Nature Reserve iconNature Reserve

Cape Cross Seal Reserve

A protected coastal area home to the world's largest colony of Cape fur seals

Thousands of perpetually moving bodies make the Cape Cross Seal Reserve one of the largest Cape fur seal colonies along the southern African coast. Visitors to the reserve can expect to be overwhelmed by the sensory overload of so many writhing seals in one place, not to mention their pungent scent. The reserve is named after the stone cross erected on the site by Portuguese explorer Diogo Cão in 1486 and was created to offer protection to the since fully-recovered seal population.

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Best time to go to

The Cape Cross Seal Reserve is open to visitors year-round. The warmest time to visit is during the summer months between January and February. The seal population is at its largest during the breeding season, which is between October and January. July is the coldest month, except during “east wind”, which can see stifling temperatures of 30+ degrees.

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