Cape Point is a tourist landmark in Cape Town South Africa

Cape Point is a historical landmark with an incredible view. It is one of the top six tourist attractions in South Africa. Known as the Cape of Good Hope, from its sheer rock outcroppings and sheer cliffs to the fynbos, it will reward visitors. Take the funicular up to the old lighthouse at the top overlooking the coastline and take a look for yourself.

Shipwrecks:

1. On April 18, 1911, the 500-ton Lusitania, with 774 people on board, collided with Bellows Rock.

2. The Thomas T Tucker – American Liberty Ship, built in 1942 and was intended as a troop and supply ship in World War II. She sank at Olifantsbos, just off the Point.

3. The 452-ton trawler Phyllisia struck rocks 100 m off the coast of Cape Point on May 3, 1968. Eleven of its crew reached shore, 14 were still on board. South African Air Force helicopters airlifted them to safety.

4. The Nolloth, a 347 ton Dutch trawler, ran aground, said to have been hit by an unidentified underwater object said by most old seamen in this area to be Albatross Rock.

Of those who are wrong:

The cold Benguela Current on the west coast and the warm Agulhas Current on the east coast are geographically located at Cape Agulhas and not at Cape Point.

Cape Point became a nature reserve in 1938 and became part of Table Mountain National Park in 1998.

Cape Point consists of 7,750 hectares of rich and varied flora/fauna.

Cape Point has a 40 kilometer coastline that stretches from Schuster’s Bay to Smitswinkel Bay.

The cliffs at the southern point of Cape Point are 200 meters high.

Cape Point has 3 clearly defined areas: Cape of Good Hope, Cape Maclear, Cape Point.

The history of human habitation dates back to the early Stone Age. [18 000 years]San and Khoi lived here.

In the 1500s and 1600s, European sailors sailed along the Cape of Good Hope coast: Bartholomew Dias and Vasco Da Gama. They established the sea route from the Cape to the East. Two navigation beacons have been erected at strategic points. 1488 Bartholomew Dias named the peninsula – [Cape of Storms].

King John II of Portugal later gave it the name. – [The Cape of Good Hope.]

1580, Sir Francis Drake had this to say about the Cape:

“The most stately thing and the most beautiful Cape that we saw in all the circumference of the earth.”

Come to Cape Point to see:

* The most southwestern point of Africa.

* Fresh air and clean ocean waters, straight from Antarctica.

* Part of the 22,100-hectare Table Mountain National Park [World Heritage Site].

* Sea cliffs – 249 m above sea level.

* The circumnavigation of the Cape of Good Hope meant the establishment of a sea route to the East and subsequent trade.

* 26 shipwrecks.

* 250 species of birds.

* 1,100 species of native plants.

* Lots of bucks, baboons and other animals.

* Swimming is allowed in Bordjiesrif and Buffels Bay in tide pools.

* 17 scenic walks and trails.

* Fishing with rod and diving.

* Whales and dolphins visit the coast from May to November.

* 2 Historical Monuments – Cruces de Díaz and Da Gama.

* Funicular lift to the old lighthouse.

* Restaurants with world-class cuisine and wonderful views of False Bay.

* Curio shops with a variety of South African curios.