Along the Agulhas coastline where this new and exciting AWOL Shipwreck hiking trail takes place, many names in the area are consequences of maritime accidents. One such example relates to the first documented wreck in this area which occurred in 1673 when a small ship, the “Zoetendal”, ran aground in Struisbaai.Along the Agulhas coastline where this new and exciting AWOL Shipwreck hiking trail takes place, many names in the area are consequences of maritime accidents. One such example relates to the first documented wreck in this area which occurred in 1673 when a small ship, the “Zoetendal”, ran aground in Struisbaai.Along the Agulhas coastline where this new and exciting AWOL Shipwreck hiking trail takes place, many names in the area are consequences of maritime accidents. One such example relates to the first documented wreck in this area which occurred in 1673 when a small ship, the “Zoetendal”, ran aground in Struisbaai.

The 448 ton flute was under the command of Captain Jan Block for the Dutch East India Company and ran aground on a return voyage from Batavia with a cargo of rice.

The accident is reputed to have occurred due to the crew being highly intoxicated at the time! Four of the crew drowned and another 6 were too drunk to leave the ship! The remaining 40-odd survivors set off to the west and after a few hours of struggling through the sandy and scrubby environment they found the second largest naturally occurring body of freshwater in South Africa. They named it Soetendalsvlei, in honour of their stricken vessel. This vlei and surrounding wetland system on the Agulhas plains is home to many diverse bird species and with the arrival of the Palaearctic migrants in summer, this already renowned bird watching area becomes a hotspot!

After a short period of recuperation from their ordeal, the Zoetendal castaways began their long and difficult hike to the Cape refreshment station in Table Bay. On the first day one of the hikers was killed by an elephant! However, fortune favours the brave and they were picked up en route by a local Khoi chief of the Chainoqua clan by the name of Dorha. The chief was known to officials of the VOC as “Captain Claas”, a respected cattle trader in their employ. He led the remaining members of the party safely back to Cape Town.

Today the legacy of that shipwreck has also given rise to a farm in the region of the same name, which is famous for pioneering the sheep farming methods that established South Africa as a wool producing capital of the world. Zoetendal is also the namesake for a winery established in the newest and southern most wine ward on the continent (the Elim wine Route) which produces 3 wines of exceptional quality in true boutique fashion.

If you would like to learn more about the fascinating Agulhas region, then follow the route of the castaways on the “Shipwreck Trail” with AWOL tours. Please email us on info@awol.travel to obtain more information.

The 448 ton flute was under the command of Captain Jan Block for the Dutch East India Company and ran aground on a return voyage from Batavia with a cargo of rice.

The accident is reputed to have occurred due to the crew being highly intoxicated at the time! Four of the crew drowned and another 6 were too drunk to leave the ship! The remaining 40-odd survivors set off to the west and after a few hours of struggling through the sandy and scrubby environment they found the second largest naturally occurring body of freshwater in South Africa. They named it Soetendalsvlei, in honour of their stricken vessel. This vlei and surrounding wetland system on the Agulhas plains is home to many diverse bird species and with the arrival of the Palaearctic migrants in summer, this already renowned bird watching area becomes a hotspot!

After a short period of recuperation from their ordeal, the Zoetendal castaways began their long and difficult hike to the Cape refreshment station in Table Bay. On the first day one of the hikers was killed by an elephant! However, fortune favours the brave and they were picked up en route by a local Khoi chief of the Chainoqua clan by the name of Dorha. The chief was known to officials of the VOC as “Captain Claas”, a respected cattle trader in their employ. He led the remaining members of the party safely back to Cape Town.

Today the legacy of that shipwreck has also given rise to a farm in the region of the same name, which is famous for pioneering the sheep farming methods that established South Africa as a wool producing capital of the world. Zoetendal is also the namesake for a winery established in the newest and southern most wine ward on the continent (the Elim wine Route) which produces 3 wines of exceptional quality in true boutique fashion.

If you would like to learn more about the fascinating Agulhas region, then follow the route of the castaways on the “Shipwreck Trail” with AWOL tours. Please email us on info@awol.travel to obtain more information.

The 448 ton flute was under the command of Captain Jan Block for the Dutch East India Company and ran aground on a return voyage from Batavia with a cargo of rice.

The accident is reputed to have occurred due to the crew being highly intoxicated at the time! Four of the crew drowned and another 6 were too drunk to leave the ship! The remaining 40-odd survivors set off to the west and after a few hours of struggling through the sandy and scrubby environment they found the second largest naturally occurring body of freshwater in South Africa. They named it Soetendalsvlei, in honour of their stricken vessel. This vlei and surrounding wetland system on the Agulhas plains is home to many diverse bird species and with the arrival of the Palaearctic migrants in summer, this already renowned bird watching area becomes a hotspot!

After a short period of recuperation from their ordeal, the Zoetendal castaways began their long and difficult hike to the Cape refreshment station in Table Bay. On the first day one of the hikers was killed by an elephant! However, fortune favours the brave and they were picked up en route by a local Khoi chief of the Chainoqua clan by the name of Dorha. The chief was known to officials of the VOC as “Captain Claas”, a respected cattle trader in their employ. He led the remaining members of the party safely back to Cape Town.

Today the legacy of that shipwreck has also given rise to a farm in the region of the same name, which is famous for pioneering the sheep farming methods that established South Africa as a wool producing capital of the world. Zoetendal is also the namesake for a winery established in the newest and southern most wine ward on the continent (the Elim wine Route) which produces 3 wines of exceptional quality in true boutique fashion.

If you would like to learn more about the fascinating Agulhas region, then follow the route of the castaways on the “Shipwreck Trail” with AWOL tours. Please email us on info@awol.travel to obtain more information.