Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias arrived here on February 3, 1488, thus proving to his sponsors that Africa had a southern tip; making it theoretically possible to sail from Europe to India. Originally called by Dias Aguada de São Brás (Bay of Saint Blaise), the harbour and surrounding area was renamed Mosselbaai (Bay of Mussels) in 1601 by Dutch navigator Paulus van Caerden, as he found the bay to be abundant with mussels. He also called a nearby bay, where he found cattle herders, Vlees Bay (Bay of Meat).

Mossel Bay's economy has benefited significantly from its proximity to an offshore natural gas reserve. The gas is piped ashore to the 'Mosgas' (now PetroSA) refinery which was built in the 1980s adjacent to the town. The harbour has been used extensively for servicing these oil operations, including the maintenance of oil platforms.

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Mossel Bay has the second mildest all-year climate in the world. The first is Hawaii.

Wikipedia articles for Mossel Bay

• Mossel Bay
• Mossel Bay
• Mossel Bay Harbour
• Mossel Bay Local Municipality
• Cape St. Blaize Lighthouse
• List of bays of South Africa
• List of islands of South Africa
• Pinnacle Point