Mossel Bay

Afrikaans name: Mosselbaai

Mossel Bay lighthouse

Photo © michaeljung - Fotolia.com

Western Cape

Mossel Bay is a town situated on the southern coast of South Africa. It is about 400 km east of Cape Town.

The town is located in a good area for both farming and fishing and these are the activities that provide most of the jobs in the area. It is also popular with tourists. In the last 50 years ago a gas-to-liquids refinery was established after natural gas was discovered off shore. This now plays an important role in the locla economy.

Although there is evidence of humans inhabiting the area for over 160,000 it was the arrival of Bartolomeu Dias on the 3rd February 1488 for which it is best remembered. Dias was trying to find a trade route to India but this particular mission was aborted on 12th March 1488 when his crew refused to go any further.

Photo © michaeljung - Fotolia.com

References and further reading

Things ewe never knewe about South African place names - Author: Ann Gadd - Published: 2015 - Page: 146

The Pictorial Motoring Atlas of South Africa - Author: Maxwell Leigh - Published: 1987 - Page: 64

The Dive Sites of South Africa - Author: Anton Koornhof - Published: 1992 - Page: 53

Southern Africa from the Highway - Author: AA RSA - Published: 1991 - Page: 182

Road Tripping South Africa - Author: MapStudio - Published: 2014 - Page: 74

Readers Digest Illustrated Guide to Southern Africa - 4th edition - Author: - Published: 1986 - Page: 107

On Route - A region by region guide to South Africa - Author: B.P.J. Erasmus - Published: 1995 - Page: 61

Places to Visit in Southern Africa - Author: AA RSA - Published: 1995 - Page: 200

go! - Issue 157 - Author: - Published: 2019 - Page: 122

Hit the Road - 2nd Edition - Author: MapStudio - Published: 2018 - Page: 65

Getaway - Vol 32 No 02 - Author: - Published: 2020 - Page: 22

go! - Issue 084 - Author: - Published: 2013 - Page: 106

Farm Stall to Farm Stall - Author: Jennifer Stern - Published: 2014 - Page: 50

Country Life - Issue 182 - Author: - Published: 2011 - Page: 68

Caravan & Outdoor Life - Issue 684 - Author: - Published: 2019 - Page: 38

Conollys Guide to Southern Africa - 2nd edition - Author: Denis Conolly - Published: 1982 - Page: 98

Book of the Road - 4th edition - Author: MapStudio - Published: 2019 - Page: 133

Caravan & Outdoor Life - Issue 665 - Author: - Published: 2017 - Page: 34

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