The Tree That Served as South Africa’s First Post Office for 500 Years

Sharing is caring!

In 1500, a Portuguese sailor sat on a beach at the southern tip of Africa and wrote a letter he wasn’t sure would ever reach anyone. He had no courier, no port authority, no way to send it. So he tucked it into a leather boot, walked to a vast Milkwood tree above the shore, and hung it from a branch.

The next ship that anchored here found the boot. It read the letter. A postal tradition was born — and that same Milkwood tree still stands in Mossel Bay today, recognised as South Africa’s oldest post office for over 500 years.

A Letter Left in a Boot

In February 1500, the Portuguese fleet was sailing home from India when a storm separated the ships. Commander Pedro d’Ataide anchored at Mossel Bay — already well-known to sailors as a reliable freshwater stop — and wrote a letter meant for any fleet that might follow.

He tucked it into a boot and hung it from a branch of the great Milkwood tree near the spring.

In May 1501, the fleet of Joao da Nova did exactly that. It stopped, found the boot, and read the message — learning that Bartolomeu Dias had perished at sea. It was South Africa’s first recorded postal delivery, and one of the earliest examples of organised communication in sub-Saharan Africa.

The Tree That Has Outlasted Empires

The Milkwood tree at Mossel Bay is now over 600 years old and has been a national monument since 1955.

It is salt-weathered and gnarled, its broad canopy spreading low over the rocky shoreline. It does not demand attention. But stand beside it long enough and the weight of what happened here begins to settle.

This is the place where sailors wrote home knowing full well that the letter might take a year to arrive — or never would.

Bartolomeu Dias and the Bay He Named

Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias was the first European to anchor at Mossel Bay, in 1488 — a full decade before Vasco da Gama sailed the complete route to India.

Dias named the bay Aguada de Sao Bras — the watering place of Saint Blaise. Fresh water flowed here, there was shelter from the open ocean, and the local Khoikhoi traded cattle and meat for copper and iron. Word spread quickly among captains: Mossel Bay was where you stopped, rested, and resupplied.

For nearly two centuries, it was one of the most important waypoints on the entire Indian Ocean trade route. Ships bound for Goa, Zanzibar, and Calicut all knew this foreshore.

Enjoying this? 5,600 South Africa lovers get stories like this every week. Subscribe free

The Museum That Keeps the Story Alive

A short walk from the tree sits the Bartolomeu Dias Museum Complex — home to a full-scale replica of the caravel Dias used to round the Cape. The vessel looks startlingly small for the journey it made.

Inside you will find maritime maps, navigation instruments, and the Shell Museum — one of the most comprehensive shell collections in Africa. It is the kind of museum that earns its entry fee in the first ten minutes.

The South African Post Office has maintained an official postal service at the tree since 1895. Send a postcard from the museum kiosk and it receives a special Post Office Tree postmark — a tradition that has run unbroken for over 130 years. Thousands of cards make their way around the world from this ancient Milkwood every year.

Mossel Bay as a Starting Point

Mossel Bay sits at the western gateway of the Garden Route — South Africa’s most celebrated coastal drive — about 380km east of Cape Town along the N2.

Most travellers pass through too quickly. They stop at the harbour, photograph the tree, and drive on towards Knysna or Plettenberg Bay. That is their loss.

The bay faces north-east, which means the water is calmer and warmer than much of the Cape coast. Between June and November, southern right whales breed just offshore. The harbour front has fresh seafood, a walkable promenade, and a pace that feels genuinely local.

If you’re building your South Africa itinerary, make Mossel Bay your first night on the Garden Route rather than a quick stop. Walk to the tree at first light before the tour groups arrive, and leave a postcard for someone who deserves something unexpected in the post.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Post Office Tree in Mossel Bay?

The Post Office Tree is an ancient Milkwood tree in Mossel Bay harbour. Portuguese sailors used it from 1500 onwards to leave letters in a boot hanging from its branches, to be collected by the next passing ship. It is South Africa’s oldest recorded postal address and has been a protected national monument since 1955.

When is the best time to visit Mossel Bay, South Africa?

October to April brings warm, sunny weather ideal for swimming and coastal walks. For whale watching — southern right whales are spotted offshore regularly — visit between June and November. The bay faces north-east and is well-sheltered, making it one of the most reliably pleasant spots on the entire South African coast year-round.

How do I get to the Post Office Tree?

The tree stands within the grounds of the Bartolomeu Dias Museum Complex on the Mossel Bay harbour front, clearly signposted from the town centre. Mossel Bay is roughly a 4-hour drive from Cape Town along the N2. Most Garden Route tours include a stop here.

Can you still post a letter from the Post Office Tree?

Yes. The South African Post Office maintains an active postal service at the tree. Send a postcard from the museum kiosk and it receives the Post Office Tree postmark — an unbroken tradition since 1895. Cards are collected and delivered worldwide.

The letter Pedro d’Ataide wrote in 1500 was probably practical — news about ships, storms, and the loss of a great explorer. But the act of writing it, of trusting a tree to carry words across time, is something that still moves people who stand here today.

The boot is long gone. The branch has changed many times over. But the tree is still here, standing above the same bay, still receiving postcards, still waiting for the next ship.

Some places hold history in glass cases. Mossel Bay holds it in the rings of a living tree, counting the years quietly, patient as the sea.

You Might Also Enjoy

• The Hidden Side of South Africa’s Garden Route Nobody Tells You About
• Two Weeks in South Africa: The Complete First-Timer’s Itinerary
• Best Time to Visit South Africa: A Month-by-Month Planning Guide

Plan Your South Africa Trip

Ready to explore further? Our two-week South Africa itinerary covers the best of the Cape, the Garden Route, and the winelands — with practical advice for every stop.

Sharing is caring!