Cape Agulhas, located in the Overberg region of the Western Province, is the southern most land tip on the African Continent and serves as the dividing line between the Atlantic and Indian Ocean. Portuguese navigators traveling to the Spice Islands name it “Cabo das Agulhas” in reference to the needle readings of their compass.
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Hippotragus leucophaeus - When first encountered by Europeans in the 17th century, the blue antelope was restricted to a narrow band across South Africa; fossil records indicate a larger range. The blue antelope became extinct in 1800; it was the first large African mammal to succumb to extinction. Two close relatives from the same genus, the roan and sable antelope, can still be found on the African savannahs. Measuring 120 centimeters at the withers, the blue antelope was the smallest of the three species and was named for the blueish-grey tint of its coat.
