Diaz Cross

The Dias Cross stands on Kwaaihoek, a bare rocky headland on the Algoa Bay coast between Boknes and Bushmans River Mouth. On 12 March 1488 the Portuguese navigator Bartolomeu Dias set up a stone cross, or padrao, here as proof that he had reached this far. What you see now is a replica on the same spot. Kwaaihoek is part of Addo Elephant National Park, but this is a coastal walk, not a game drive.

What to expect

The original was broken and buried over the centuries. In 1938 E. Axelson tracked down its location and recovered fragments, and the reassembled cross is now held at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. The replica marks the original site, which is a provincial heritage site.

The headland itself is exposed and windswept, with sea views along the coast. There is little else here apart from the cross, so the walk is as much the point as the destination.

Practical details

• The cross is reached on foot. The usual approach is a walk of about 3 km along the beach from the Boknes lagoon.
• The alternative is a 6 km beach walk from Bushmans River Mouth, which needs the tide to be out.
• Go in daylight and check tide times before setting off.

Good to know

Dias was the first European to sail round the southern tip of Africa, and this was his first padrao on that voyage. Offshore, the East Indiaman Doddington wrecked on Bird Island on 17 July 1755, and only 23 of the 270 people on board survived. The nearest towns are Kenton-on-Sea and Alexandria.

Last updated 6 October 2026. Sources: Wikipedia, Wikipedia, SA Venues.