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The Cape Peninsula Boulders Beach Cape of Good Hope & Cape Point Cape Agulhas

Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point

Introduction

Situated at the southern end of the Cape Peninsula are the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point, 2 of the country's most visited tourist attractions.

Contrary to popular belief, however, this tip of South Africa is not the most southerly point of the African continent - this accolade goes to Cape Agulhas, some 250 km southeast.

The 2 Capes are in the beautiful Good Hope Nature Reserve. As well as the spectacular scenery and tumbling cliffs, there are walks, drives, restaurants, places to picnic - even places to swim.

The Cape of Good Hope

The first explorer to round this Cape was Bartolomeu Dias in 1488, and he named it 'Cabo Tormentoso' or the 'Cape of Storms'.

Early seafarers believed that once they had passed this point, the worst of their journey was over, and the Cape was later renamed the 'Cape of Good Hope' as a result.

Visitors can drive to the viewing area here, where the waves crash against the rocks, throwing spray high into the air.

The steep cliffs are the nesting places of the Cape, bank and white-breasted cormorants. They also help to shield the white sandy Dias Beach from the winds that buffet the coastline.

Cape Point

A 5 minute drive further on from the Cape of Good Hope leads to the main car park and the Visitor Centre.

A short walk or funicular railway takes you to Cape Point, a dramatic setting of sheer cliffs tumbling into rough waters.

The lighthouse, 250m above sea level, was built in the late 1850s, but due to its height was often obscured by cloud and mist.

After the Portuguese liner, the Lusitania, was wrecked off this coast in 1911 (and many lives were lost), it was decided to build a second lighthouse, but this time only 90 m above sea level.

This new lighthouse has the honour of being the most powerful lighthouse on the South African coast, with a beam that can be seen 63 km out to sea.

The Freshest Air in the World

The air here has tested as the freshest and cleanest in the world, due to the currents which bring the air in from the Arctic, and a Test Station at the Point constantly monitors the ozone layer.

It is possible to enjoy the fresh air in many ways. There are many hiking trails leading to beach coves, scenic viewing points, or picnic sites - and one of the most popular trails is the hike between the 2 Capes, which takes about an hour each way.

Or alternatively, just sit and enjoy the superb views from a number of 'easy to get to' viewing points, or across False Bay (so named because of the mistaken thought that this was the most southerly point of Africa) from the restaurant terrace.

Plants and Animals

Fynbos The Cape Peninsula’s dramatic topography and Mediterranean-type climate has resulted in an enormous array of habitats which are home to a variety of plants and animals.

The Reserve is home to 1,100 indigenous plant species, some of which occur no where else on earth.

The predominant vegetation, fynbos (fine bush), is characterised by 3 main plant types: Proteas, the national flower of South Africa; the small-leafed Ericas, which are related to the European heathers; and the hardy and very common Reeds.

Wildlife found in the Reserve includes the Cape Mountain zebra, genet, chacma baboons, rock dassies, and a variety of antelope including klipspringers, bontebok, eland and grysbok.

Good Hope Nature Reserve and Ostrich The baboon troops on the Cape Peninsula are the only protected population of this species in Africa, and are a tourist attraction in their own right. However, although they may appear friendly, appearances can be deceptive!

Please do heed the warnings about not leaving food or personal belongings unattended, as they have a nasty (and sometimes vicious) habit of taking things that are not theirs - and also climbing into the back seats of cars uninvited if your car doors are left open for a second!

The Reserve is also a birdwatchers paradise, with 250 species recorded, including ostrich and the endemic Cape sugarbird and orange-breasted sunbird.