Gansbaai - known as "Great White Shark Capital of the World" as well as "Big 2 Town"
Gansbaai is a Fishing village with fish in abundance and a multitude of spectacular scenic riches.
History: Johannes Cornelius Wessels built the first house of clay and reeds in 1881 on this rugged coastline at the foot of the Duynefontein
Mountains and was the first to exploit the large supply of fish of Gansbaai. (Named after wild Egyptian geese that used to nest near a fresh
water fountain in the old harbour) Colourful fishing trawlers come and go daily.
The first co-op of its kind in South Africa, Gansbaai Fishing Co-op was formed in 1952 and still exists today in a transformed manner.
The factory called Gansbaai Marine is regarded as the main industry and creator of employment in Gansbaai.
The canning division is the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere
This is also the heart of crayfish country, with an annual Crayfish Festival.
Perlemoen (Abalone) is professionally and successfully farmed in the area, ensuring on-going supply.
The lighthouse at Danger Point is today one of very few working light houses. After the loss of more than 20 ships the lighthouse was commissioned in 1895. It bears testimony to the danger hidden along the coast line to passing ships. It is the scene of one of the most famous shipwrecks in history, that of the HMS Birkenhead.
The Birkenhead was a British iron, paddle-wheel frigate of 1400 tons. She was built in 1845 by Laird and converted into a troopship in 1848. She changed her name from Vulcan to the Birkenhead.
On 26th February 1852, the bravery of the soldiers aboard the troopship HMS Birkenhead made history and set the precedent of "Women and Children First" as naval protocol throughout the world.
