Cape Town’s Big Six: Cape Point (3/6)
As a city, Cape Town’s known for its “Big Six” attractions – meet them all through SA Logue’s Cape Town Big Six tag!
Cape Point
Cape Point affords the single most spectacular visual experience a visitor can have in Cape Town. A drive down to “the end of the world” is an absolute must!
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The Cape Point area, which is the southern tip of Cape Town’s peninsula, comprises a large nature reserve, the Cape of Good Hope, and Cape Point itself, which is the western boundary of False Bay, and from which breathtaking views of the coast and peninsula are possible – that is, if the area’s norotiously stormy weather doesn’t spoil them.
The sea off Cape Point marks the confluence of two major ocean currents – the warm Benguela and the cold Agulhas – and is consequently site of many sudden storms and much heavy weather. Quite a few ships have sunk off Cape Point – original name, el Cabo del Tormentoso, or Cape of Storms – including the famous ghost ship, the Flying Dutchman. See below for an illustration. Cape Point is not, however, the place where the Indian and Atlantic oceans meet – that’s Cape Agulhas, southeast of Cape Town, Africa’s southernmost point.
The predominant feature of the Cape Point Nature Reserve, meanwhile, is fynbos, an indigenous heather which makes up one of the world’s six floral kingdoms. The way it sparkles under the African sun is simply magical – and browsing through it you’re likely to spot a few ostriches and bontebok, as well as troupes of chacma baboons.
The baboons, though, are more likely to be at the small cluster of shops at the base of the walk up to the Cape Point lighthouse. Beware! – they’re quite accustomed to humans, and will run right up to rip food out of your hands. I’ve seen it more times than I can count!
- Cape Point Nature Reserve Road Map (zoom in for better views)
The Cape of Good Hope, a rocky promontory off Cape Point, is Africa’s southwesternmost point – don’t miss having your picture taken at its sign. This cape gets its name from the fact that, once a ship rounds it, from the east, unscathed, it has “good hope” of making Europe in one piece!
Cape Point links:
- CapePoint.co.za
- Baz Bus Peninsula Tour
- Cape Town Big Six (official site)
Here’s a sequence of photos illustrating how fickle the weather at Cape Point can be (and just how good the views are!):
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