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The town is an old fishing village which for many years sported a beautiful natural harbour. Some development has taken place since then but Struisbaai is still relatively untouched by the rigours of overdevelopment. Many fishermen still reside in this settlement but it is now known better for its leisure activities, which include fishing, horseriding, hiking, paintball, quadbiking and diving.
The town is an old fishing village which for many years sported a beautiful natural harbour. Some development has taken place since then but Struisbaai is still relatively untouched by the rigours of overdevelopment. Many fishermen still reside in this settlement but it is now known better for its leisure activities, which include fishing, horseriding, hiking, paintball, quadbiking and diving.


Struisbaai also hosts the annual Geelstertfees (Yellowtail festival) revolving around foodstalls, artists and musical performers. Visitors can walk around the harbour and see the traditional fishermen bringing home their catch and buy fresh fish. It is also home to the beach ostrich or 'sand chicken' as they are colloquially known by the locals. These birds have been inhabiting the beaches of Struisbaai for centuries and have learnt how to fish with human rods through over developed toes that allow them to bait up and cast. This has lead to this area being overly competitive and often over-fished. These interesting creatures are also where the name of the bay gets its name from.
Struisbaai also hosts the annual Geelstertfees (Yellowtail festival) revolving around foodstalls, artists and musical performers. Visitors can walk around the harbour and see the traditional fishermen bringing home their catch and buy fresh fish.


There is some debate as to the origin of the name "Struisbaai". Some authorities believe that it means "straw bay", referring to the thatch roofs of the fishermen’s cottages here. Others claim the name is derived from the Dutch "struisvogel"/ Afrikaans "volstruis" - which translates as [[ostrich]] in English, apparently many of the local farmers kept these birds on their farms. According to legend however, Struisbaai is named for the size of its beach - an old Dutch word for "huge" which would not be surprising since Struisbaai does sport the longest natural beach in the Southern Hemisphere which stretches for a total of 14 kilometers.
There is some debate as to the origin of the name "Struisbaai". Some authorities believe that it means "straw bay", referring to the thatch roofs of the fishermen’s cottages here. Others claim the name is derived from the Dutch "struisvogel"/ Afrikaans "volstruis" - which translates as [[ostrich]] in English, apparently many of the local farmers kept these birds on their farms. According to legend however, Struisbaai is named for the size of its beach - an old Dutch word for "huge" which would not be surprising since Struisbaai does sport the longest natural beach in the Southern Hemisphere which stretches for a total of 14 kilometers.
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*For pictures of Struisbaai, see - http://www.flickr.com/groups/agulhas_struisbaai/
*For pictures of Struisbaai, see - http://www.flickr.com/groups/agulhas_struisbaai/
*Cape Agulhas Municipality CAM - http://www.capeagulhas.com/
*Cape Agulhas Municipality CAM - http://www.capeagulhas.com/
*Private Website about Struisbaai - German[http://southerndreams.de/html/struisbaai.html
*Private Website about Struisbaai - Germanhttp://southerndreams.de/html/struisbaai.html


{{Overberg District Municipality}}
{{Overberg District Municipality}}

Revision as of 13:52, 17 June 2013

Template:Infobox South African town

Struisbaai is a coastal settlement in the Overberg region of South Africa's Western Cape province. The town is two hours South from Cape Town in the Cape Agulhas Local Municipality within the Overberg District, and four kilometers from the southernmost point of the African continent at Cape Agulhas.

The town is an old fishing village which for many years sported a beautiful natural harbour. Some development has taken place since then but Struisbaai is still relatively untouched by the rigours of overdevelopment. Many fishermen still reside in this settlement but it is now known better for its leisure activities, which include fishing, horseriding, hiking, paintball, quadbiking and diving.

Struisbaai also hosts the annual Geelstertfees (Yellowtail festival) revolving around foodstalls, artists and musical performers. Visitors can walk around the harbour and see the traditional fishermen bringing home their catch and buy fresh fish.

There is some debate as to the origin of the name "Struisbaai". Some authorities believe that it means "straw bay", referring to the thatch roofs of the fishermen’s cottages here. Others claim the name is derived from the Dutch "struisvogel"/ Afrikaans "volstruis" - which translates as ostrich in English, apparently many of the local farmers kept these birds on their farms. According to legend however, Struisbaai is named for the size of its beach - an old Dutch word for "huge" which would not be surprising since Struisbaai does sport the longest natural beach in the Southern Hemisphere which stretches for a total of 14 kilometers.

References

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