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Struisbaai, The Overberg, Western Cape, South Africa, Southern Africa

Mermaid Guest House

Highly Recommended Guest House Full Service
Struisbaai, The Overberg, Western Cape, South Africa

Mermaid Guest House
(Meermin Slave ship 1766)

Seaside holiday village

Come rest a while in our beautiful seaside village. Boasting the longest continuous beach in southern Africa, the 14km of white sand extends from Struisbaai to Arniston, providing safe bathing, boating and angling. The beach here is exquisite, with an almost subtropical feel. The water is crystal clear and its brilliant color is exaggerated by the colorful fishing boats at anchor in the harbour. The charming little harbour, originally built in 1959 but enlarged in 1990, serves local fishing boats known as “chukkies” as well as ski boats for the flocks of visitors to the town during the holiday season. On almost all days its easy to launch a kayak, small boat, or rubber dingy of the beach, and board and kite surfing/sailing are particularly good here. Mermaid Guest House is close to all amenities and the main beach, which makes it a convenient base for your visit to Struisbaai, Cape Agulhas and the Southern most tip of Africa. Come and have a relaxing stay in our peaceful surroundings to restore your soul. Only 180km from Cape Town International Airport.

Beautiful sea views from all bedrooms, easy access to the village, harbour and beach. Individually decorated rooms in a nautical theme, stay in the Captain’s cabin - we have a room for all.

Come rest a while in our beautiful seaside village. Boasting the longest continuous beach in southern Africa, the 14km of white sand extends from Struisbaai to Arniston, providing safe bathing, boating and angling. The beach here is exquisite, with an almost subtropical feel. The water is crystal clear and its brilliant color is exaggerated by the colorful fishing boats at anchor in the harbour.

The charming little harbour, originally built in 1959 but enlarged in 1990, serves local fishing boats known as “chukkies” as well as ski boats for the flocks of visitors to the town during the holiday season. On almost all days it’s easy to launch a kayak, small boat, or rubber dingy off the beach, and board and kite surfing / sailing are particularly good here.

Mermaid Guest House is close to all amenities and the main beach, which makes it a convenient base for your visit to Struisbaai, Cape Agulhas and the Southern most tip of Africa. Come and have a relaxing stay in our peaceful surroundings to restore your soul. Only 180km from Cape Town International Airport.

Beautiful sea views from all bedrooms, easy access to the village, harbour and beach. Individually decorated rooms in a nautical theme, stay in the Captain’s cabin - we have a room for all.

The History of Meermin Slave ship on which Mermaid Guest House is based:

The Dutch East India Company had dispatched the three-masted Meermin from Cape Town in December 1765 to buy slaves on the west coast of Madagascar, nearly 2,700 kilometers, or 1,700 miles, away. The Dutch settlement at Cape Town relied on slave labor, and the warring tribes on Madagascar were known to trade their captives to European merchants for guns and goods.
In late January, the Meermin left Madagascar with 147 slaves, including some women and children. Fearful the slaves would die in the airless cargo hold, the ship\'s captain ordered at least some of them unchained and allowed on deck. Another senior officer decided to employ five slaves to clean spears and other weapons that the crew had picked up in Madagascar as souvenirs.
It was a stunningly stupid move. Armed, the slaves killed about half the crew, stabbing them to death or tossing them overboard. Surviving sailors barricaded themselves in the ship\'s lower quarters, surviving on raw bacon, potatoes and brandy.
Once they realized they could not sail the ship on their own, the Malagasy allowed several crew members on deck to guide them back to Madagascar.
By day, the Dutch headed in the general direction of the island. But at night they steered for Cape Town. By the end of February, they had made it to 145 kilometers east of Cape Town. Spotting land, the slaves decided they had reached their homeland and dropped anchor. Seventy slaves piled into two small boats and headed ashore, promising to light three fires on the beach to signal the others if the land was Madagascar. They did not get far. Dutch farmers, suspicious of the stationary ship without a flag, had alerted the local magistrate and organized a force of local men to patrol the beach. When the slaves hit shore, they were killed or captured.
For a week, the Meermin remained at sea while the Malagasy aboard tried to figure out what had happened and the Dutch on shore tried to figure out what to do. The authorities in Cape Town dispatched two rescue ships, but neither managed to find Struis Bay.
The Meermin\'s officers at sea were trying to communicate with the Dutch on shore by the only method at hand: letters in bottles. Two floated ashore, were retrieved and delivered to the magistrate. The officers asked for three fires to be lighted on the beach to deceive the Malagasy into letting the ship come ashore.
Another letter advised that the slaves were unaware of their location and could be caught off-guard.The trick worked. The ship sailed toward the beach, hitting a sandbar. Confronted with the Dutch force, the slaves gave up.
The Dutch authorities worked to retrieve the ship\'s goods, recovering 286 muskets, 12 pistols, 5 bayonets, compasses and barrels of gun powder and musket balls. They then left the broken Meermin to be swallowed up by sand.

Accommodation

Captain's Quarters
Beautiful views of the sea. Twin beds and en-suite bathroom with shower. Maximum number of guests: 2

Captain’s Mistress Quarters
En-suite bedroom, with twin beds and sea views. Maximum number of guests: 2

Crew’s Quarters
En-suite family bedroom with 3 single beds and amazing sea views. Maximum number of guests: 3

Second Mate Olaf’s Quarters
En-suite double room with 1 double bed and beautiful sea view. Maximum number of guests: 2

Navigators Quarters
En-suite double room with queen bed and beautiful sea views. Maximum number of guests: 2

Second Mate Crause’s Quarters
En-suite double room with double bed and beautiful sea views. Maximum number of guests: 2

Family Unit:
3 Double rooms with shared bathroom on ground level, one double bed, two single beds and 1 bunk bed.
Maximum number of guests: 6


FACILITIES: RESTAURANT, with buffet breakfast and dinner on request, Aviation & Maritime theme BAR, LAUNDRY
FACILITY, INTERNET ACCESS, FISHING AND PLEASURE BOAT TRIPS,Tuc-Tuc
SHUTTLE SERVICE in Struisbaai and Cape Agulhas.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
Tariffs are quoted in South African Rand per person, per night, sharing and are inclusive of a full breakfast. No dogs or other pets are allowed.
CHECK-IN TIME : 14:00 CHECK-OUT TIME : 10:00

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Please note prices supplied are published in good faith but are subject to change.

GPS Co-ordinates for Mermaid Guest House : -34.801494, 20.048998

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