The bottom of the Cape is taken up entirely by parkland, the main area being the Cape Peninsula National Park (forming part of the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve since 1998). The scenery is glorious, especially in spring when the wildflowers are in bloom – shortly after, the yellow wild proteas (one of 24 species apparently) come out amid the daisies, heathers, reeds, and other flowers which line the pathway.
Through the single entry-point off the M65/M4 (entry fee R70 per person including the car), there’s a single road down towards the Global Atmosphere Watch Station which was formerly the Cape Point Lighthouse. Off that road run lots of little pathways, running to such places as the magically named Olifantbos Point or Buffelbaii. At the entry, you’ll be given a map which helpfully indicates which of these are viewing points, when you can fish, swim or picnic, or whale-watch in season. There are also the Di Gama (after Vasco) and Diaz (both explorers whose crosses are constructed up on highpoints so that passing sailors may see them).
There are numerous little pathways where you can simply stop the car and strike out towards the beach or along the cliff to see what you can spot in the way of fauna – the park boasts tortoise (drive carefully as they cross the road without looking), mongooses, ostriches, some deer/antelope, lizards, daisies, and apparently zebras. At the lighthouse itself, which you can walk up to (takes about 20-5 minutes to get to the top, depending on how often you stop en route at the frequent benches) or take the funicular (which incidentally drops you some way short of the top anyway), you’ll find the only protected troop of chacma baboons in the country. You’re strenuously warned by signposted everywhere not to feed them lest they become dependent on humans (if they do, they are apparently liable to shot) but nonetheless, large, grey and mean-looking, they prowl menacingly around the car park, terrorising anyone eating a sandwich. You can get your sandwich from a small outlet or otherwise try your luck at the restaurant (though it’s generally packed with the tour bus crowds).
Incidentally, the lighthouse doesn’t mark the most southerly point of South Africa – the honour goes to Cape Agulhas.The bottom of the Cape is taken up entirely by parkland, the main area being the Cape Peninsula National Park (forming part of the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve since 1998). The scenery is glorious, especially in spring when the wildflowers are in bloom – shortly after, the yellow wild proteas (one of 24 species apparently) come out amid the daisies, heathers, reeds, and other flowers which line the pathway.
Through the single entry-point off the M65/M4 (entry fee R70 per person including the car), there’s a single road down towards the Global Atmosphere Watch Station which was formerly the Cape Point Lighthouse. Off that road run lots of little pathways, running to such places as the magically named Olifantbos Point or Buffelbaii. At the entry, you’ll be given a map which helpfully indicates which of these are viewing points, when you can fish, swim or picnic, or whale-watch in season. There are also the Di Gama (after Vasco) and Diaz (both explorers whose crosses are constructed up on highpoints so that passing sailors may see them).
There are numerous little pathways where you can simply stop the car and strike out towards the beach or along the cliff to see what you can spot in the way of fauna – the park boasts tortoise (drive carefully as they cross the road without looking), mongooses, ostriches, some deer/antelope, lizards, daisies, and apparently zebras. At the lighthouse itself, which you can walk up to (takes about 20-5 minutes to get to the top, depending on how often you stop en route at the frequent benches) or take the funicular (which incidentally drops you some way short of the top anyway), you’ll find the only protected troop of chacma baboons in the country. You’re strenuously warned by signposted everywhere not to feed them lest they become dependent on humans (if they do, they are apparently liable to shot) but nonetheless, large, grey and mean-looking, they prowl menacingly around the car park, terrorising anyone eating a sandwich. You can get your sandwich from a small outlet or otherwise try your luck at the restaurant (though it’s generally packed with the tour bus crowds).
Incidentally, the lighthouse doesn’t mark the most southerly point of South Africa – the honour goes to Cape Agulhas.