Hōkūleʻa Update | Cape Agulhas

Worldwide Voyage crewmembers and students of Ke Kā o Makaliʻi visit Cape Agulhas, South Africa, the meeting point of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans. Hōkūleʻa had sailed past this point en route to Cape Town.

About Cape Agulhas

Geographical extremes capture the imagination. From ancient mariners to contemporary mankind, the quest has always been to reach the poles, sail around the tips of continents, conquer the highest peaks and dive to the ultimate depths.

This is the same spirit that captivated the explorers of yesteryear who braved one of the most challenging sea crossings of their time: the Atlantic-Indian Ocean crossing via Cape Agulhas. As the southern-most tip of Africa, it has always had its mysteries and adventure, and still captures the imagination of contemporary explorers.

Amongst the mysteries associated with this region, is the legendary ‘Cape of Storms’ which wrecked many ships en route to the east via Cape Agulhas. Ancient people also left their mark on the landscape. For example, archaeological middens remind contemporary man of a successful hunter-gathering culture that was in harmony with its natural environment; and a cultural heritage that dates back thousands of years to when the Khoi-Khoi people trapped fish using ingeniously constructed tidal traps.

This windswept, ruggedly beautiful coastal plain at the southernmost tip of Africa, with its rich cultural and natural heritage, was proclaimed as the Agulhas National Park on the 23rd of September 1999. The park started as a 4 hectare portion of land at the southern tip and has grown through the additions of 36 portions, bringing the area of the Park to nearly 22,000 hectares. (South African National Parks)

Please help keep us sailing for future generations. All contributions make a difference for our voyage. Mahalo nui loa!