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Agulhas National Park
Nearest city	GansbaaiNearest city: Gansbaai
Coordinates	34°49′S 20°00′E / 34.817°S 20°E / -34.817; 20Coordinates: 34°49′S 20°00′E / 34.817°S 20°E / -34.817; 20
Area	5.690 hectares (14.06 acres)
Governing body	South African National Parks
Official website

Agulhas National Park is a National Park located at Cape Agulhas, South Africa, about 45 kilometres (28 mi) from Gansbaai. It covers an area of 5.690 hectares (14.06 acres).

Points of interest

• The southernmost point of Africa – The official position of the tip is 34°49′58″S 20°00′12″E / 34.83278°S 20.00333°E / -34.83278; 20.00333. A cairn marks the tip’s exact location. It is at this longitudinal point that the Atlantic and Indian oceans officially meet.

• Cape Agulhas Lighthouse – The lighthouse was built to aid the early explorers on their passage of the rough seas off Cape Agulhas. Seventy-one steps lead up to the top of the second oldest working lighthouse in southern Africa. Stone mined from the adjacent limestone quarry provided the raw materials for its construction.

The building also houses a unique lighthouse museum. Remains of ancient stone fish traps used by the Khoisan people can be seen to the east of the lighthouse.

• Graveyard of ships – The Zoetendal, Birkenhead and Armiston are some of the many shipwrecks found along the Agulhas coastline. Showpieces from these shipwrecks are on display at the Bredasdorp Shipwreck museum. Visitors to the area can still see the remains of the Meisho Maru 38 wreck on the shores of Cape Agulhas.

• Fynbos – The Agulhas Plain has great diversity of flora. The Agulhas area contains representatives of unique vegetation such as limestone fynbos. Although most species bloom between May and September, there are flowers to be enjoyed in any season.

It has approximately 2000 species of indigenous plants including 100 which are endemic to the area and over 110 Red Data Book species.

• Whale watching in season - November to January.

• Animals to see include the Southern Right Whale, African Black Oystercatcher, Damara Tern and Cape Platana

External links

• Agulhas National Park at South African National Parks

From Wikitravel

Agulhas National Park, [1] is in the Western Cape of South Africa.

Understand

Agulhas National Park is located on the southernmost tip of Africa where the Atlantic and Indian oceans meet. The park form part of the Cape Floral Kingdom UNESCO World Heritage Site.

☎ +27 (0)28 435-6222 (merciar@sanparks.org, fax: +27 (0)28 435-6225).

History

The park was proclaimed in March 1999, but it will take a number of years in order to acquire and consolidate all the land that is to form the complete park.

Flora and fauna

The park is new and still under development. Since it is not totally fenced no large mammals have been reintroduced to the area.

Climate

Generally hot and dry in the summer months with most rainfall occurring during the winter.

Sleep

There is no accommodation inside the park, but the nearby towns of L’Agulhas and Struisbaai provides various options.