An iconic South African destination known for African ocean currents colliding over rugged rocks and sheer cliffs towering more than 200 metres above the sea.
Cape Point falls within the Southern section of Table Mountain National Park. The natural vegetation in the area, Fynbos, comprises the smallest but richest of the world's six floral kingdoms. The scenic beauty of Cape Piont is not its sole allure; it is also an international icon of great historical interest, especially its maritime history.
The area hosts a number of activities and restaurants to make your visit exceptional to say the least.
- Catch the Flying Dutchman Funicular rail up to the viewing point, below the old lighthouse
- Two Oceans Restaurant (has sensational ocean views and world-class cuisine)
- Retail stores for memorabilia, curios and souvenirs of Cape Town and South Africa
- Discover cultural and historical spots including Vasco da Gama
- There are a few picnic sites, swimming areas and fun walks
- Photograph more than 1,100 indigenous plant species that cannot be found anywhere else in the world
- Walk the shipwreck trail
- Take part in Sea Kayaking and mountain biking in the area
Cape Point has a long and colourful history, largely due to the search for a sea route to the East, instigated by Prince Henry the Navigator.
Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias was the first to round the Cape Peninsula in 1488. He named it the “Cape of Storms”, for the notoriously bad weather, which can blow up quickly. A decade later, Vasco da Gama navigated the same route and sailed down the coast of Africa, successfully opening a new trading route for Europe with India and the Far East. King John II of Portugal later renamed it the “Cape of Good Hope” because of the great optimism engendered by the opening of this new sea route to India and the East.
‘The Point’ has been treated with respect by sailors since it was first sighted by Dias in 1488. By day, it was a landmark of great navigational value until the introduction of radar. By night, and in fog, it was a menace. Ships had to approach closely to obtain bearings and thereby were exposed to the dangers of Bellows Rock and Albatross Rock. And so the lighthouse was built. The original lighthouse was built in 1859 on Da Gama Peak, the summit of Cape Point, 238m above sea level. This made it very ineffective in mist which mandated the establishment of the second lighthouse at 87 meters. The newer lighthouse, built in 1914, is the most powerful on the South African coast. It emits three flashes in a group every 30 seconds and revolves. The old lighthouse still stands here and is now used as a centralized monitoring point for all the lighthouses in South Africa.
Source: www.capepoint.co.za
