The story of Gompo Rock | Mapping South Africa's Culturally Significant Areas

The ‘Coastwise’ project, in collaboration with researchers from the One Ocean Hub, is piloting a framework that helps identify and map Culturally Significant Areas. This is being taken forward through the ‘Deep Connections’ project and together we are contributing to marine spatial planning and improvements in marine protected area design and management. By recognising sites that are important in terms of culture, spiritual and other connections, history, archeology, maritime heritage and more we can better plan for and manage Culturally Significant Areas. Gompo Rock is one of these sites. It lies West of East London where two giant rock formations, reaching 14 meters high, guard a channel that has shaped itself between the two outcrops. The site is sacred to many, particularly to amaXhosa and Khoi people, as this was where the great prophet and warrior, Makhanda Ka Nxele, gathered his people in 1819 to witness a ceremony in which he would summon the ancestors. Share this journey with our team as Loyiso Dunga (Parley for the Oceans and South African National Biodiversity Institute) tells us about this sacred place.