Scarborough is a ‘conservation village’, where building guidelines have been designed to protect sensitive biodiversity and preserve the area’s rural character. The village is within the boundaries of the Table Mountain National Park and adjoins the Cape Point Nature Reserve, where antelope can often be seen along the fence-line. Many of the houses here are holiday homes and there is little commercial activity other than three restaurants and a kiosk shop.
Scarborough Beach
Behind milkwood-covered dunes, Scarborough Beach is on a small bay which curves gently from the parking lot to the mouth of the Shuster’s River, a favourite paddling spot for children. The water is typically cold and there is a caution for strong rip tides, so it’s a beautiful beach but perhaps not the best option for swimming.
There are three places to surf at this beach. The first is where the rocks run out along the left side of the beach forming a point break (For intermediate surfers). You will have to battle the seaweed forest when paddling into the wave. The second is the sand bank in front also towards the left side of the beach, which creates a hollow wave on good days to get barrelled.
Battleships is the third option, in front of the car park. The wave breaks in front of the rocks and runs right towards the beach. The perfect wind for this spot is a Southeaster. It is also prone to rip currents so you will have to keep your eye on the beach for your entry point. Scarborough should be surfed by intermediate surfers only.
Witsand Beach
This beach is named after its pristine white sand dunes and is very popular amongst surfers and kite-surfers. It is a steep walk from the road to the beach and also accessible from the parking at the Crayfish Factory. Surfers know the ‘crayfish factory’ as a big-wave surf spot, while Witsand provides a tamer ride. This is not a good swimming beach because of the powerful waves and rip currents.
The wave here is mostly a beach-break. There are rocks on the left side of the beach to keep your eyes on and one or two larger rocks in front that can be submerged during high tide. You can see them from the road. On the right side of the beach there is a sand bank called Barclays Bank. The sand banks do shift around and they have to be good for the wave to run nicely and even be hollow sometimes. Intermediate surfers can surf at this spot, but always be aware of the rip current that runs right down the length of the beach. It is not always there but one needs to watch it from the road to see if it is strong or not. This spot is offshore with a North-Westerly wind.
Misty Cliffs is marked by a few houses clinging to the mountain slope on either side of the Witsand-Scarborough road. There is often shroud of sea mist hanging over the village. There is a small rocky beach in front of the lower houses. There is a sand bank on the left side of the beach, a small reef in the middle and a right-breaking wave in front of the rocks on the right side of the beach. When paddling out one needs to be careful of the rocks and you need to time it right so you do not get washed back on the rocks. A Northwester (wind) is best for this spot which makes it offshore. Misty Cliffs should only really be surfed by intermediate surfers.
When to Go
For beach and sightseeing holidays, the summer months between October and April are the best times to visit Cape Town in general. The summer months are also characterised by the south-easterly winds known locally as the ‘south-easter’, the strength of which increase as you travel further south. December/January is the time most South Africans take their annual holiday and the summer break for school children, so booking is often essential. The Season changes in April and October have unpredictable weather.
Winters are mild with temperatures ranging from 8ºC to 17ºC. Winter is the rainy season but it is also the best time to dive, surf and to see whales and sharks in False Bay. It is also the flowering season of a lot of fynbos plants. There is something to be said for sipping on the Cape’s award-winning red wines and enjoying a warm crackling fire, while a storm rages outside. Winter storms churn up the sea, whipping the mucus from the kelp into white foam which gives the distinct ‘smell of the sea’.
Climate
Cape Town has a Mediterranean-style climate: wet and cool winters, dry and warm summers. Average summer temperatures are 24ºC with January and February averaging 26ºC. Cape Town lies 34 degrees south (latitude) however, it’s environment is a collection of micro-climates of which the Southern Peninsula has more than one. Apart from the air pressure, wind and temperatures, a few other factors influence local weather including the cold current, mountains and built-environment. It is a good idea to check the weather forecasts for the daily weather.
The cold Benguela Current (which moves north past Cape Town) and the prevailing southeast winds cause upwelling (which is when colder water from lower levels rise to the surface). This makes for very cold water on this side of Table Mountain. The cold waters are rich in biodiversity and home to many organisms. One visible organism is Sea Bamboo (kelp) which is washed up onto the beaches during winter storms. The fronds can grow up to 15m. Common on the rocky coastline, this kelp provides ecosystem niches and shelter for fish nurseries. It is what creates the very distinct but pleasant ‘smell of the sea’ in the air, which is mostly noticeable in winter.
Flora
The predominant vegetation type in this sandy region of the valley is the endangered Hangklip Sand Fynbos. The sides of the valley are home to Cape Granite Fynbos. Peninsula Sandstone Fynbos can be found higher up on the surrounding mountains. The latter two vegetation types (also both endangered) are endemic to the Cape Peninsula and cannot be found anywhere else in the world.
Fauna
On land
The Southern Peninsula is a patchwork of built-up areas in the mountain valley and along the coast. Parts of the area falls into the Table Mountain National Park where small and often endemic animals such as tortoises, snakes, lizards, frogs and toads can be observed.
Mammals
The game reserves are the place to see large mammals such as Cape Mountain Zebra, Chacma Baboon, Rock Hyrax (known locally as dassies), Genet, Lynx, Striped Field Mouse, Cape Grey and Water Mongoose and Cape Clawless Otter.
Antelope are also found here, including: Bontebok, Eland, Cape Grysbok, Red Hartebeest, Grey Rhebok, Steenbok Grey Duiker and Klipspringers.
Note: Please always be aware of Baboons in and around the mountains. Please do not feed them.
Reptiles
Look out for the bright blue-headed Southern Rock Agama, the prehistoric-looking Black Girdled Lizard and the Cape Skink. There are some interesting endemic and endangered Amphibians: the Table Mountain Ghost Frog is a special find, but look out for the Cape Chirping Frog, Cape River Frog, the endangered Leopard Toad and the tiny Arum Lily Frog. The two species of tortoise, the Angulate Tortoise and the Parrot-beaked Tortoise, are common.
There are 22 snake species, ten of which are non-venomous, although they can still deliver a nasty bite if provoked. Some of the venomous species include the Cape Cobra, the Puff Adder, Boomslang, Rinkhals and Berg Adder. The good news is it they are mostly shy and will avoid human contact. The one you are most likely to encounter is the Puff Adder which enjoys nice warm spots, such as rocks and pathways (best to keep out of its way).
Insects
Insects play an integral role in the fynbos ecosystem either by directly pollinating plants or as a vital source of nutrient for birds and animals. Some are especially adapted to pollinate specific plants. Look out for butterflies such as the Mountain Pride Butterfly that is the exclusive pollinator of a variety of red plants such as the Red Disa and the Red Crassula.
Birds
The many niches and habitats that exist (ocean, shoreline, cliff-face, rocky highland, fynbos, forest and suburbia) contribute to a large species count, as does the geographical positioning at a continent's corner, many vagrants and seasonal visitors can be spotted. For a full bird list or birding checklist see the SANparks website or for further information on birding in the Cape Peninsula, The Cape Bird Club’s website has more information.
Seabirds
Apart from the usual seaside gulls (Kelp, Hartlaub's and Black-headed Gulls), you can also encounter Cape Gannets, Black-Browed Albatross, Sooty Shearwater, White-Chinned and Giant Petrels. The endangered African Black Oystercatcher can be seen on the rocks cracking open mussels. Cormorants include; the Crowned, Bank, White-breasted and Cape Cormorant. They make a spectacular sight when returning home after a day’s fishing, flying low in V-formations. If you are out on the water you will usually come across African Penguins bobbing in the water, or you can easily take a trip to Boulder’s Beach to see them on land. One of the few places (other than islands) where penguins come ashore.
Under the water
Species that occur here range from microscopic planktons, crustaceans, abalone and rock lobster to the Great White shark and the Southern Right Whale. Numerous types of fish such as those good-eating fish; Hake, Yellowtail and Cape Salmon. Others include Red Roman, White Steenbras and Galjoen – popular for recreational anglers but under strictly regulated conditions due to their threatened status.
To find out the status of fish, simply SMS "fish species" to +27 79 4998795.
Transport
Travelling around in this area of Cape Town is best done with a hired car, taxi or Uber. The MyCiti bus system does not function in the Southern Peninsula yet and private bus companies run routes within and around the Southern Peninsula only. The traffic to the city centre and northern areas is congested and best avoided during rush hours. The locals that can, prefer to stay in the south and venture further north only when necessary.
The Cape Town mobile app TCT (Transport Cape Town) includes the trains. The app is available for the following smartphones: Windows Phone, iPhone android and Blackberry and under the name ‘TCT’ (look for the red logo).
Taxis
-There are plenty of safe and reliable taxi companies in Cape Town, but you cannot just hail a taxi in the street, a telephone call is required.
-Mini-bus Taxis are shared taxis can be hailed in the street on busy routes. There is a lot of bad press about minibus taxis, to be safe stick to the busy routes during the day.
-Uber operates in the Southern Peninsula.
-Scooters and Motorbikes can be hired.
-Metrorail operates short distance commuter trains from Cape Town to Simon’s Town through the southern suburbs. For the map of the lines see Metrorail.
Images of Scarborough sourced from the four-star accomodation, zenzalodge.com
- Peaceful, picturesque rustic village with restaurants and curio shops
- The beach is great for leisurely afternoon walks.
- There are some superb hiking trails here too
- Set out a picnic or have a braai in the demarcated areas at the south end of Beach road
- Redhill Carvers display a variety of wooden, metal and stone sculptures on the road from Scarborough to Simon's Town
- You can see the resident Cape Clawless otters at the Schuster’s River mouth, the Black Oystercatchers and the Southern Right whales, between July and November.
- Visit the Cape Point Nature Reserve and look out for the rock formation in the shape of a camel along the Main Road.
- A popular surf and kite-surfing spot (Crayfish Factory)
- Close to Witsands and Misty Cliffs
- Close to Cape Point and the Cape Point Vineyards
