Travel to Cape Town, South Africa, and Explore Cape Point

The Cape Peninsula has a Mediterranean style climate. The seasons are quite well defined with winter starting from about May to August. During this time the cold fronts that come across the Atlantic Ocean results in rain and strong north-western winds. The average rainfall varies between 500mm and 1500mm with the higher precipitation falling in the mountainous areas. The winters are cool with an average daily minimum temperature of between 7^OC and 9^OC (the average calculated using 30 years climatology data). Summer officially starts in September and ends in April. These months are considered warm and dry with the average daily maximum temperatures ranging from 19^OC and 27^OC.

When the visitor arrives in Cape Town, whether by plane, boat or car, everybody agrees that they cannot be other than impressed by the towering table-topped mountain that dominates this city skyline. Table Mountain is probably one of the most pictured landmarks in Africa, South of the Sahara. It is often forgotten that behind this famous landmark the mountain range continues south with the sea on both sides of this peninsula.

The city is located at the starting point of the Cape Peninsula that is situated on the southern tip of the African continent. The Cape Peninsula culminates 65 km south-west of Cape Town in a rocky outcrop known as cape point. This is a location well worth visiting. The jagged rocky cliffs drops steeply into the ocean to form a natural divide between the colder Atlantic ocean waters on the west and the hotter water of the Indian ocean.

Cape Point can only be reached by road, self drive is an option worth considering, however for the visitor who would like to have a relaxed trip, there are a lot of tour operators and freelance guides that offers to drive and guide tourists to this unique location.

The southern most part of cape point is a nature reserve called the Table Mountain National Park that is as well kept as most of the nature reserves in South Africa. The park is 22 100 hectare in size. Access roads to the entry gate go through some of the most beautiful parts of South Africa, some part of the roads is cut out of solid rock and other parts weave through fertile valleys. The quaint little towns along the way also provide excellent opportunities to get to know the locals. It is definitely also worth while to stop at the many lookout points and browse through the handicraft of the locals on the way to cape point.

Once the nature reserve has been reached, one should not be amazed by the low price of the entry fee, the exchange rate of the South African Rand against most major currencies makes almost everything comparatively low-cost in South Africa. Entry fee should not be more than US$ 10-00 per person, even during high season. Depending on the available time and the prevailing weather, the best option may be to continue driving straight along the black top road past all the many side roads and other potential stops in the reserve. Driving directly from the entrance gate of the Table Mountain National Park to Cape Point should take about 10-15 minutes at the speed limit of 60 kilometers per hour. Make the best use of good weather by getting to the parking lot at cape point as soon as possible. Always keep in mind that visitors must leave the park before sunset. That implies that sunset pictures are out of the question.

After arriving at the parking lot that indicates the end of the road, your trip has just begun. If you did not bring drinking water, buy a sufficient volume to last you for around 2 - 3 hours of strenuous walking. You have the option to take the funicular to the top, but do not be fooled it only goes to a station from where you would still need to walk quite a bit in order to experience the location fully. The funicular only transfers visitors from the lower station situated at 127meters above sea level to the upper station located at 214 meters above sea level.

You have the option to buy a one way ticket to the top, which is a good idea. The other option is to walk up the first track which is very well paved with lots of resting places along the way.

Once you arrive at the top explore the lookout points and enjoy one of the highest sea cliffs in the world with a height of 249 m above sea level posing a significant thread to passing ships.

In 1860 the first cast iron lighthouse, manufactured in England, was completed 238 meters above sea-level. As a result of the height this light was often concealed by mist and fog. This led to the construction of a second lighthouse on Dias Point in 1913, some 87 meters above sea-level. this new lighthouse remains the most powerful lighthouse on the South African coast to this day.

It is worthwhile to follow the walkway going along the eastern extremities of the point that takes you to a lookout point very near the tip of the peninsula from where the Dias Point lighthouse is visible. This point is the location where the Atlantic and Indian oceans meet. The mixing of the cold arctic water of the Atlantic with the warm water that the Indian Ocean brings all the way from the tropics is the apparent cause of the many storms that is prevalent in this area. These storms are the reason that the area is also known as the cape of storms.

Take some time at the lookout point and spare a thought for the many sailors that lost their lives passing around this cape.

Make sure you are well rested before you attempt the return trip back to the original lighthouse. You may want to enjoy the narrow rib with the single footpath that you cross on your way back.

Spend some time to browse through the memorabilia that you will only find in the shop at the top of the monocular before you return to the parking lot.

If there is enough time on your way back to Cape Town you could stop at any of a number of very good seafood restaurants that serves fresh seafood in locations so idyllic one would think it is only possible in a dream.

© Dr Carl Marx