Cape of Good Hope Travel Guide
From Wikitravel
The Cape of Good Hope [1] is a point in the Table Mountain National Park, located in the southwest of the Cape Peninsula, near Cape Town, South Africa.
Contents |
Understand
The Cape of Good Hope is one of three series of cliffs in the far south of the Cape Peninsula, the others being Cape Point and Cape Maclear. The Cape of Good Hope is not the turning point for ships at the edge of the Cape Peninsula, this would be Cape Point. However, the Cape of Good Hope is a popular tourist spot and photographs with you and the 'Cape of Good Hope' sign have to be taken.
Get in
Use your car to get to the southern part of the Table Mountain National Park (popularly known as the Cape Point reserve, and previously known as the Cape Peninsula Nature Reserve. There is an entrance fee. Follow the road until you reach a main intersection, and either continue straight for Cape Point (dramatic cliffs, shops, a restaurant and the lighthouse) or turn right for the Cape of Good Hope, with some pleasant beaches and steep cliffs.
Get around
Get around by car. You may also step out and take a walk, but please be careful not to destroy any of the plants, as they are all protected.
See
The Cape Peninsula offers some typical fynbos vegetation. In the reserve are also a number of ostriches and antelopes. Please be aware of the baboons. They are used to people and often steal objects from tourists. Do not feed them!!! If a baboon approaches you, keep all food well hidden, and walk away facing the baboon. But as long as they are not attacking you, please leave them alone in their natural habitat (photos are allowed).
Once at the Cape of Good Hope, get out of your car and take a photo of yourself and the sign. Stroll around a bit at the cliffs and the beach and enjoy the powerful waves crashing at the coast. This is a place to relax and enjoy the tranquility.
You may also visit Cape Point further south, the actual edge of the Peninsula. There is a restaurant, shops and parking lot. A cable car will take you up to the old lighthouse, which offers spectacular views, but you may also walk there.
Do
Buy
Maybe you want to buy something to remember your stay in the shops near Cape Point.
Eat
You can get something to drink and eat at the restaurant and shops of near Cape Point.
Drink
Sleep
There is no place to sleep in the reserve, but with nearby Cape Town and the wonderful cities along the east and west coast of the Peninsula, like Simon's Town or Camps Bay, you will have no problem to find a place for a good nights rest.
Get out
Visit Cape Town, Boulders Beach near Simon's Town, the Cape Winelands and the famous Garden Route.
| This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow! |
