The true southernmost point of Africa, where the Atlantic and Indian oceans officially meet. A monument at the tip, a historic red-and-white lighthouse, an old shipwreck on the rocks, and fynbos all around in the Agulhas National Park.
Cape Agulhas is the very bottom of Africa, the southernmost point of the continent, and the spot where the Atlantic and Indian oceans are taken to meet. It sits about two hours east of Hermanus, low and windswept at the edge of the Agulhas National Park, and for all that it’s a humble-looking place, there’s a real pull to standing at the end of a continent.
The southernmost point itself is marked by a stone cairn and a newer map-of-Africa monument, reached by a short boardwalk from the car park. The meeting of the two oceans is a line on the map rather than something you can see in the water, but the geography is the draw: this, not the more famous Cape of Good Hope up near Cape Town, is the true tip of Africa and the official ocean boundary. The Portuguese named it ‘Cabo das Agulhas’, the Cape of Needles, after the way their compasses pointed true north here.
A little inland stands the red-and-white Cape Agulhas lighthouse, lit in 1849 and the second-oldest in the country, with a museum and a climb to the top. West along the coast toward Suiderstrand, the rusting hull of the Meisho Maru, a fishing boat wrecked in 1982, lies on the rocks as a reminder of why this coast was called a graveyard of ships. It’s a long drive down here, usually done as a day trip, so set out early, dress for the wind, and make the lighthouse and the wreck part of the trip.
Stand at the tip of Africa, climb the lighthouse and find the shipwreck. An hour or two.
A boardwalk leads to the cairn and the map-of-Africa monument that mark the actual southernmost point, the official line between the Atlantic and the Indian oceans. The shore is rocky and low rather than dramatic, but standing at the very end of the continent is the thing, with the fynbos of the Agulhas National Park behind.
The red-and-white Cape Agulhas lighthouse, lit in 1849, is the second-oldest in the country, with a small museum and a climb to the top for the view. A short drive west toward Suiderstrand, the rusting hull of the Meisho Maru, wrecked in 1982, still sits on the rocks, and Struisbaai's fishing harbour is close by.
Follow the boardwalk to the cairn and the map-of-Africa monument for the photo at the tip of the continent. It's a short, flat walk from the car park.
The 1849 lighthouse has a museum and a climb to the lamp room, with a small entry fee and a good view over the cape and the coast.
Drive west toward Suiderstrand for the wreck of the Meisho Maru on the rocks, a striking, rusting reminder of this 'graveyard of ships'.
Cape Agulhas is a long way from anywhere, about two hours from Hermanus. Set out early and build the drive and the lighthouse into a full day.
The point is low and exposed, and it's often windy and cool even on a warm day. Bring a windproof layer.
Cape Agulhas, not the more famous Cape of Good Hope near Cape Town, is the true southernmost point of Africa and the oceans' meeting line.
Reach the tip of Africa on a guided day through our trusted partners, at the same price as booking direct.
A guided run down to the southernmost tip of Africa, with the lighthouse, the oceans' meeting point and the Meisho Maru wreck.
Book on GetYourGuide →A full day from Cape Town that pairs Cape Agulhas with whale watching along the Whale Coast in season.
See day tours →A private day taking in Cape Agulhas and the wine towns of the Hemel-en-Aarde valley near Hermanus.
See private tours →Guesthouses in L'Agulhas, Struisbaai and Hermanus, strung along the Whale Coast.
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Cape Agulhas is the very end of Africa. See the rest of what the Whale Coast holds.
