Much of the wild land in and around Cape Town, South Africa, is part of Table Mountain National Park. This includes the stretch of nature down to the tips of land known as the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point. Although it may not look it, this region is one of the most biologically diverse places on the planet. This makes perfect sense when you realize two major oceans are collided just off the coast with tides and winds that would bring things from all over the globe to adapt to live in this spectacular place.
To experience this beautiful place, I reserved a spot on the red bus company’s Cape Peninsula Tour. It includes admission and transportation to Cape Point National Park as well as Boulders Beach to see the African penguins.
The Cape
Cape Point National Park is part of the larger Table Mountain National Park. In addition to seeing the most famous juts of land in South Africa, the park is home to many animals. The baboons will make themselves obvious because they are pests trying to get free food from guests. Other animals may be a more rare treat to see including oryx (gemsbok), Cape zebra, ostriches, rock hyraxes (dassies), eland, and more. We did see some oryx and eland, but missed these other lovelies.
Cape Point is the most southerly point of land on this peninsula. It isn’t the most southerly point of Africa, though many confuse it for such. You can hike up to the lighthouse for incredible views all around. For more spectacular views, take the trail behind the lighthouse to the second lighthouse overlook. It is further down the cape and quite spectacular.
From the Cape Point parking lot, we took the trail that connects to the Cape of Good Hope. This provides for even more spectacular vistas and wildlife sightings including colorful basking lizards. The Cape of Good Hope is the most southwestern point of the African continent. Out on the rocks, in the splashing waves, seals clambered up from the sea. The history surrounding these places is quite interesting with the Portuguese first naming them on maps but not settling there. Out in the distance, you can even see shipwrecks and, if you’re lucky, whales.
Boulders Beach Penguins
From Cape Point National Park, our bus took us to Boulders Beach. This protected beach is a nesting ground for the endangered African penguin. A fee applies for entrance to the main nesting site where raised boardwalks keep onlookers from tramping on the nests and getting in the way of the cute flightless birds.
On beaches in both directions, more penguins can be found nesting or coming ashore. I wouldn’t be surprised if the protected penguin colony expanded soon. This excursion made for a great last day in South Africa…for this time.
