News

The Southern Tip Day festivities commemorates the historic journey of Bartolomeu Dias who sailed around the southernmost point of Africa in 1488 and pays tribute to all the lives lost at sea in the numerous shipwrecks dotted along the Cape Agulhas coastline.

From talks, lunches, shipwreck displays, art exhibitions and plenty activities for the whole family, the highlight of the festival is the Southern Tip-Zoetendals Vallei Relay Race, which takes place on 11 May. The race consists of a 14km run, 40km mountain bike ride and 14km walk, all starting and finishing in the Bosheuwel Precinct of Agulhas National Park. Prizes for the winners of the race range from accommodation to gifts of wine from local wine estates.

Other activities to celebrate the festival include a Maritime and Shipwreck Art Exhibition running from 26 April to 18 May 2013 at the Ocean2Ocean Art Room in Struisbaai. Ora Laubscher from the Bredasdorp Shipwreck Museum will be presenting a talk on Dias” historic journey around the Cape and the hundreds of treasures found in the museum from the shipwrecks along the coast. The talk takes place on 17 May at Suiderlig Dienssentrum, Struisbaai. In collaboration with the Shipwreck Museum, Agulhas National Park will put up a display on shipwrecks and the Southern Tip in general in the Park”s conference room from 11 May to the weekend of 18 May. A historical walk around the Cape Agulhas Lighthouse and the Southern Tip is also planned.

For further information and details about each activity contact Agulhas National Park on 028 435 6078 or download the programme information:

• Southern Tip Day Art Display
• Southern Tip Day Talk & Meal
• Southern Tip Day Relay Race

Issued by:
South African National Parks, Cape Region

Media Queries:
Emmerentia de Kock
Agulhas National Park
Tel: 028 435 6078
Email: [email protected]