The Portuguese navigator, Diego Cão,  landed here in 1486 on his second expedition south of the equator and planted a stone cross (padrão) to mark his journey.

A replica is visible here today. Inclusive of a second replica, the area has been listed as a National Heritage Site. In the late 1800s, thousands of tons of guano (dried excrement of fish-eating birds used as fertiliser) were collected and exported to Europe. Cape fur seals were also harvested. About 100 workers lived at Cape Cross and a police station, customs and  post office were established  at the settlement, while a railway (the first in the  country) was built to cross the salt pan and transport workers. Many men lost their lives due to the harsh conditions at Cape Cross.

This reserve is a sanctuary for the world’s largest breeding colony of Cape fur seals, with up to 210 000 seals present during the breeding season in November and December. Sustainable seal harvesting takes place in the reserve annually under the auspices of the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, which also sets the quota of seals to be harvested. 

Park size: 60 km²

Proclamation: 1968

Natural features: Rocky bay, sandy beaches, salt  pan

Vegetation: Central Desert in the Namib Desert Biome. Vegetation:Sparsely vegetated, with dollar  (Zygophyllum stapfii) and pencil bushes (Arthraerua leubnitziae) dominating. A variety of lichens occur in the park.

Wildlife: Brown hyaena, Cape fur seal, Black-backed Jackal at the Guano platforms, Greater and Lesser Flamingo,Grey Phalarope, Damara Tern, Cape Teal, Caspian Tern, Black-necked Grebe and African Black Oystercatcher.