Cape Cross
Sanctuary for the world’s largest breeding colony of Cape fur seals and the site of a historic stone cross replica. This coastal headland marks the 1486 landing point of the first European explorer in the region. Read more…
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The area serves as a sanctuary for one of the world's largest breeding colonies of Cape fur seals, with over 200,000 individuals congregating on the rocky shoreline. A dedicated walkway allows for observation of the bustling colony within the Cape Cross Seal Reserve. The environment is characterized by a barren, misty desert landscape.
The site holds historical importance as the location where the Portuguese explorer Diogo Cão became the first European to land in the area in 1486. He erected a stone cross on the headland. Today, replicas of this historic monument stand at the site to commemorate the event.
Beyond the seal colony and the cross, the area contains remnants of its past as a former guano and sealing settlement. This includes the graves of early guano collectors who worked in the region. The site is a protected area and is open to the public.
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