The Portuguese sailor Bartholomeu Dias was the first to sail around Cape Town and the Cape Peninsula (in 1488). Dias halted near the south-western tip of South Africa and dubbed it Cabo Tormentoso, or Cape of Storms, on his return voyage, which must have been unusually stormy. Cabo da Boa Esperança, or Cape of Good Hope, was later given to it by King John of Portugal. On his voyage to India, another Portuguese explorer, Vasco da Gama, rounded the Cape on November 22, 1497.
The Cape sea route was established as a result of these explorers’ trips. This resulted in more frequent sailings around the point. It has also resulted in a number of casualties along these unforgiving coastlines. Shipwrecks and stone crosses still stand as a testament to the perilous and difficult mediaeval sea journey.
Did you know that anyone caught rolling down the cliff will be prosecuted – as per the instructions of the Lighthouse Engineer’ – So read the original sign fastened to the Cape Point Lighthouse’s wooden border gate. On the South African coast, the lighthouse at Cape Point is the most powerful. It has a 63-kilometer range and emits a series of three 10 million candlepower flashes every 30 seconds.
Cape Point Lighthouse
On the South African coast, the lighthouse at Cape Point is the most powerful. It has a 63-kilometer range and emits a series of three 10 million candlepower flashes every 30 seconds. However, seamen have had a bleak perspective of warning beacons surrounding the Point throughout history.
On Cape Point Peak, 238 metres above sea level, a lighthouse was established in 1857. The lighthouse’s equipment had been brought from England. Clouds and fog frequently hid the lighthouse due to its high location. In fact, at a specific angle, its light was invisible to ships at sea for an alarming 900 hours every year on average.
The lighthouse was raised to its current location above Cape Point, only 87 metres above sea level, after the Portuguese liner Lusitania came aground on April 18, 1911. On the hillside above the shore, a stone copy of Vasco Da Gama’s cross, which was planted there in 1487, rises tall. It marks the location where the Portuguese explorers landed.
Cape Point Shipwrecks
The Lusitania, a 5 500-ton ship carrying 774 people, collided with the Bellows Rock below the lighthouse on the night of April 18, 1911. The American Liberty Ship Thomas T Tucker was built in 1942 and was designed to transport troops and supplies during World War II. She hit a rock in heavy fog near Olifantsbos, just off the Point, relying on a malfunctioning compass.
At before midnight on 3 May 1968, the 452-ton Cape Town trawler Phyllisia collided with jagged rocks approximately 100 metres off the rough shore of the Cape Point Nature Reserve. In life rafts, eleven of her crew members made it to shore, but 14 remained on the trawler. They were rescued by two South African Air Force helicopters.
After being struck by an unidentified undersea item, the Nolloth, a 347 tonne Dutch trawler, ran aground in heavy seas, surrounded by jagged rocks. The Albatross Rock is said to be the source of the sound.
Funicular: Zoom To The Top Of The Cape Point
The funicular will whisk you away on a picturesque ride to the vantage spot near the old Cape Point lighthouse. The view site’s mode of transportation evolved over time, from a diesel bus named after the ghost ship “Flying Dutchman” to an environmentally friendly funicular, the world’s only one of its sort. The entire funicular was built with South African materials. Twenty-seven separate safety elements assure practical and safe operation 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Two funicular cars run from the parking lot to the view location, which is located right below the lighthouse.
Global Atmosphere Watch Station
The South African Weather Bureau maintains a research facility at Cape Point in collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institute in Garmisch, Germany, to track long-term changes in the chemistry of the earth’s atmosphere that may have an impact on climate.
The laboratory, which was built to blend in with the western slopes of Cape Point, is one of the 20 Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) stations operated by the World Meteorological Organization. It measures trace gases including ozone, methane, and carbon dioxide, as well as solar radiation and different meteorological data, all of which are vital to the ecosystem. For the most part, the air near Cape Point is considered to be exceptionally pure, providing insight into processes such as stratospheric ozone depletion and climate change.
Two Oceans Restaurant
From Two Oceans Restaurant, you can get a bird’s eye perspective of False Bay. The restaurant, which is located high above the roaring waves, was constructed so that all diners can take in the breathtaking views.
Buffelsfontein Visitors Centre
A visit to the Buffelsfontein Visitor Centre is a must if you want to get to know Cape Point and its attractions up close and personal. You’ll be enthralled by the wealth of item exhibits and audiovisual presentations available here. All aspects of the area’s natural and cultural wealth will be interpreted for you by well-researched and artistically laid-out educational material.
What Is Special About Cape Point?
Cape Point, located 60 kilometres outside of Cape Town, is a breathtaking site. With its towering stone cliffs, endemic fynbos, stunning coves, beaches, and rolling green hills and valleys, the area is rich in natural beauty. As well as the attraction’s historical significance.
Is Cape Point Where The Two Oceans Meet?
No, Cape Point is frequently misidentified as the meeting point of the Atlantic Ocean’s chilly Benguela Current and the Indian Ocean’s warm Agulhas Current. In truth, the meeting point varies around the southern and southwestern coasts of the Cape, with the most common location being between Cape Agulhas and Cape Point. The merging of the two currents contributes to the microclimate of Cape Town and its vicinity. Contrary to common belief, the currents’ meeting point has no visible visual effect; there is no “line in the water” where the sea changes colour or appears to be different in any manner.
Can I Swim At Cape Point
Swimming is not recommended because there are no lifeguards on this beach, but on a hot day, you’ll be tempted to spend the entire stroll wading ankle-deep in the crystal clear Atlantic water. Bring a picnic and lots of water, then seek out a secluded location to enjoy one of Cape Town’s most unusual beaches.