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Cape Point, Cape
Town
At the end of the Cape Peninsula, about 80 km from Cape Town, is Cape
Point. Also known as the Cape of Good Hope or Cape of Storms it lies
within the Good Hope portion of the Table Mountain National Park, a
World Heritage Site. |
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Photographs of Cape Point Courtesy of and © South Africa Tourism |
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This wind-battered, tip of
land that ventures out into treacherous seas has some of the highest sea
cliffs and freshest air in the world. It is not the southern most tip of
Africa. This honour has been left to Cape Agulhas. However it is a far
more frequently visited and impressive attraction.
The indigenous flora here is found nowhere else on earth and it is home
to a variety of animals including buck, Chacma baboons, Cape Mountain
Zebra and over 250 species of bird.
The original discovery of the Cape by Dias and subsequently da Gama
opened up the Cape sea route allowing trade between East and West but
placed thousands of sailors’ lives at stake in the process. The
lighthouse originally built on Cape Point Peak in 1857 was invisible to
ships at sea from a certain angle, resulting in the litter of shipwrecks
that mark this rocky coastline.
Today the lighthouse is the most powerful on the South African coast and
has been moved to stand above Cape Point. The Flying Dutchman funicular
takes passengers 238 metres above sea level to the old lighthouse on a
rather invigorating ride and the Shipwreck trail is a coastal hike that
starts at Olifantsbos on the western side of the reserve.
There are a number of marked paths for strolls or longer walks within
the Cape reserve. The Smitswinkel viewpoint is 15 minute walk through
unique fynbos whilst the Cape of Good Hope trail is a two-day event.
There are a couple of safe tidal pools at Bordjiesdrif and Buffels Bay
for swimming and visitors are welcome to braai and picnic at designated
spots. The Buffelsfontein visitors centre has a number of displays and
presentations about the area and there is a restaurant perched above the
booming waves with superb views.
Interestingly the South African Weather Bureau maintains a research
laboratory here together with the Fraunhofer Institute of Garmisch,
Germany. They monitor long-term changes in the earth’s atmosphere which
may impact upon climate. |
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