Cape Point in South Africa

Many years ago the legendary Cape Point and Cape of Good Hope, was used as a key beacon for the early explorers and source of many myths and legends for locals. Today a trip to Cape Point is a must for any Cape Town visitor, and is widely complemented as the most beautiful place in the world. The finger shaped piece of land extends south into the Atlantic Ocean and is the most south westerly point in Africa.

The Cape Point Route spans along two coastlines, making the attraction a combination of rugged natural beauty, quaint beaches and a renowned bio-diversity which is unique to Cape Town. Cape Point is a landmark and natural World Heritage Site at the end of the Cape Peninsula, located in the Good Hope Section of the 22 100 hectare Table Mountain National Park.

Early seafarers the Cape of Good Hope marked the turning point in their luck because once the "Cape of Storms", as Bartholomew Diaz called it in 1488, had been passed; the battle against the sea was basically won. The first European to sight Cape Point in 1488 was the Portuguese Dias who named it the "Cape of Storms." Followed years later by the explorer Vasco Da Gama. The journeys of these explorers led to the establishment of the Cape sea route and today there are many historical monuments found along Cape Point, including the Diaz and Da Gama crosses.

Cape Point is where the cold Beguela current on the West coast and the warm Agulhas current on the East coast merge. The area was proclaimed a nature reserve in 1938 and was incorporated into Table Mountain National Park in 1998. Cape Point is recognized globally for its extraordinarily rich, diverse and unique flora and fauna. There is a wide range of endemic of plant species on the Cape Point Nature reserve including some 1,100 species of fynbos.

The park is open daily, and offers visitors magnificent beaches with excellent surfing waves and famous shipwreck diving spots. The clear waters of the Cape Peninsula provide excellent scuba diving and snorkelling conditions. The reserve boasts a spectacular coastline with 26 recorded shipwrecks. These shipwrecks and many of the stone cross’s; bear testimony to the treacherous and challenging history of the Cape Point sea route. The Cape of Good Hope has glorious white sand and picturesque beaches, with alternate with rugged rocks and breathtaking cliffs. The Buffels Bay has a stunning beach and a protected tidal pool. The Dias Beach has a beautiful bird life and is popular amongst surfers alike.

The lighthouse at Cape Point is the most powerful on the South African coast.It has a range of 63 kilometres was built in 1857, on Cape Point Peak. There are two environmentally friendly funiculars named after the Flying Dutchman. These funiculars transport passengers 238 metres above sea level on a scenic trip to the view site near the old Cape Point lighthouse. The cars travel from the parking lot to the view site, just below the lighthouse.

Today the lighthouse is the most powerful on the South African coast. On the Point there is a wide range of activities for visitors, such as viewing areas, a restaurant, a curio shop and plenty of scenic walks. There are a number of marked paths for strolls or longer walks within the Cape reserve. Other activities include accommodation, cycling and fishing. Cape Point is said to offer one the best cycle routes in Africa.

The Two Oceans Restaurant and snack bar offers world class cuisine with a spectacular sea view over the two Oceans, through large glass windows. The restaurant is opened for breakfast, lunch, afternoon’s teas, and even early evening cocktails. The restaurant also provides a snack bar, where you can purchase anything you need for a picnic or a small bite to eat.

This land formation is a truly remarkable natural, scenic, historical, cultural and recreational asset locally, nationally and internationally. The Cape Point Route is just 30 minutes from Cape Town City Centre, and is one of the most visited attractions in Cape Town, offering plenty of view sites from the most South Western tip of Africa.

Highlights of tours to Cape Point in South Africa:

• Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
• Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve
• The Funicular (optional) to reach the hillcrest at Cape of Good Hope
• The penguin colony at Boulder’s Beach
• Chapman's Peak
• Hout Bay stop at the harbour
• Sea Point
• City of Cape Town drive

The half day tour covers the same attractions however stop off times are much shorter.