Elim, an hour from Struisbaai, is a historic Moravian mission village with South Africa’s only slave emancipation monument and a cool-climate wine route.

Where to watch southern right whales from land around Struisbaai, Cape Agulhas and De Hoop, when to go, and how to plan a whale-season stay.

A local’s guide to Struisbaai harbour: the working fishing fleet, Parrie the resident stingray, old Khoi fish traps in the rocks and what’s worth a short drive along the coast.