Struisbaai is a small fishing village and seaside resort town on the Overberg coast of the Western Cape Province of South Africa. Struisbaai is just a comfortable two-hour drive from Cape Town, and 8 km east of Cape Agulhas, the southernmost tip of Africa (at 34° 49' 58" south and 20° 00' 12" east), where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet.
Struisbaai is an old fishing village, founded in the middle of the 19th century. The Struisbaai information bureau can be contacted at postal address P.O.BOX 61, Struisbaai, 7285, telephone number +27 (0)28 435 6538, fax number +27 (0)28 435 6400, or email address struisbaai@brd.dorea.co.za.
Climate
The Overberg enjoys a mild Mediterranean climate. Winter (June to August) is the rainy season here, but many mild, sunny days, at times with high winds, are still experienced. Struisbaai summers are dry and sunny, but the extreme heat is tempered by cool sea breezes. Early autumn (March-April), with its balmy days and warm evenings is probably the most enjoyable time of year.
Die Plaat
Struisbaai boasts the longest continuous stretch of white sand beach in the Southern Hemisphere, known as "Die Plaat". The shallow gradient of the beach allows bathers to wade far into the ocean's warm waters, while strong currents are peculiarly absent. The fourteen kilometres of pearly white beach is the ideal setting for a relaxing walk along the shore, and lends itself to swimming and other water sports, during those long, hot summer days.
Struisbaai, together with neighbouring of Hotagterklip and Molshoop, is the site of a number of holiday homes, many guest houses, a popular beachfront caravan park (with lawned, level caravan sites and electricity) and the Struisbaai Hotel, all spread along the sandy shore.
Struisbaai Fishing Harbour
The picturesque little fishing harbour in Struisbaai, where the brightly coloured fishing boats of local boatowners moore, was built in 1969, and was deepened and enlarged in 1990. Struisbaai harbour is at present being used by both fishing and ski boats, and is nearly always a hive of activity. Fishing remains one of the main occupations of Struisbaai residents.
This area of the Overberg is known for its angling and fishing, at Struisbaai fishing spots such as Die Mond ("The River Mouth" at Heuningnes), Die Bord ("the notice board" to the right of the entrance to the "Plaat"), Rooidak Huis ("House with the red roof"), Skulpiesbaai on the road to L'Agulhas, Die Brood (a rock shaped like a bread), Die Las ("the join", just south of the Harbour wall), and the very popular Harbour wall (breakwater wall), jutting far into the ocean.
The local office of the NSRI (National Sea Rescue Institute of South Africa) and the harbourmasterâ??s office are located here. Boat based whale watching (when these gentle giants arrive from the arctic waters, to mate and calve, from May to December), pleasure and angling cruises departing from the Struisbaai harbour are also very popular attractions.
Hotagterklip Fishermen's Cottages
The lime washed, thatch cottages at Hotagterklip, built by the Struisbaai fishermen of days gone by, are well-known landmarks, and have featured prominently in paintings by many South African artists, and is still a quaint and popular subject for recreational artists and photographers. (More Struisbaai pictures)
The area called Hotagterklip (meaning "left rear rock"), at the entrance to Struisbaai, reportedly received the unusual name during the days when horse and ox drawn wagons were the only way to travel. A stone outcrop in the road caused all early travellers to Struisbaai to take quick evasive action here, to avoid smashing a wagon wheel.
Most of the old Struisbaai fishermen's cottages were allowed to delapidate and ruin, until quite recently, when the original cottages were expertly restored and declared national monuments. Today, the old Struisbaai fisherman's cottages are being put to good use as holiday accommodation, amongst other purposes.
The Anglican Church
The historical little restored thatched roofed Anglican Church in the Struisbaai business centre is also a national monument and is a very popular venue for intimate weddings. Church services are still held there on a regular basis.
The Struisbaai Name
Over the years, there has been quite a bit of speculation about the origin of the name Struisbaai, but of course, no theory could be substanciated to the exclusion of any other. It would be best if you make up your mind about the name Struisbaai for yourself , so here are the three most viable explanations:
Some people believe that the "struis" in Struisbaai was actually derived from the Afrikaans word "stroois" or "strooi huis", meaning "straw house", because the original fishermen's cottages at Hotagterklip, way back when the only buildings in Struisbaai, were constructed of straw and reeds. This would mean the town's name is literally "Straw-house-bay".
Other people are of the opinion that the name Struisbaai was derived from a local word for ostrich ("volstruis" in Afrikaans, or "vogelstruijs" in Dutch). This opinion is supported by the continued occurance of a good number of these large birds in the low, shrub-covered terrain bordering the sandy Struisbaai coastal area.
The third viable explanation for the origins of the name Struisbaai suggests that the "struis" in Struisbaai was derived from an old Dutch word meaning "well-built" or "big", due to the size of the Struisbaai beach.
But whatever the true origin of the name, Struisbaai has become a very popular coastal holiday destination, with easy access to the Overberg wine route, Dyers Island Great White Shark viewing, the Cape Agulhas Lighthouse, whale watching (in season), sailing, fishing, hunting, scuba diving (including wreck diving), and horse riding.
Struisbaai Real Estate
Struisbaai is developing rapidly. Struisbaai real estate is much sought after, with many people choosing the quaint fishing village of Struisbaai as the ideal site for their beach holiday house.
The limited availability of real estate in Struisbaai should ensure good investment returns, especially due to a growing demand for property in Struisbaai.
