Ever felt fascinated to witness a shipwreck? Shipwrecks tell us great tales of vessels that voyaged decades or maybe centuries ago. An exploration among one of the best destinations for shipwrecks will surely entice your rustic heart. And there's no lack of them: a rough estimate by UNESCO sets the number at around 3 million shipwrecks at the bottom of oceans with around 60 billion USD in treasures.

Shipwrecks can occur anywhere near a rough ocean with wild storms and thick fog, but South Africa holds the grim pride of holding a collection of up to 1500 shipwrecks in its collection!

South Africa, which possesses a coastline of 2500km, is treacherous in many parts, especially for sailors. Some great ships have even managed to vanish with absolutely no trace. ‘The Waratah- The Australian titanic' and ‘The Grosvenor' are two of them. The reports of such are documented only through fortunate survivors or eyewitnesses.

Shipwrecks have managed to constantly sparkle interests among people and divers  over time. It could be due to the urge of witnessing wrecks that relate stories from every corner of the globe. It can also be an attempt to understand the undeniably potent ocean that beholds the fate of those vessels.

If you are an enthusiast, here are few great shipwreck destinations to discover in South Africa!

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Cape of Good Hope

Cape of Good Hope

Known for granting hope for the first voyagers of the sea, Cape of Good Hope has mostly lived up to be known as the Cape of Storms for its strong gales, sheer cliffs and massive tempests that are perilous for ships.

Infamously known as the ‘graveyard of ships' Cape of Good Hope is the most famous dwelling for shipwrecks in South Africa holding a collection of around 400 shipwrecks to date.

Exploring history is the heart and soul of any traveler. A visit to see one of the oldest vessels can be a pivotal point in your travel life. Among the shipwrecks in South Africa is the great Thomas T Tucker, a vessel used during the World War II. Besides the rustic remains this massive ship will drift you back to the great wars where massive battles took place death-dealing thousand lives. Well, this liner didn't collude from battling against anyone but the treacherous sea it met on its journey.

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The Cape of Agulhas Coast

Cape Agulhas Lighthouse

Next stop on discovering shipwrecks in South Africa is located in the southern part of its coast. Here's where the Atlantic and the Indian oceans encounter and therefore is a place where strong ocean currents are formed. The Agulhas Coast creates a highly precarious situation where ships can hardly survive. It possesses around 140 wreckages and is known as a place where ships go to die.

Yet the Cape of Agulhas is a great destination for shipwreck explorers with many fascinating sights.

The very famous Japanese Meisho Maru 38 shipwreck is found in a location that is said to be very scenic for a ship to go aground. This small vessel can be found near the magnificent Cape Agulhas Lighthouse. It allows its visitors a very alluring setting of the ocean which is picturesque at sunset!

This is one of the visible as well as easier to access shipwrecks in South Africa.

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The Wild coast

The Eastern Cape of South African coastline is known as The Wild Coast specifically for its wilderness holding a bad reputation among sailors.

The most famous wreck that took place here was the mystic sinking of the ship Grosvenor which went aground in 1782. Ships with treasures and pirates are said to exist only in our fairy tales. But this vessel had actually held innumerable valuable treasures and was heading back to England from India. Even though many attempts were made to discover it, all the efforts have been proven futile. This shipwreck was much noted due to its disappearance without much trace.

But the wild coast holds the very famous Jacaranda wreck which is still a fascinating sight to explore. The Greek-owned coaster ran aground on September 18th; 1971.It was due to failed engine being unable to compete with the massive storms that shook it down finally.

Though the rotting remains of this shipwreck are visible near the beach of Qolora only in bits and pieces, it still grants a spectacular view for the eyes of shipwrecks!

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Shipwreck Dive Sites

Are you are an enthusiastic shipwreck explorer unwilling to stop from just sight-seeing visible shipwrecks? Are you enthusiastic enough to take the next step by diving into the ocean to discover them yourself?

There are many interesting diving sites to treasure hunt shipwrecks in South Africa that are easily accessible!

The very famous diving site is Smitswinkel Bay on the Southern Peninsula in Cape Town. This is known as the shipwreck seekers paradise and has gained a reputation for being one of the famous places for scuba diving. The habitation is a treasure holding around 5 shipwrecks where many lie temptingly close to shallow reefs.

Other sites for diving include the Maori wreck, the Oakburn, and the Katzmaru .

If you are a rookie to wreck diving,  start from the Ark Rock barge which is not deep and is much easier to steer in and out.

Highly experienced divers can visit the wreckage of Lusitania which is around 35m below Bellows Rock. This is advised only under perfect conditions as the deep dive can be anticipated by many dangerous circumstances.

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Shipwreck museum in Bredasdorp, Agulhas Cape

Shipwreck museum in Bredasdorp

If you are interested to find out the stories that lie beneath the ships that went aground facing a cruel fate along the coast of South Africa, the shipwreck museum is an ideal place to visit.

Situated in the South-Western Cape town of Bredasdorp, the museum contains many valuables retrieved from ships. It will also give you precise details and documentations of how and when ships met their tragic death accurately as possible.

The fatal consequences of these shipwrecks will always have a fascinating tale to fill us with. It’s why the number of tourists to visit these wrecks has grown over time. Many of us are curious to know the origin of these vessels and the loopholes that the ocean found to topple them down.

Afore the rustic remains that lay now are great tales of world history, brave sailors who ventured into perilous voyages. Observing these wrecked vessels alone will give us many perceptions of how things were done then. It will narrate how brave sailors were, willing to savor an unpredictable journey. These great destinations to discover shipwrecks in South Africa will surely make you wonder of about such things!!

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“You’re going to Jo’burg?” My parents said… “BE CAREFUL!” And they weren’t the only ones… Everybody I seemed to tell about my trip had that same worried look on their face as they told me to take care, be vigilant and not to venture out of the city centre. Those of course were the people that hadn’t been to ‘Jozi’, the people who merely relied on horror stories they had heard in the press. Anybody who had been lucky enough to visit the city of Johannesburg for themselves told me that, like in Cape Town, I was going to have a ball and would want to go back again, and again.

Many people use Jo’burg simply as an overnight stopover for visiting other places in South Africa or heading off on safari, but having checked out MyJohannesburgInfo I realised that Jozi really is a destination in its own right so I decided to book 5 days there. I opted to stay in Rutland House Bed and Breakfast as they seemed to offer good value for money, a beautiful swimming pool and breakfast at whatever time I required it. Located between Hyde Park, Rosebank, Randburg and Sandton this was an ideal base for exploring the city.

My days were jam packed with visits to the Montecasino bird gardens, the African craft market, A visit to the Central Business District if Newtown – which culminated in a tour of the South African Breweries World of Beer! Being a student I was determined to check out what student life was like Johannesburg style so I headed down to trendy Melville where I sipped on cocktails at Buzz 9 and chatted to the local students. At the end of my trip I even managed to find time to fit in a round of golf!

Although the city centre of Johannesburg seems to be racially mixed I was determined to catch a glimpse of the real Jo’burg and the real people as I couldn’t help but believe that what I was seeing was merely a facade for a much bleaker picture. I booked an organised tour to Soweto (South Western Township) and went armed with pens, pencils, paper and sweets to give out to the children. In my mind I had (naively) believed that Soweto formed a small part of the city. The reality is that Soweto is an area of 65 square km and home to 3.5million people. According to my guide, Soweto is in a much better position than it was ten years ago but the area is still rundown with matchbox houses and comes in stark contrast to the glistening city centre.

My afternoon in Soweto was a real eye-opener to the apartheid and how, although no longer present, its effects are still felt in modern day South Africa. After chatting to some of the locals and handing out my goodies I ventured to the nearby Hector Peterson Memorial & Museum as well as the Nelson Mandela Museum, both of which were hugely informative and interesting.

Back in the centre of Jo’burg itself I took the opportunity to lunch at a fantastic restaurant called the ‘Butcher Shop & Grill’ in Nelson Mandela Square. I opted for the smoked springbok carpaccio followed by the Oxtail, both of which were perfectly cooked and left me wanting more. The location of this eatery means that after lunch its worthwhile heading to the nearby Lion Park Gauteng which sits somewhere between being a game park and a zoo. I got the chance to cuddle up to some beautiful white lion cubs – an opportunity not to be missed!

Another place on my to-do-list was to visit Constitution Hill, South Africa’s highest court and a former prison where the likes of Mahatma Ghandi and Nelson Mandela found themselves imprisoned. As with Soweto, this isn’t necessarily something to do for ‘fun’ but if, like me, you’re interested in the history of South Africa then this is well worth a visit. At the site there is also a wall called the ‘We the people Wall’ which features inspirational contributions from Nelson Mandela and other ex-prisoners to ordinary people across South Africa.

As everybody that had visited previously told me, I left Jozi having fallen head-over-heels in love with the place and the people and desperate to book another trip back. Yes, I did have to be careful and I did have to watch out for my personal belongings… but isn’t this the case with any big city in the world? My trip to Jo’burg offered a little bit of everything – history, culture, fun, good food and great nightlife. I will most definitely be returning and will of course be persuading others to take the plunge and book that trip. Jozi truly is one of a kind.

Today’s guest post was written by Sophie Fraser. Sophie  is from London and loves to visit new and exciting places… one day she hopes to travel the world. You can follow her in Twitter @SFraser123

Have you been to South Africa? Did you skip Johannesburg like most people or did take your time to explore the city? Would you spend a few days if you have them? What do you recommend?

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The post Things to Do in Cape Town, the Jewel of South Africa appeared first on MaiTravelSite.

Shark cage diving is one of the most popular Cape Town daytours, and for good reason. If you can imagine coming face to face with Great White sharks, then this is sure to be an experience you will not forget. In the words of our mate Francois who recently did his first white shark dive, “At one point there were 3 massive sharks circling the cage – I nearly kakked myself!!”  And if you want to dive with sharks without the cage head head to Aliwal Shoal

Bungee Jumping. Cape Town is home to the world’s most famous bungee jumping spot at Bloukrans Bridge, on the West Coast. This is where you will be fitted into your bungee harness, before leaping into the gorge below at terrifying speeds. Most locals in Cape Town have jumped Bloukrans at least once, with many making an annual pilgrimage to enjoy the thrill all over again every year.

Sky Diving. For those who love heights, sky diving is an excellent addition to any Cape Town tour, with tandem and single jumps on offer depending on your experience. Training and safety instruction is included in beginner jumps, and videos of the jump can be requested at extra charge.  Proving that you are never too old to enjoy the high life, my mother recently did her first jump – the look on her face as she tries to sum up the feeling of dropping thousands of feet into the air says it all!

Abseiling. Cape Town abseiling opportunities abound, with excellent spots at Silvermine Nature Reserve and Kamikaze Kanyon and along the West Coast. Silvermine is one of the best spots that I have tried, even if the hike up to the drop is steep and rather brutal – at one point we were climbing up at a good 10 feet or more, on the edge of the mountain with nothing but the occasional shrub to hold on to. Once we got to the drop though, the views made it all worthwhile, spanning across the entire peninsula. The drop included a nice freefall in the last few feet, which was amazing.

Rock Climbing.  Cape Town offers many climbing routes and levels for all levels of climbers, with relatively easy, moderate and extremely challenging options across a range of mountain regions in Cape Town and surrounds. The West Coast is particularly good, with Hermanus offering some great climbs.

Paragliding. Soar high over the beaches of Camps Bay over white beaches, blue seas and the beautiful Table Mountain with paragliding adventures that are sure to leave you wanting to stay up in the air forever as you soar over the crowds enjoying a few drinks at La Med down below. The Garden Route and Hermanus areas in the Cape Province are also excellent places for paragliding in Cape Town.

Game Fishing. Deep sea game fishing in Cape Town is a battle of wills as you navigate rough seas to try and haul in massive and strong game fish like Tuna and Marlin. This is fishing as you’ve never experienced it before, and requires courage, strength and power! A word to the squeamish too – things get very messy on board. The last trip we did included a massive 20kg tuna being chopped up on deck, which is not something you can to witness, especially if you are prone to sea sickness like I am.

Sand Boarding. Excellent as part of a full day or a half day Cape Town tour, sand boarding on the dunes of Atlantis along the West Coast is not to be missed. One tip that a friend had to learn the hard way is to wear extra pairs of socks, or super thick socks – the friction is unreal, and the blisters you get are not at all pretty.

Sea Kayaking. Sea kayaking is a great way to explore the seas of Cape Town, spotting seals, penguins, whales and many other marine creatures as you paddle the often tumulus waves of the Atlantic Ocean. As this is one of the more ‘sedate’ options, it also works well as a date activity. Be warned though – she will not appreciate any plans you have to subtly capsize the kayak so that you can save the day. Also, there are sharks lurking beyond the waters.

Quad Biking Quad biking is one of the most eco-friendly ways to explore the landscapes of the Cape, setting off across a host of trails to cruise the Cape countryside at speeds of up to 80km per hour. Add to the fun by doing an off-road race with your mates for even more adventure. Experienced drivers can even try a river crossing, making this a highly popular choice of adventure activities in Cape Town.

These are just a few of the thrilling adventure activities on offer in the Mother City of South Africa, and believe me each and every one of them is  worth the price by the adrenaline rushing through your system! For the not so adventurous travellers, there are oodles of more relaxing activities and sights to see in and around our beautiful city.

This article was written by Darren Jones, a travel writer at African Eagle Day Tours offering Cape Tours in and around the City of Cape Town, South Africa. Some of the best tours in Cape Town include the Cape Peninsula, Garden route tours and Cape Town safari tours.

How many of these adventure activities have you dared to try? Which would you recommend? Please share your experience and this post too if you like it!

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