Cape Peninsular

the Cape of Good Hope

On my two trips to Antarctica in 2004 and 2007 the boat passed by Cape Horn – the most southerly point of South America. It therefore seems appropriate whilst in Africa to check out the Cape of Good Hope.

John and I head down today to Cape Peninsula on the Baz Bus tour costing ZAR540. We’re picked up at Blue Mountain Backpackers at 8.30 for a full day’s tour of Cape Peninsula.

The first stop is Hout Bay Harbour where we take the Drumbeat charter to visit a Cape Fur seal colony. Though the ride isn’t far, the seas are not very calm, which is close to The Dungeons – a World renowned surfing Mecca where waves can reach some 20 metres high. Cormorant and black back gulls keep the boat company.

Hout Bay

Fur Seals

A drive up over the bay takes us to Simons Town and Boulders which boast a sizeable African penguin colony. Also known as the Jackass penguin, this unusual bird certainly mimic donkeys somewhat uncannily. New born babies grow fast, and easily spotted by their soft down.




Heading on further the last stop is to the continent’s edge. We cycle for about 6kms before picking up our bus again. Cape Point is marked by a lighthouse. Made of cast iron in 1860, although it boasted a beam of some 2,000 candlepower and could be seen for some 68kms, unfortunately it proved ineffectual. Built 248 metres above sea level it was often shrouded in low cloud causing several notable accidents, not least the sinking of the Lusitania in 1911. The new lighthouse on Dias Point is at an altitude of some 87 metres above sea level.

the old lighthouse at Cape Point

The whole region is part of the Table Mountain National Park and boasts an extremely rich ecosystem including some 1100 endemic flowers and plants of which several are found nowhere else on the planet. There are also some 250 bird species. We also manage to see bontebok (a highly endangered gazelle), ostrich and chachna baboons.

a lone baboon

The day ends perfectly as we run into friends from Namibia. Austrian Barbara flies to Paraguay tomorrow and the sweet Rene drops her off before returning back to Windhoek to continue his African adventures. They insist on sharing a beer and I have no real choice to acquiesce.

The area is gorgeous and a one day excursion does not do this place justice. A two day hike can be booked at the National Park office (although places are limited) and it is hoped that it will soon be possible to complete a 6 day hike from Cape Town to the end of the peninsular.