Elim

Elim was founded by Moravian missionaries in 1824 on the Agulhas plain and remains a church-owned village - the land belongs to the mission and houses pass within the community, which is why the layout of thatched, whitewashed, lime-washed cottages along a single long street survives essentially intact. The church holds a clock made in Germany in 1764, brought here and still keeping time, and the old watermill has been restored. The village's most significant monument is small: a stone erected in 1938 to mark the emancipation of slaves in 1834, the only such memorial in South Africa put up by the freed people's own descendants, since Elim received a number of emancipated slaves. Guided walks from the church office cover the history and the buildings. Around the village, fynbos is harvested for the cut-flower trade, and there is a well-regarded dried-flower and honeybush industry.

What to look for

• The 1764 clock - a German church clock still running in the mission church.
• The single street - thatched, lime-washed cottages in the original mission layout.
• The emancipation memorial - a stone raised in 1938 by descendants of freed slaves.
• The fynbos harvest - cut flowers and honeybush from the surrounding plain.

When to go

September to April. Half a day. Guided tours from the church office at set times.

Things to know

The village is church-owned and lived in - tours are the correct way to visit, not wandering into yards. Facilities are minimal. Roads in are partly gravel. Tours need arranging and do not always run at short notice.

Nearby

Cape Agulhas is south; Bredasdorp and De Hoop are east.

Key facts