Wow, Cape Town is a spectacular place to come on holiday!
This weekend was Tommy Tourist Weekend; I had friends down from the UK and we decided to take them on a tour of the peninsula. Blessed with the most amazing weather, we headed off. April is such a lovely time of year to travel as you get those really beautiful, calm summer days, but the sting in the sun is not as harsh as mid summer.
As a Capetonian I really take for granted the beautiful city that I live in. It is actually sad that we experience the real beauties of Cape Town only once in a while.
We headed off towards Cape Point and drove the scenic route over Boyes Drive and stopped to admire the beautiful view of Muizenberg. There is a really great development project that has been launched with the local community. Locals from the area are involved in Shark Spotting in the greater Muizenberg area and are placed on Boyes Drive and at various points on the mountain to constantly monitor shark movements in the bay. At this stage they have been really successful and it gives all those that frequent Muizenberg complete peace of mind.
From Muizenberg we drove down to the very quaint sea side village of Kalk Bay. A wonderful town full of history as well as weird and wonderful cultures, lined with all sorts of shops ranging from really decadent restaurants to museums, wacky clothing stores and art galleries, can guarantee a very interesting and fun visit if you have the time to browse for the afternoon.
From Kalk Bay one can enjoy a slow meander through Fish Hoek, Glen Cairn and eventually into Simon’s Town. Also another beautiful sea side town and jam packed with history. Do your self a favour and stop at the famous Boulders Beach. One of Cape Town’s only natural breeding grounds for penguins. These animals are not only fascinating to watch but the beach itself is in a league of its own.
It is hard to explain how spectacular the views are while driving to Cape Point Nature Reserve. There are loads of view points along the way that you are able to stop and pier over the cliffs and look onto some of Cape Town’s wild, but completely unspoilt beaches.
Upon arrival at the Cape Point Nature Reserve one pays a nominal fee to enter and it is well worth it for the beauty that you will experience. Cape Point itself is one of the greatest landmarks in the world, jutting like a rocky knife into the broiling Atlantic ocean. It was here that Bartholomew Diaz, the Portuguese navigator, first rounded the Cape in 1488, searching for a trade route to India and the East. The large stone cross in the reserve commemorates his achievement.
There are a number of untouched beaches where your footsteps are often the first to hit the sand. You might find the odd Cape Otter spoor along the beach, which you would be very privileged to see as well as endless amounts of feisty baboons. If I can offer you one word of advice is to keep all your bags in the car, especially if you have food available. They are well known for snatching bags away from you and can become pretty violent especially if there are small ones involved.
A walk up to Cape Point light house is a must do. The views from the top are incredible. You could really spend a whole day exploring the place. A long walk and a swim for those who can brave the cold Atlantic Ocean is a must to end your visit.
From The Cape Point Nature Reserve a drive through the small village of Scarborough and onto Noordhoek to embark on the world renowned Chapman’s Peak Drive. It is a must and a good way to end this trip is to stop off at Chapman’s Peak Hotel for their famous Calamari. There are breathtaking views of Hout Bay Harbour the Sentinel and all in all the atmosphere of the Hotel is fabulous.
I would recommend a break for the day and let all the sights for the day soak in. Table Mountain should be left for the following day. There are many options to explore this mountain. For the more adventurous type try a hike up the mountain in the early afternoon and enjoy sundowners on the top and catch the Cable Car down in the evening.
This is a really great trip to take if you have two full days to play with and the weather is good. It does feel that you spend all day in the car driving around to all these areas, but I can promise you for the sights that you are going to experience, it is well worth it.
Cape Town is really a beautiful city and the things that she has to offer are endless….. As the old clichéd saying goes, The Best things in life are free – I think that sums up our Peninsula in a nutshell.