Cape Point
Posted: Sat Dec 28, 2013 11:15 am
We all drive 1000's of km's to visit far away places and neglect the tourist attractions in and around our own towns or cities. It was with this in mind that we decided not to go anywhere "exotic" or "far away" or "forrin" during our Christmas break.
On the morning 27 Dec we packed a big picnic basket brimming with the last left-overs from Chrismas lunch, (including trifle) and hit the road. Direction, Cape Point.
First stop Signal Hill. The view from there is always stunning, and we picked a perfect windless sunny day. The paragliders were out in full force. Just a bit expensive for my taste, R1200 per jump, but that includes a video, some photographs and a lift back to Signal Hill from the Sea Point Promenade. The whole jump/flight takes approximately 20 minutes. It does look spectacular though, and if money was no issue, I would be hanging at the bottom of that paraglider as well.
We did the touristy thing, took some photogtaphas with Table Mountain in the back-ground and then on our way down we came across one of our fellow Hiluxers, Jamiel just returning from a climb up the "koppie" (Lion's Head). We had a quick chat, and then headed off towards Hout Bay Harbour via Camps Bay and Llundudno.
We drove through Hout Bay harbour, but didnt get caught in any tourist traps, like Snoekies.. where you can buy the most expensive fish in Cape Town.
From Hout Bay it was up and over Chappies. This is still one of the most scenic drives in the world. R32 toll was paid, and along the way we pulled off at a picnic spot for some of our padkos. We had a fantastic little picnic, while watching the international tourist being bused in and out for a few photographs. There was a very visible cold front approaching, but the weather was balmy with no wind, and the sea flat as a mirror.
There were some roadworks due to mudslides and some of Chappies is closed to one lane traffic only so Stop/Go applies. That made the drive and the scenery worth every minute, because we had more time to look around and take it in. At Noordhowk/Sun Valley we encountered traffic again, but once we turned off to Kommetjie we were on our own again. The mist was coming in and Misty Cliffs was really misty and cliffy...
When we arrived at Cape Point we were in a long queue again. Looks like everybody wanted to spend the day at Cape Point. We decided that we would not let the crowds get us down, we waited our turn and once inside took a leisurely drive towards the restaurant and lookout point. Only problem was that we were headed off at Rooikrantz, and had to take a shuttle bus from there, as the parking lot at the top was full. We decided not to take the bus, but to rather take some of the scenic drives, which nobody ever gets to.
One of these little side roads is the one leading to Cape of Good Hope. Here we stopped and sat on the rocks eating our trifle, while the mist rolled in. It was still nice and warm and relatively windless.
We decided to climb the mountain and took the hiking trail to the top to have a different view of Cape Point. Although it is a steep climb, it was worth it completely! I have never been up there before in my life, and the view is really spectacular. And seeing Cape Point from a different angle is great. We didnt spend much time up at the top, but took a few pictures and checked out the scene a little and then climbed down again.
We decided not to even attempt to get up to the restaurant and lookout point as cars were still flooding in. Instead we took some of the other roads, and came across this Dias Padrao. Okay it is a replica, but still interesting.
We also drove down to the popular picnic spots, but they were overrun by other tourists having fun, so we decided to wave and carry on driving. We reached the gate after about and hour of driving around, ooo-ing and aaah-ing about baboons, proteas, fynbos, ostriches and the scenery in general. Outside the gate we turned right, direction Simon's Town. The roads got busier, and before we know it we were stuck in traffic going through Kalkies, St James and Muizenberg.
Once on the Blue Route it was highway home. and before we knew it we were back home. What a lekker day!! And on our way we found so many other little things that we can do next time when we do this! I think this is going to become a regular thing, at least once every 3 months or so!!
On the morning 27 Dec we packed a big picnic basket brimming with the last left-overs from Chrismas lunch, (including trifle) and hit the road. Direction, Cape Point.
First stop Signal Hill. The view from there is always stunning, and we picked a perfect windless sunny day. The paragliders were out in full force. Just a bit expensive for my taste, R1200 per jump, but that includes a video, some photographs and a lift back to Signal Hill from the Sea Point Promenade. The whole jump/flight takes approximately 20 minutes. It does look spectacular though, and if money was no issue, I would be hanging at the bottom of that paraglider as well.
We did the touristy thing, took some photogtaphas with Table Mountain in the back-ground and then on our way down we came across one of our fellow Hiluxers, Jamiel just returning from a climb up the "koppie" (Lion's Head). We had a quick chat, and then headed off towards Hout Bay Harbour via Camps Bay and Llundudno.
We drove through Hout Bay harbour, but didnt get caught in any tourist traps, like Snoekies.. where you can buy the most expensive fish in Cape Town.
From Hout Bay it was up and over Chappies. This is still one of the most scenic drives in the world. R32 toll was paid, and along the way we pulled off at a picnic spot for some of our padkos. We had a fantastic little picnic, while watching the international tourist being bused in and out for a few photographs. There was a very visible cold front approaching, but the weather was balmy with no wind, and the sea flat as a mirror.
There were some roadworks due to mudslides and some of Chappies is closed to one lane traffic only so Stop/Go applies. That made the drive and the scenery worth every minute, because we had more time to look around and take it in. At Noordhowk/Sun Valley we encountered traffic again, but once we turned off to Kommetjie we were on our own again. The mist was coming in and Misty Cliffs was really misty and cliffy...
When we arrived at Cape Point we were in a long queue again. Looks like everybody wanted to spend the day at Cape Point. We decided that we would not let the crowds get us down, we waited our turn and once inside took a leisurely drive towards the restaurant and lookout point. Only problem was that we were headed off at Rooikrantz, and had to take a shuttle bus from there, as the parking lot at the top was full. We decided not to take the bus, but to rather take some of the scenic drives, which nobody ever gets to.
One of these little side roads is the one leading to Cape of Good Hope. Here we stopped and sat on the rocks eating our trifle, while the mist rolled in. It was still nice and warm and relatively windless.
We decided to climb the mountain and took the hiking trail to the top to have a different view of Cape Point. Although it is a steep climb, it was worth it completely! I have never been up there before in my life, and the view is really spectacular. And seeing Cape Point from a different angle is great. We didnt spend much time up at the top, but took a few pictures and checked out the scene a little and then climbed down again.
We decided not to even attempt to get up to the restaurant and lookout point as cars were still flooding in. Instead we took some of the other roads, and came across this Dias Padrao. Okay it is a replica, but still interesting.
We also drove down to the popular picnic spots, but they were overrun by other tourists having fun, so we decided to wave and carry on driving. We reached the gate after about and hour of driving around, ooo-ing and aaah-ing about baboons, proteas, fynbos, ostriches and the scenery in general. Outside the gate we turned right, direction Simon's Town. The roads got busier, and before we know it we were stuck in traffic going through Kalkies, St James and Muizenberg.
Once on the Blue Route it was highway home. and before we knew it we were back home. What a lekker day!! And on our way we found so many other little things that we can do next time when we do this! I think this is going to become a regular thing, at least once every 3 months or so!!
