The Cape Peninsula provides one of the world's most spectacular viewpoints - the rugged and unique Cape Point. Sir Francis Drake once described it as the fairest cape and, rich in history and legend, the treacherous waters surrounding it's rocky coastline are home to many shipwrecks. One of these was the legendary Flying Dutchman, which disappeared off Cape Point without a trace during a terrible storm in 1680.
Cape Point is situated in the Cape of Good Hope's Nature Reserve, about an hour's drive from Cape Town. Depending on how much time you have to spare, there are a few different routes you can take to reach Cape Point. The most direct route from the city centre would be to take the M3 and then the M4 at the M42 junction, following the False Bay road past Muizenberg, Fish Hoek and Simon's Town. A slightly longer, but even more spectacular alternative, would be to take the M6 through Hout Bay and along Chapman's Peak Drive. This is a well-known and very beautiful mountain pass built between 1915 and 1922, but with a drop of 150 m to the ocean below, definitely not for the faint-hearted. If you have a few hours to spare though, you can follow the Peninsula Circular Drive which will take you along both these routes.
More than half a million people travel to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve every year. Visitors can climb the 125 steps to the viewpoint on Cape Point Peak or sit back and relax on the funicular railway. 210 m above sea level, the viewpoint offers unrivalled vistas across Dias Beach and Cape Maclear to the west and the southern-most tip of the Peninsula. On a clear day, Cape Hangklip can be seen to the east as well as Danger Point which is about 80 km away. With its 40 km of unspoilt coastline, the reserve offers fantastic opportunities for outdoor activities. Apart from the many hiking trails, rock angling, swimming, snorkelling and diving are also possible. The old trawler Tania is a favourite destination for divers and the tidal pools at Buffels Bay are especially popular in the summer months.
Many local and overseas visitors flock to Cape Point during August and September for whale-watching, but there are also many other species to look out for all year round. Small numbers of Cape mountain zebra, springbok, eland and hartebeest roam free on the reserve, but you are far more likely to see some of the many baboons who have taken sanctuary here. These baboons have actually adapted their diet to include seafood such as small crustaceans and limpets, which is extremely rare. Visitors beware though! The baboons can look very cute when they are begging for food, but few people realise how aggressive and dangerous they can be. Bread, crisps and biscuits are not easy for animals to digest anyway, so it's better to ignore them and pack your snacks away for your own safety as well as theirs.
The best months to visit the Cape are March, April, September and October. February is the hottest month of the year and cold, wet weather is normal for June and July. If you don't want to spend all day driving around in a hot car looking for a parking bay, avoid visiting in December at all costs!
About the Author
Karriane Lacinder has been a travel writer for the past 16 years. She has written city guides for many publications, including Corbridge tourist information and Leeds city guide.
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