 |
Home>SA>What to see | 
|
|||
|
|
||
|
|||
| South Africa: What to see | |||
| Cape Peninsula | |||
|
>see photographs > send me Cape Peninsula Holiday Options Best known for Formed in 1998 and including the (former) Cape of Good Hope, Table Mountain and Silvermine Nature Reserves, this is set to become a World Heritage Site. Known for its dramatic coastline and unique Cape Floral Kingdom which includes 90 endemic species amongst 2 285 plant species. Cape Point is primarily a scenic and botanical reserve. Location South of Cape Town, it covers Table Bay right down to Cape Point. Size In its new boundaries, it covers 20 000 hectares. Wildlife Better known for its plant life than its animal life, the reserve is home to several baboon and antelope populations including bontebok, eland and hartebeest. There is also 15 amphibian species, 32 reptiles and nearly 300 different bird species. Near Simonstown is a penguin colony. Environment & Vegetation Cape Point is made up of ridges of hills and undulating flatland while the Peninsula also includes Table Mountain and afro-montane forest. The vegetation ranges from dry, low fynbos (heath) on the hills, sedges and ericas in the flatlands to milkwood trees and heaths over the sandy coastal zone. The 2285 registered plant species include 600 different ericas, 370 species of protea and orchids, watsonias and daisies. Climate Cape Point is a windy area particularly between November and March but temperatures are favourably warm. There is rain in winter between May and August. When to go Best times for visiting are September to January. The Reserve is open through the year from 6.00 am to 5.00 pm. Activities Nature trails, overnight hiking, game viewing, whale and bird watching, fishing, boating, surfing, sailing, snorkelling, horse riding, windsurfing and scuba diving. Some shipwrecks are scattered on the coast. Accommodation No accommodation in the Reserve but available in nearby Cape Town which has an excellent range from luxury hotels to bed and breakfasts. However there is an overnight hut for hikers. How to get there Take the M4 from Cape Town to Fishhoek via Simon's Town. It is well sign posted thereafter. |
|||
| TOP | |||
|
||||||
|
||||||
 |
||||||
|
||||||