Today we’re sharing everything that makes Cape Point one of the most unique destinations on the planet. While Table Mountain tops the list of most Cape Town travel guides, without a doubt we recommend Cape Point as the #1 Must-See attraction. The time we spent there was the highlight of our stay in Cape Town and one of the best days of our 14-day trip. Located about 70 km south of Table Mountain and the Cape Town central business district, Cape Point is a prominent section of rocky coastline near the Cape of Good Hope. It’s at the very bottom of the Cape Peninsula area.
Cape Point (Afrikaans: Kaappunt) is a promontory at the southeast corner of the Cape Peninsula, a mountainous and scenic landform that runs north-south for about thirty kilometres at the extreme southwestern tip of the African continent in South Africa. Table Mountain and the city of Cape Town are close to the northern extremity of the same peninsula.
A feature of the Western Cape province of South Africa is Cape Point. The point is a narrow piece of land at the southeastern tip of the Cape Peninsula. Cape Point is about 1.2 miles (2 kilometers) east of the Cape of Good Hope. The Cape of Good Hope is a rocky point on the southwestern tip of the Cape Peninsula.
Cape Point is situated within the Table Mountain National Park, within a section of the park referred to as Cape of Good Hope. This section covers the whole of the southern tip of the Cape Peninsula and which takes in perhaps 20% of its total area. The Cape of Good Hope section of the park is generally wild, unspoiled and undeveloped and is an important haven for seabirds.
Cape Point is more than just a pretty place; it is also home to a unique variety of fauna and flora. This pristine reserve offers breathtaking views and an array of activities that cater to all interests. From hiking trails that lead to panoramic vistas to opportunities for wildlife spotting, Cape Point is a nature lover’s paradise. Whether you want to explore the rugged cliffs, enjoy a leisurely picnic, or partake in various outdoor activities, this reserve has something for everyone.
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Cape Point National Park on our doorstep has SO many hidden treasures, ripe to be explored. Situated at the south western tip of Africa, the Cape Point Nature Reserve is one of the most pristine and unspoiled places on earth.
Cape Point Nature Reserve is one of my favourite places in Cape Town, and it’s easy to see why. This pristine reserve offers breathtaking views and an array of activities that cater to all interests. From hiking trails that lead to panoramic vistas to opportunities for wildlife spotting, Cape Point is a nature lover’s paradise. Whether you want to explore the rugged cliffs, enjoy a leisurely picnic, or partake in various outdoor activities, this reserve has something for everyone.
Cape Point is part of the same national park as the iconic Table Mountain, known as Table Mountain National Park. The Cape Peninsula’s vibrant and varied plant life has garnered eight World Heritage Site designations from UNESCO. Although the Cape Floral Region covers just 0.5% of Africa, it boasts over 20% of the continent’s plant species. Remarkably, the Table Mountain National Park alone has more floral species than the entire United Kingdom.
Cape Point hosts a diverse array of bird species. The coastal vegetation at Cape Point attracts warblers, canaries, and shrikes, and it’s not uncommon to see various seabirds.
Today we’re recapping our visit to Cape Point in South Africa. While it’s a bit of a departure from our typical National Park Service posts, we had an amazing experience in Africa and want everyone to know how easy and accessible it was to travel there. We also want to share more about South Africa’s national parks and how they compare to our own.
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Cape Point Nature Reserve is also home to a lighthouse that has been in operation since 1857. The lighthouse is situated on the edge of a cliff, offering stunning views of the surrounding coastline.
Historical Significance
The name Cape of Good Hope dates back to the 15th century when Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias became the first European to lay eyes on Cape Point while searching for the southernmost tip of Africa. Initially, Dias named the area the Cape of Storms due to its fierce weather and dangerous waters.
Bartolomeu Dias, a Portuguese explorer, was the first European to see Cape Point, in 1488. The Portuguese explorer, Bartholomeu Dias was commissioned to find a new sea route to Asia and when he finally reached the Cape of Good Hope, he wrote home to the emperor that he has reach the end of the continent, therefore found a way to Asia. He called the spot, the Cape of Storms. John II of Portugal was so thrilled with prospect of a new trading route to Asia he renamed it, Cape of Good Hope.
The Cape of Good Hope was shaped during the last Ice Age, which began 2.6 million years ago.
The Portuguese government installed two prominent crosses at Cape Point as navigational aids. Additionally, two beacons located in Simon’s Town mark the intersection point and these intersection lines are also featured on modern day maritime navigational maps.
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Several caves line the coast of Cape Point and have hosted everyone from the Khoisan people to royalty in exile. One such legend is of Sultan Mogamat Abdul Kaharuddin, a prominent religious leader from Sunwaba, Indonesia, who was exiled to the Cape in the late 1700s for opposing Dutch colonial rule. Along with his son Ismael, he was possibly imprisoned in what is now Simon’s Town Museum. After enduring harsh conditions, they escaped to Cape Point, hiding in a cave, which is now known as ‘Antonie’s Gat’.
Lighthouses of Cape Point
Cape Point is home to two lighthouses, though only one remains in operation today. The rugged sandstone (Table Mountain sandstone) ridge that rises from Cape Point at sea level develops into two peaks. There is a major peak that dominates the skyline locally, but there is also a smaller peak about 100 m (328 ft) further south. The higher peak has the old lighthouse on the top.
The true highlight is the old lighthouse lookout, which can be found atop several sets of winding stairs. There is also a funicular transferring visitors to and from the lower station to the top.
The Flying Dutchman Funicular runs from a car park to the north up to slightly below the level of the old lighthouse, and a short flight of steps leads to a viewing platform around the base of the lighthouse.
Cape Point and the new lighthouse as seen from the west.
Ships passing the Cape Peninsula face many dangers, including stormy weather, rough seas, and large rocks near the coast. To prevent shipwrecks, a lighthouse was built at Cape Point in 1860. It stood on a cliff about 781 feet (238 meters) above sea level. The lighthouse was so high that low-lying clouds and fog sometimes hid the light from ships. Then, in 1911 a Portuguese ocean liner was wrecked at Cape Point. After that disaster, a new lighthouse was built. It stands about 285 feet (87 meters) above sea level and the light can be seen from a distance of 39 miles (63 kilometers).
Positioned too high above the ocean, it was frequently obscured by clouds, and its light was often visible to ships approaching from the east too soon, leading them to steer dangerously close to the shore. This resulted in numerous shipwrecks on the rocks before they could round the peninsula.
The new lighthouse is at a lower elevation (87 meters; 285.5 feet above sea level), for two reasons: the old lighthouse, located at 34°21′12″S 18°29′25.2″E could be seen 'too early' by ships rounding the point towards the east, causing them to approach too closely. Secondly, foggy conditions often prevail at the higher levels, making the older lighthouse invisible to shipping. The new lighthouse, located at 34°21′26″S 18°29′49″E, cannot be seen from the West until ships are at a safe distance to the South.
The new lighthouse at Cape Point is among the most powerful on the South African coast.
Wildlife Encounters
The Cape Point Nature Reserve is home to a variety of mammal species, including antelope like klipspringer, steenbok, and eland, as well as the Cape mountain zebra and the peninsula’s unique Chacma baboons.
Once able to call the Western Cape their playground, tribes of Chacama Baboons have been forced to find sanctuary within the scrubby fynbos landscape on the outskirts of the city in areas like the Cape Point Nature Reserve and the surrounding Helderberg, Hex River, and Boland Mountains. Due to the development and spread of human settlement on the Cape over time, these mammals have a long history of human conflict in the region. Their unrestricted and close proximity to the city of Cape Town means there is bound to be an occasional, curious baboon wandering northwards towards the city, possibly following ingrained migration routes towards the aforementioned mountains to find a mate.
Baboons are one of the largest species of monkeys and are also incredibly strong. In the Western Cape, baboons are a protected species, so it is illegal to feed, kill, or hunt them. When visiting Cape Point, it’s important to remember to keep a safe distance, lock car doors and shut car windows, and generally treat them like the wild animals they are.
Baboon Wars | South Africa
Chacma baboon in South Africa.
Navigating the Currents
Cape Point is often mistakenly claimed to be the place where the cold Benguela Current of the Atlantic Ocean and the warm Agulhas Current of the Indian Ocean collide. In fact, the meeting point fluctuates along the southern and southwestern Cape coast, usually occurring between Cape Agulhas and Cape Point. The two intermingling currents help to create the micro-climate of Cape Town and its environs.
Contrary to popular mythology, the meeting point of the currents produces no obvious visual effect; there is no "line in the ocean" where the sea changes colour or looks different in some way. There are, however, strong and dangerous swells, tides and localized currents around the point and in adjacent waters. Fishing is good along the coast but the unpredictable swells make angling from the rocks very dangerous. Over the years scores of fishermen have been swept to their deaths from the rocky platforms by freak waves.
The courses of the warm Agulhas current (red) along the east coast of South Africa, and the cold Benguela current (blue) along the west coast.
Contrary to what most American’s are taught, this is NOT where the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean meet. The two oceans don’t meet anywhere on the South African coast. (Google it. We didn’t believe it either!) While Cape Point is not, in fact, the southernmost tip of Africa-as is often claimed-it is generally accepted that the Indian and Atlantic oceans meet somewhere between here and the real tip, Cape Agulhas.
The Legend of The Flying Dutchman
The Flying Dutchman is a legendary ghost ship deeply rooted in maritime folklore, particularly associated with the waters around the Cape of Good Hope. According to the tale, the ship was captained by Willem van der Decken, who defied the wrath of God in his determination to round the Cape during a fierce storm. As a result, his vessel was cursed, doomed to sail the oceans for eternity.
The Flying Dutchman is often described as a spectral ship, sometimes glowing with an eerie light, and sightings of it are considered harbingers of doom, foretelling misfortune for sailors. This captivating legend has inspired numerous works of art, literature, and music, including Richard Wagner’s opera “Der fliegende Holländer” and the “Pirates of the Caribbean” films.
The first recorded sighting of the Flying Dutchman came from King George V in 1881, but some residents of Simon’s Town have reported seeing the ship in more recent years.
Visiting Cape Point: Practical Information
Getting to Cape Point from Cape Town is manageable, but it does require some planning if you don’t have your own car. You can choose to drive, use public transport, or join a guided tour.
- Driving is one of the easiest and most flexible ways to reach Cape Point.
- Train: Take a train from Cape Town to Simon’s Town. Trains run regularly, and the scenic ride along the coastline is well worth it.
- Uber/Shuttle: From Simon’s Town, you can catch an Uber or a bus (like the Cape Point Shuttle) to reach the entrance of Cape Point Nature Reserve. The Cape Town Shuttle also offers private tours, so be sure to inquire about their options. However, keep in mind that the attractions inside the reserve are quite spread out.
- Tour Packages: Many companies offer half-day or full-day tours to Cape Point, which often include stops at other attractions such as the Cape of Good Hope and Boulders Beach.
- For a convenient and enjoyable way to explore Cape Point, consider joining a guided tour offered by City Sightseeing. These tours include round-trip transportation, allowing you to relax and take in the stunning scenery along the way. You’ll have the chance to visit key attractions, such as the iconic Cape Point lighthouse and the breathtaking landscapes of the surrounding nature reserve.
Best Time to Visit
When planning your visit to Cape Point, timing can enhance your experience.
- Spring (September to November): This is one of the best times to visit. The weather is mild, wildflowers bloom, and the park is less crowded. It can get really windy though so be prepared take a light jacket with you and always check the weather report.
- Summer (December to February): While summer offers warm weather and longer days, it can be busy with tourists. If you visit during this time, try to go early in the day to avoid the crowds.
- Autumn (March to May): Similar to spring, autumn brings pleasant weather and fewer visitors.
- Winter (June to August): Although it can be chilly and rainy, winter offers a unique experience. Fewer tourists mean quieter trails, and you might even spot southern right whales along the coast. The best time to see southern right whales is from June to November, with the peak months typically being August and September.
- Early Morning: Arriving early gives you the chance to enjoy the serenity of the reserve and watch the sunrise over the ocean.
- Late Afternoon: The golden hour before sunset provides stunning light for photography and often fewer visitors.
If you plan on visiting on a public holiday and or a weekend I suggest you get there early to avoid the ticket line at the entrance. You can also pick a great spot at one of the picnic sites and get a braai (barbeque) spot easier if you go early.
Cape Point can be windy, so checking the weather forecast before your visit is essential.
If you’re interested in wildlife, spring and early summer are great for spotting various bird species and other animals in the reserve.
What to Bring
- It’s essential to wear sturdy walking shoes or hiking boots for your visit. The diverse terrain and various trails require good support and grip, so make sure you choose footwear that you can walk in comfortably for extended periods. If you aren’t planning on hiking you do not have to have hiking boots. But it is a nature reserve so high heels are not practical rather wear a comfy pair of shoes.
- The weather at Cape Point can change rapidly, so dressing in layers is key. Start with a breathable base layer and add a light jacket or windbreaker.
- Protecting yourself from the sun is crucial, even on overcast days. A broad-spectrum sunscreen with a high SPF will help shield your skin from harmful UV rays. Additionally, wearing a wide-brimmed hat can provide extra protection for your face and neck while adding some style to your outdoor adventure. It is important to protect your skin to avoid sunburn.
- Staying hydrated is important during your explorations. Bring along a refillable water bottle to ensure you have enough to drink throughout the day. Packing some snacks or a picnic lunch can also keep your energy up while you take in the beautiful views. The picnic spots has taps where you can refill your bottle.
- Don’t forget to bring your camera or phone to capture the stunning landscapes and unique wildlife. The picturesque scenery at Cape Point is a photographer’s dream.
- A lightweight backpack is practical for carrying your essentials comfortably while you explore the park.
- Accidents can happen, so it’s wise to have a small first aid kit on hand.
- If you prefer to explore independently, a map of the area or a guidebook can enhance your experience. Familiarising yourself with the trails and points of interest will help you make the most of your visit to this stunning natural reserve. You can get a map from the main gate for free.
Braai Areas
When the weather’s good, there’s nothing quite like a braai outdoors, surrounded by beautiful views, the scent of the ocean, and the soothing sound of the sea. Many people may not know that you can enjoy a braai at Cape Point, but it’s essential to use the designated areas. Buffels Bay and Bordjiesdrif are particularly popular for their excellent braai spots and grassy picnic areas. Buffels Bay features individual braai spots and stunning white sands, perfect for those who don’t mind a little sand between their toes. Just remember to bring your own grids and wood!
Keep in mind a few important rules: always stick to the designated braai areas for your safety and the park’s preservation, avoid feeding the baboons (as doing so can result in fines), and maintain cleanliness by keeping the area tidy. Lastly, be aware that alcohol is not permitted in the park. You can have a drink at the Two Oceans Restaurant instead.
Opening Hours
Cape Point has specific entry and exit times depending on the season. During the winter months, from April to September, the park is open from 07:00 to 17:00.
Accommodation
There are three self-catering cottages available within Table Mountain National Park: Olifantsbos Guest House, as well as the Eland and Duiker cottages. Tented camps are also offered.
| Month | Opening Time | Closing Time |
|---|---|---|
| April - September | 07:00 | 17:00 |
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