Fierce

When African Penguins first came to False Bay on the South African coast in 1983 from Dyer Island, which is near Gans Bay, there was plenty for them to eat and so the colony grew rapidly. In recent years, however, commercial fishing, marine pollution and habitat destruction have negatively affected the size of the colony. In 1910, it was estimated that there were approximately one-and-a-half million African Penguins; a century later, the aquatic bird was classified as an endangered species. These days there are only a paltry 26 000 breeding pairs left in the whole world!

Fierce

Icon

The Umhlanga Lighthouse is fully automated though its form is hand captured by local artists whose works are sold to foreigners chartering international waters with framed fragile portraits of this sturdy structure. Mistress of memorabilia and master of light since 1954, this 21m high circular concrete tower has a light range of 24 sea miles at a focal plane height of 25 meters above high sea level. It has never been attended by a lighthouse keeper with the official warden residing at the adjacent original beach cottage of the area, now the Oyster Beach Hotel.

Icon

Outcrop

Robberg Nature Reserve, Plettenberg Bay, South Africa. People head here for the natural beauty, the rocky shoreline home to hundreds of Cape Fur Seals and the waters rich with dolphins and whales. Montane fynbos sweeps up the wind-driven, rocky slopes awash in salt spray, whilst a collection of ocean seabirds – albatross, broad-billed prion and Sub-antarctic skua – fill the air with their calls as they head to and fro from the Sub-Antarctic island, Marion Island, south east of the peninsula. It is also a breeding area for the rare African black oyster-catcher.

Outcrop