The name says it: still bay. The Goukou River reaches the sea here between the two halves of the town, the water in the bay stays calm enough for boats, and the river is navigable for around 15 kilometres. Stilbaai lies about an hour west of Mossel Bay, 26 kilometres south of the N2, a town of around 3,500 people at the 2011 census with holiday houses that fill up in December. Since 2008 a marine protected area has covered the estuary and 13.5 kilometres of coast.
- west of Mossel Bay, about an hour
- 75 km
- the minimum age of the fish traps
- 3,000 years
- engraved ochre from Blombos Cave
- 77,000 years
- marine protected area declared
- 2008
The Khoi fish traps are the reason for the drive: stone walls in the intertidal zone, in use for at least 3,000 years and protected heritage sites today. At low water you walk between them. Twelve kilometres west lies Blombos Cave, where archaeologists found engraved ochre around 77,000 years old, along with shell beads and bone tools; the excavation is closed to the public, and the finds are in museums. And down at the river, tame eels are fed, a ritual that has drawn visitors to the town for decades.
- Time needed
- half a day to a full day
- Cost
- free
- When
- all year, at low tide
- From Mossel Bay
- 75 km, 60 minutes
Our tipCheck the tide table before you drive and arrive at low water. At high tide you see nothing of the fish traps but surf.
Stilbaai: frequently asked questions
How far is Stilbaai from Mossel Bay?
Around 75 kilometres west, about an hour on the N2 and then 26 kilometres south to the sea. From Mossel Bay, Stilbaai is half a day to a full day, best timed for low tide.
What are the fish traps of Stilbaai?
Stone walls in the intertidal zone that hold fish when the tide goes out. The Khoi used them for at least 3,000 years, and today they are protected heritage sites. At low water you walk between the walls; at high tide they are under water.
Can you visit Blombos Cave?
No, the excavation site twelve kilometres west of Stilbaai is closed to the public. The finds, engraved ochre around 77,000 years old and shell beads, count among the oldest evidence of symbolic thought. Pinnacle Point near Mossel Bay shows comparable material, and there you can go with a guide.