Mossel Bay is the gateway to the Garden Route - a corner of Africa that is so astonishingly beautiful that it is often complimented as offering "A Taste of Eden". It is a mosaic of silent, sweeping lakes, mysterious forests and wetlands, empty, unspoilt beaches and narrow, winding passes that lie between Gouritsmond in the West and Storms River in the East.

Throughout these fascinating and varied landscapes, the threads that bind them all together are the wonderland of our indigenous fynbos and the warmth, friendliness and hospitality of the people who live here.

African Oceans Manor is situated in the heart of the Garden Route, surrounded by a number of popular destinations where there is plenty to do and see.

 

 

Additional maps

From Cape Town on the N2:

• Travel on the N2 from Cape Town to George and Port Elizabeth
• Pass two garages: Total on your left and the Engen on your right
• 1 km after passing the ENGEN, turn left at exit 387, staying on the N2 to George and Port Elizabeth
• 6.5 km later, take the exit 393 indicating R102 Hartenbos and R328 Oudtshoorn
• At the T-junction after exit turn left until you get to a traffic light
• Turn left at traffic light (SHELL on your left and CALTEX on your right)
• Turn right at next traffic light (road sign indicating Bayview)
• Pass underneath train bridge until stop sign at T-junction - Turn right into Hannes Pienaar Street
• Pass two speed bumps
• At the stop sign, turn right into Bob Bouwer Crescent
• African Oceans is number 7 on Bob Bouwer Crescent

From George on the N2:

• Travel on the N2 towards Cape Town and Mossel Bay
• Take exit 393 - Traffic sign indicating R102 Mossel Bay and R328 Oudtshoorn
• Turn left at the T-junction and left at traffic light (SHELL on your left and CALTEX on your right)
• Turn right at next traffic light (road sign indicating Bayview)
• Pass underneath train bridge until stop sign at T-junction - Turn right into Hannes Pienaar Street
• Pass two speed bumps
• At stop sign, turn right into Bob Bouwer Crescent
• African Oceans is number 7 on Bob Bouwer Crescent

From Oudtshoorn:

• Travel on the R328 until traffic lights with ENGEN service station on your left. Do not turn
• Continue straight passing one traffic light, the old railway yard on your left passing over the rail bridge
• Turn left at next traffic light
• Pass underneath train bridge until stop sign at T-junction - Turn right into Hannes Pienaar Street
• Pass two speed bumps
• At stop sign, turn right into Bob Bouwer Crescent
• African Oceans is number 7 on Bob Bouwer Crescent

African Oceans GPS Coordinates:

• 34 degrees 8,23 south
• 22 degrees 6,42 east

Mossel Bay background

The history of Mossel Bay goes further back than the first landing of Portuguese explorers in 1488. In fact evidence suggests that this area is the birth place of modern human behavior, after decades of debate, paleoanthropologists now agree the genetic and fossil evidence suggests that the modern human species - Homo sapiens - evolved in Africa between 100,000 and 200,000 years ago.

Arizona State University paleoanthropologist Curtis Marean: In seeking the "perfect site" to explore the origins of modern human behavior, Marean analyzed ocean currents, climate data, geological formations and other data to pin down a location where he felt sure to find one of these progenitor populations: the Cape of South Africa at Pinnacle Point and Mossel bay was chosen after excavations in the Blombosch caves Marean stated.

"Our findings show that at 164,000 years ago in coastal South Africa humans expanded their diet to include shellfish and other marine resources, perhaps as a response to harsh environmental conditions," notes Marean, a professor in ASU's School of Human Evolution and Social Change. "This is the earliest dated observation of this behavior." Professor Curtis Marean.

Mossel Bay (Afrikaans: Mosselbaai) is a town with 150 000 inhabitants in the Western Cape province of South Africa. It lies on the southern coast of South Africa, east of the Cape of Good Hope and west of Knysna on the Indian Ocean coast and is part of the Garden Route.

Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias arrived here on February 3, 1488, thus proving to his sponsors that Africa had a southern tip, making it theoretically possible to sail from Europe to India.

Originally called by Dias Aguada de São Brás (Bay of Saint Blaise), the harbor and surrounding area was renamed Mosselbaai (Bay of Mussels) in 1601 by Dutch navigator Paulus van Caerden, as he found the bay to be abundant with mussels.

He also called a nearby bay, where he found cattle herders, Vlees Bay (Bay of Meat). On January 28, 1846, the British re-found the town as Aliwal South in honor of the British victory at the Battle of Aliwal in India. However, this name never caught on and the town reverted to Mossel Bay. It received municipal status in 1852.

The coast around this area has been notorious to assist shipping the current lighthouse, which is situated high above Mossel Bay, was commissioned on 15 March 1864. It is a 20.5-meter masonry tower it is still operational today.

It is said by some travelers that Mossel Bay is an industrial town to be avoided, seriously this is not the case, the industrial side of the town is designed to be close to the N2 highway for obvious reasons, do not be put off by this.

Once into Mossel Bay itself you can enjoy the 24kilometers of beautiful sandy beaches, spectacular coastline, wonderful surf, exhilarating walks, great golf courses, restaurants with unbelievable views, excellent accommodation and a warm welcome, a great place to base yourself to explore the surrounding area under the watchful eye of the Outeniqua Mountains.

Mossel Bay is now a gentle seaside town on the Garden Route of the Western Cape Province of South Africa. It is a welcoming place, not at all touristy, that loves children and families, singles and couples, backpackers and tour groups.

It is genuine, home grown, South African Coastal town. One where you will really relax, where you will quickly, slip into their "No Hurries, No Worries" frame of mind.