Shipwreck Coast

If the past events still echo through the years, the Cape of Good Hope would be haunted by the ghosts of shipwrecks. Feared by sailors and now home to more than 400 shipwrecks, most of them anonymous, the Cape of Good Hope is the last stop before explorers head to Antarctica.

How to get to the Shipwreck Coast

The most important entry points in the area are East London and Port Elisabeth.

Port Elisabeth is the most important city in the Eastern Cape province and is well connected by plane, trains and buses to the rest of the country.

Shipwrecks

It’s incredible though how many shipwrecks are marked on the map. For many of us, they represent only cold statistics: the Thomas T Tucker, Phyllisia or the Flying Dutchman.

Many of the Cape’s wrecks are now popular diving sites. Along with the marine life, the ships’ shadows form an impressive underwater landscape. There are about 40-50 diveable wrecks but due to the permanent shift of the sand, some many appear or disappear weekly. About 15 of them are well known recreational sites and represent popular diving sites both for rookies and advanced divers.

Hiking Trails

The stretch of Eastern Cape coast is also known for its great hiking trails. The Shipwreck Hiking Trail is 64km / 38miles long and there are several entry/exit points so tourists can enjoy only parts of the trail. There is also the possibility to camp and light fires –but no where near the vegetation.

The unspoiled beaches –very popular surf destinations – along with the divers wild life and vegetation, makes the Shipwreck Coast one of the most popular destinations in South Africa.

Tours

Several companies located around Cape Town offer guided wreck-diving tours, an incredible opportunity to visit the most important diving sites in the area.