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Museum · Mossel Bay, Cabo Ocidental
Bartolomeu Dias Museum Complex
Museum with a full‑size replica of Bartolomeu Dias’s caravel and the 1500 post tree, linked to Pedro Álvares Cabral’s fleet.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Bartolomeu Dias Museum Complex
The Bartolomeu Dias Museum sits on the site where the Portuguese navigator landed on 3 February 1488, St Blaise’s day, after rounding the southern tip of Africa. There the first recorded contact took place between Europeans and the khoikhoi. Dias named the fresh‑water spring Aguada de São Brás.
The highlight is the Maritime Museum, featuring a full‑size replica of Dias’s caravel. It was built in Portugal and sailed across the ocean to Mossel Bay in 1988, the 500th anniversary of the voyage. You can board it and see how small the vessel that made the crossing was. Panels tell of the Portuguese voyages and the arrival of the English and Dutch.
In the garden stands the post tree, an old milkwood. Beside it is a boot‑shaped mailbox, and letters posted there receive a special stamp.
The site also includes the old 1788 granary, a shell museum with an aquarium and a garden of plants used by local peoples. From June to November it’s common to see whales from the gardens.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
2 to 3 hours.
Best time
In the morning, with fewer groups. Boarding the caravel requires a separate ticket; check opening times.
How to get there
It’s on Market Street in central Mossel Bay, near the beach and the tourist information centre, within walking distance from anywhere in town centre.
Tip
Take a postcard to send from the boot‑shaped mailbox. Allow time for the caravel, which is the most impressive attraction.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Bartolomeu Dias Museum Complex
What is in the Bartolomeu Dias Museum?
The full‑size replica of Dias’s caravel, the 1500 post tree, a shell museum and the old granary.
Can you go inside the caravel?
Yes, with a separate ticket.
Does the tree’s mailbox work?
Yes, letters posted there receive a special stamp.