What to do in Mossel Bay Archives

“YOU ARE MY LIGHTHOUSE”

This iconic lighthouse which sits upon a rocky feature in Mossel Bay was first lit on 15th of March, 1864, about 100 years before I was even a twinkle in my parents’ eyes – by no means a modern observation post! So, why named Cape St Blaize? It is so-named because Bartolomeu Dias, the Portuguese explorer, and his crew first landed in Mossel Bay on St. Blaizes Day (3 February) in 1488. Originally the lamp was visible as a single red light for 15 nautical miles but after several upgrades and electrification on the 6th of April 1931, today it can be seen at 22 nautical miles. Then in 1914 the lighthouse received its first foghorn and later a radio beacon with the call sign ZRF was added. This manned lighthouse with a tower height of 14.9 metres is open to the public and is situated at E22 09 25… Read more >

DE BAKKE, MOSSEL BAY

How many times I was wondering about how and where the name “De Bakke” originated as in most older names there must have been some significance in the naming of the place. The other day, while on a geocaching spree, I got my answer and this is the story of this piece of history that survived development: The early farmers of the area used to rest their animals at the large drinking troughs called waterbakke and the stage coaches apparently stopped here to water their horses before taking on the long haul to the town of George or over the Outeniqua mountains into the Karoo. Although rust is setting in, one of these big iron troughs are still to be seen at De Bakke and was used until 1949. Check it out at: S 34° 10.381 E 022° 07.770

Tag Archive: What to do in Mossel Bay

“YOU ARE MY LIGHTHOUSE”

DE BAKKE, MOSSEL BAY