Shipwrecks & Lighthouses on the Cape Point Route!

With the wilder winter weather we thought it would be interesting to tap into the darker side of the Cape Point Route which consists of 2 coastlines wrapped around a national park and runs from Hout Bay down the Atlantic coast to Cape Point and up the False Bay coastline to Muizenberg. The ancient seafarers called this region by another name - the “Cape of Storms”.

Since the first ships called in Table Bay more than 500 years ago, more than 450 known ships have been lost to the treacherous coastline of the Cape Peninsula. It is no wonder that the Cape Point Route now boasts 4 lighthouses – 2 of which are accessible to visitors and the other 2 provide great photo opportunities.

Slangkoppunt lighthouse in Kommetjie is the tallest cast iron lighthouse in South Africa and became operational in 1919, although it was commissioned in 1906 to safeguard against shipwrecks. For a mere R15 you can walk up the lighthouse, complete with prisms and lots of stairs and from the top are the most astounding views (weather dependent of course) and some excellent seabird viewing. The coastline around the lighthouse has many reefs and headlands that stretch far out to sea, hence the vast number of ships that have come to grief here. The most famous shipwrecks are the Kakapo in1900 which now lies on Long Beach and is accessible via a long and wild walk along the beach; the SS Clan Munro that was wrecked a little to the north of the lighthouse in1905 and the SS Maori that was shipwrecked in 1909 and can be visited by boat from Hout Bay.

At Cape Point Nature Reserve there are 2 lighthouses – the original one built in 1860 and one of the most famous and most photographed lighthouses in South Africa due to its easy access by the funicular or the walkways at Cape Point. It now functions as a lookout point as it stands at the highest peak. The old lighthouse was often obscured by fog and mist so a new lighthouse was commissioned after the Portuguese luxury liner the Lusitania ran aground on Bellows rock in 1911. Despite some phenomenal building challenges at the lower site, it was first lit in 1919 and today it is the most powerful lighthouse in South Africa. The new lighthouse can’t be seen from the viewpoint due to the shape of the promontory but there is a dramatic and seldom used walking trail to view the lighthouse.

Some of the famous shipwrecks are the Lusitania itself, Le Napolean which ran aground in 1805 and is one of the only pirate ships to be shipwrecked on the South African coast and the Thomas T Tucker which was a military ship that hit Albatross Rock in 1942 and parts of which can be seen on the beach at Olifantsbos. In Smitswinkel Bay alone there are 5 shipwrecks that now make up an artificial reef and have attracted so much marine life that it has become one of the most popular winter dive sites.

The final lighthouse is Roman Rock in Simon’s Town, which like the other 2 operational lighthouses also has a claim to fame in South African lighthouse lore, being the only one to be built on a rock. It is also the 3rd oldest lighthouse in South Africa being built in 1861 as a beacon to guide naval ships into Simon’s Town harbour. Incidentally Simon’s Town was established as the winter anchorage site for the Dutch East India Company as it was the best place to be in the Cape in winter – a great tip if you are looking for a winter destination!

Needless to say we usually prefer the term “Tavern of the Seas” to Cape of Storms as that implies a warm pub with a convivial atmosphere – and conveniently there are plenty of excellent taverns to warm up and refresh after a lighthouse or shipwreck extravaganza. It is easy to drive along the stunning coastline of the Cape Point Route via a network of excellent roads to visit these shipwreck and lighthouse sites. It’s a wonderful way to spend a couple of days and there is a huge variety of accommodation, refreshment and activity options.

Contact Cape Point Route for more information on how to enjoy the Cape of Storms this winter. 021 782 9356 or visit www.capepointroute.co.za