogel” in Dutch) that roam here, while others believe the name was derived from an old Dutch word meaning “huge” due to the long stretches of beach.

The history of Struisbaai and L’Agulhas is one built on the wreckage that the sea offered up. The hardy people that settled here, no matter their origin, found a way to survive in this treacherous, yet beautiful coastal region and they flourished. They turned this once unfriendly coastline into one of the most popular and welcoming tourist attractions in South Africa and have made their history a part of their everyday lives.