I have been “rapped on the fingers” by several prominent and influencial persons for the “negative” introductory text about Mosselbaai.1 So, for those who still believe the emperor has clothes on, here’s the original from ca.2002:
Situated in the southern Cape area of South Africa, Mosselbaai is one of the most beautiful coastal towns on the Garden Route. Long known as a quaint little fishing village waking up only at the start of the “season” — when just about everyone from the interior would converge on the seaside for Christmas and the New Year celebrations — Mosselbaai has now grown into an all year round friendly holiday haven. First-class accommodation, shops crammed with curios and souvenirs, and mod cons to rival any found in the First World contrast delightfully with bare feet and vendors selling their wares on sidewalks in easy-going Africa mode. Structures built from dressed sandstone dating from the early days of the town stand side by side with modern architecture — some of outstanding quality, others not so much so. And the weather is tailormade to melt away those winter woes...
Also known as Mossel Bay, the name Mosselbaai literally means “Bay of Mussels”. Unfortunately most of these mussels are now gone, but the town is still famous for its sole, and no visit would be complete without tasting this delicious fish at any of the fine restaurants in the area. But the “Mossel Bay” with its miles of beaches along the Indian Ocean, spectacular views of the Outeniqua Mountains and lively seal colony is not our only claim-to-fame. The area also has a rich archaeological and cultural history dating back about 350 thousand years. For more information on this, a visit to the Dias Museum Complex is a definitive must!
If you are planning on visiting the Garden Route, then we recommend that you allow quite a few days in your schedule for Mosselbaai.
Since that was written, the caravan park at Diaz Beach and the “village” at The Point have been destroyed through over-development with high-rise buildings and farmland turned into retirement villages. Currently the smallholdings of Aalwyndal are under threat of development.
- Well, in the Mossel Bay Advertiser of 25 February 2011, the municipal manager, M. Gratz, publicly reprimanded me for what is written on the front page of Mosselbaai on this site. (Read the full letter here.)
