Day Trip: Pearly Beach to Arniston | Overberg

Pearly Beach — Elim — Cape Agulhas — Arniston — Bredasdorp — Napier — Pearly Beach
— Courtesy of Klein Paradijs Guesthouse

Elim, founded by Moravian (German) missionaries in 1824, is well-known for its skilled thatchers and its flower export industry. The Moravian church is a national monument and the clock tower houses one of the oldest clocks in South Africa. Elim is the home of the only monument in South Africa commemorating the freeing of the slaves in 1838. Many freed slaves subsequently settled in Elim and other mission stations in the Cape. Stop off at the tourist office and ask the tourist representative to point out the sites to you.

The Elim area has recently been proclaimed as a Wine of Origin ward. It is now the southernmost wine producing area in the country. Zoetendal Wines outside the village of Elim welcomes visitors for wine tastings.

Cape Agulhas is the name of the southernmost tip of Africa. It is also the place where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet. The southernmost tip is marked by a small monument depicting the caravel in which Diaz rounded this point in 1487. There are many rock pools to explore with all kinds of intriguing marine life. The working lighthouse, which you will pass on the way, was built in the style of the Pharos of Alexandria. It is open to the public and houses the lighthouse museum and a small restaurant. The Agulhas National Park was proclaimed in 1999. Since the park is in its development stage, only limited tourist facilities are available. The Spooksdraai hiking trail, a community project, begins and ends at the entrance to the village. For a nice view turn right up a rather rough road shortly after entering the town.

Arniston is named after a ship that was wrecked off the coast in 1815. The village also goes by the name of Waenhuiskrans because of its tidal cave in which an ox wagon and span of oxen are said to be able to turn around in. The cave can be accessed at low tide. The 200-year-old Kassiesbaai fishing village with its traditional whitewashed and thatched cottages is a national monument.

Bredasdorp is a sizeable farming town. It is the home of the shipwreck museum. The museum contains objects found from shipwrecks along the Overberg coastline, also called “the graveyard of ships”, over the years and tells the stories of these tragic incidents. The Kapula candle factory has also become a popular destination for visitors. The show room is a feast for the eyes and the colourful, hand-decorated candles make beautiful gifts. Julian’s on the way to the candle factory is a great place to stop and have a bite to eat and browse through the ceramic ware in the gallery.

Napier is the home of a thriving farming community. The village is also known for its private collection of ox wagons and carts. A horse and cart festival is held in autumn. Napier also has a toy museum with toys of yesteryear, a military museum, several farm stalls, a fine wine and décor shop as well as several antique traders.