Moonstruck on the Cape Point Route

Have you ever stared at the moon and imagined escaping your earthbound life for a new world? Fortunately on the Cape Point Route you don’t have to travel to the dark side of the moon to reach the outer limits of your imagination. The large bright orb rising over the ocean with sparkly glitter playing on the surface is readily spotted from the mountains and shore lines of this luminary destination. The moon creates an atmosphere of romance and if you are the leading role player it is well worth checking into Moon Bay Guest House in Fish Hoek. No prizes for the origin of the establishments name!

This nightly vision gives way to earth’s life force by day. The sun illuminates our planet consistently, directing our will and our vitality. You wouldn’t be alone if you love soaking up the sun’s rays at the beach and feeling euphoric when the centre of our solar system glows on the horizon heralding the day. We all dream of sun filled, fun filled holidays and a sense of carefree living. Sundollar Lodge in Noordhoek lives up to all those vacation dreams of the sun worshipper.

The pursuit of Nirvana is often as much a place as a state of mind. If the sun and the moon are the parents of the sky then it is often the mountains that are the children of the earth - providing a place of physical security. This sanctity can be found at Sacred Mountain Lodge, a tranquil zone embraced by the magnificent mountains of Noordhoek.

Whether you are Christian, Islamic, Buddhist or Jewish - the Cape Point Route has scenery and attractions that command reverence and respect under its powerful skies. The area demands a great deal of devotion to experience and explore to its full attention. For more information on awe-inspiring places visit: www.capepointroute.co.za or call 021 782 9356 for more information.

Touching the Earth Lightly...

Cape Town is known for many things, all of them good. It’s a place where nature and civilization coexist hand in hand, and of the finest achievements of the city is the spinal mountain chain down the peninsula where Mother Nature flaunts all her glory- from her floral kingdom to rough cliffs, waterfalls, forests, caves, beaches and indigenous wildlife.

Hiking on the Cape Point Route is a pastime that has inspired many writers, painters, architects and craftsmen. Many more people love being close to nature but are reluctant hikers, yet with over 550 walks of varying length and complexity on the Table Mountain Chain, appreciating the scenery on foot is an activity that is accessible, uncomplicated and enjoyable.

The Hoerikwaggo Trail, introduced by Table Mountain National Park has opened 4 sections of the planned six-day, five-night Table Mountain to Cape Point Hiking Trail Project. Hoerikwaggo is the original Khoi-san word for "mountain in the sea" and one of the goals is to connect all kinds of people to the mountain.

One of the joys of the hike is that you are not really roughing it. It may be a self-catered hike, but your food and gear is portered to the overnight camp with a fully equipped kitchen. That means eating in style after a day’s tramping – and did I mention the much appreciated hot shower? All the camps have been built to preserve or rehabilitate the environment in keeping with the trail philosophy of "touching the earth lightly" and reduce our human impact.

Each camp has a different theme to showcase its location, and each one is so appealing you may not want to leave. Slangkop in Kommetjie is the newest camp with funky domed tents to reflect the milkwood thickets. Silvermine camp reveals the mountain fynbos and at Orangekloof camp there is the soothing charm of a forest setting. Each camp has its own special touch, be it the whale vertebra light fixtures at Slangkop or the climbing wall at Silvermine. Each one has an open fire pit and there is something completely magical about sitting under a starry sky around a blazing fire.

The American nauturalist John Muir once said "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks."　Hitting the trail is where the discovery begins. The scenery is jaw dropping and you’ll wish more than once that you had a huge wide angle lens. When you are too distracted by the view, your guides will bring your focus back to a detail- be it a sandstone rock formation, a bright pink blossom on the heathery shrubs or a friendly dassie sunning himself on a rock. You’ll smell the rich aroma of the fynbos, you’re likely to see the spikes of the King Protea and you’ll hear the gentle hum of the city at work beneath you. It is a rare occurrence to meet other hikers so it will come as a physical shock to arrive at the Cableway station or at Cape Point, amidst tour groups taking an obligatory travel snapshot. You’ll be entitled to an element of pity for those that have missed so much of the beauty found in your feet.

Whether you are a mountain enthusiast or a reluctant but ‘wanna-be’ hiker- this trail has the spirit of the mountain and the sea.

To book the trail, the accommodation or for ideas on other hikes and activity suggestions in the Cape Peninsula contact 021 782 9356 or visit www.capepointroute.co.za

A False Bay Excursion....

Seeing a whale in its natural environment is a truly amazing experience. Whale watching from the Cape Point Route shoreline provides great viewing and regular sightings but heading out on a boat into the great blue yonder of False Bay provides a smorgasbord of mammoth sea creatures.

Chris Spengler, owner of Afton Grove Country Retreat in Noordhoek, gushes about a recent day’s fishing in False Bay. He set off by boat at first light from Simon’s Town harbour for Seal Island on a perfectly calm sea. The water visibility was a glorious 15 metres and snow capped peaks provided a magnificent backdrop. Seal Island is home to 64 000 Cape Fur Seals and one of the few places on the planet where the chance of seeing a Great White Shark breaching occurs reliably during May to September. Picture 3000kg of muscle leaping clear of the water just metres in front of you. As the rays of sun appeared Chris witnessed a jaw dropping demonstration of a Great White Shark attempting to kill a young seal returning from a nights hunting – an adrenalin wow factor!

Catching fish was the objective however, so the crew headed towards Cape Point in search of snoek. En route they encountered a school of about 300 Dusky Dolphins "herding" the small boat like a sheep dog with his flock. In this extraordinary show Chris could quite literally see layers of dolphins swimming beneath his boat and porpoising in the wake of the bow. The dolphins’ playful nature had Chris grinning and the smile just would not go as a Bryde’s Whale surfaced 50 metres from the boat. Southern Right and Humpback whales are seen more frequently in False Bay so a Bryde’s whale is a rare sighting.

Settling in to catch snoek for the family braai turned into a competition between man and seal. The seals decided it was far easier to steal the fish from the end of a fishing line! Nature however has a way to even the playing fields and through the crystal clear waters, Chris observed a 2 metre Bronze Whaler shark giving the seals a run for their money...err snoek I mean!

"Another tough day in Africa", commented Chris of his spectacular day, "I am certainly not packing for Perth, no sir there is just too much to give up on and I am grateful to have the privilege of actually living here".

An encounter with just one gargantuan whale in its’ natural element is enough to capture our imagination but Cape Fur Seals, a Bronze Whaler shark, a breaching Great White, 300 Dusky Dolphins and a Bryde’s whale in a single day is nothing short of awe inspiring. Imagine what 3 or more days on the Cape Point Route would serve up for main course?

For more information on the Cape Point Route, contact us 021 782 9356 or visit our website www.capepointroute.co.za

Cape Town's Other Route continued...

The Cape Point Route experience begins in Hout Bay, a picturesque village set in a fold of sea lapped mountains, converging at a lively fishing harbour hosting many tourism activities. Continue along the 9km world famous Chapman’s Peak Drive – a winding pass with breathtaking views of the vast Atlantic Ocean to Noordhoek’s wide white swathe of Long Beach, known as South Africa’s rural gem and one of the best place to enjoy sundowners, or horse riding and not to mention the quirky shops and restaurants at the Noordhoek Farm Village.

Continuing along Kommetjie Road, you will notice camels at Imhoff Farm – you can ride them, or just stop for tea, country produce and a variety of crafts. Here kids can enjoy the farmyard and SnakePark or a ride on Greedy Guts the donkey. When you reach Kommetjie, known for being one of the surfing hotspots and a great bird watching area, make sure you do not leave without visiting South Africa’s tallest cast iron lighthouse – the Slangkoppunt Lighthouse. Take a tour and climb to the top to see Cape Point Nature Reserve and HoutBay.

With the chilly Atlantic on your side, the road winds past the tiny hamlets of Misty Cliffs (a popular surf spot) and Scarborough, a beautiful Atlantic seaside village surrounded by Table Mountain National Park with views of the Cape Of Good Hope. A little further down the road you may wish to meet South Africa’s largest birds at Cape Point Ostrich Farm before heading to Cape Point, the tip of the Cape Peninsula where the Atlantic meets False Bay. Here you can experience the grandeur of one of the highest sea cliffs and the freshest air in the world!

A spectacular drive past Smitswinkel Bay and Miller’s Point – with plenty of whale watching view sites – leads you to the famous Boulders Beach Penguin Colony. The main entrance is at Seaforth Beach, with a boardwalk leading through the nesting area. But if you want to actually get your feet in the sand and swim with the penguins, head for Boulders Beach. The restaurant and curio shop here are well worth a visit and be sure to check under your car before you leave – the penguins wander. Plan for an overnight stop at Boulders Beach Lodge – an entire experience next to the penguins.

Continue onto the charming naval town of Simon’s Town. The area known as the “Historic Mile”, the heart of the town, boasts a great variety of architecturally interesting buildings, good restaurants (seafood is the speciality), antique shops and fine walks. From here several boats head off in different directions from the jetty. If you have time, take a 40 minute harbour cruise or you can voyage right into the middle of False Bay to Seal Island. Probably the most spectacular trip is to cruise right down the Peninsula to the dramatic tip at Cape Point.

From Simon’s Town, it’s a short distance to Mineral World where you can “scratch” for your favourite gems. Stop for a meal at Flukes Restaurant, at the historic Southern Right Hotel in Glencairn. Great value for money and you may even see their resident friendly ghost. Continue on to Fish Hoek, a glorious bay that is a favourite with wind surfers and hobie cats, The beautiful family beach is also one of the best spots to view the Southern Right Whales when they are in the bay to calf between July and November.

Next, it’s on to Kalk Bay – a fab Bohemian village of cobbled streets, delightful shops and restaurants above the fishing harbour where you can easily lose an afternoon. The Main Road winds along the sea past great stone mansions that reflect St James’s colonial past as the “Millionaire’s Mile”.

Finally we reach Muizenberg, home to many examples of the grand architecture of Victorian times, when it was an exclusive seaside resort for the rich and famous. Today it is known for its beach with kid-friendly waves, warm water and extras like miniature putt-putt and super-tube. “The corner” is the hotspot of surf culture for learners and professionals alike. Colona Castle in Lakeside, with it’s majestic views and superb hospitality, is a great place to base yourself for access to all the places of interest on the Cape Point Route.

An area of natural beauty, diverse cultures and unique attractions, the Cape Point Route is the ultimate playground where there is something for everybody, young and old. With a host of activities in the area, from golfing to aqua action, relaxation comes easily to those who stay. So if you are looking for vast open spaces, magnificent scenery, a sense of tranquility, and your blend of choice is a combination of mountain, sea with a touch of earthy elegance, the Cape Point Route is your destination of choice from which, and in which you can experience Cape Town.

For more information on where to stay, eat and play contact us on 021 782 9356, or visit our website www.capepointroute.co.za

Scarborough.... on the Cape Point Route!

Far from the maddening crowd lies Scarborough – a seaside conservation village with a random scattering of houses, seaside homes and guest accommodation. As the most south-westerly village on the African continent, Scarborough feels like a forgotten outpost. Remote, private and tranquil – this is a place where people meander – be they visitors or local residents. Watching the waves and the setting sun is an obligatory pastime.

Despite being only 45 minutes from the city centre, this nature lover’s haven is miles from traffic jams and cosmopolitan living. With the chilly Atlantic Ocean on one side, the road from Kommetjie winds past Witsands beach and the tiny hamlet of Misty Cliffs to Scarborough itself. Many visitors obliviously whiz through the town, on a day tour to visit Cape Point Nature Reserve, which lies on Scarborough’s doorstep. Some stop for a quick photo at camel rock – a well known rock formation on the side of the road in Scarborough, which unsurprisingly looks like a camel!

If you took just a few seconds more you would see Camel Rock Restaurant – a local favourite since the 1930’s! With an unpretentious cottagey atmosphere, you can devour seafood, meat or vegetarian dishes. The service is friendly and you won’t be rushed out for the next customer.

At Wildeschutesbrand farm at the Red Hill turnoff is the Cape Farmhouse Restaurant, which is making a name for itself on the South African music scene as an intimate concert venue. In addition to the Saturday afternoon Farmhouse Rocks concerts, it is a fabulous restaurant, open daily for meals and teas. Whilst there be sure to pop in at Red Rock Tribal – noticeable on arrival by the "exhausted horse" – which is actually a life size sculpture of a zebra made out of exhaust pipes.

The two restaurants and a teeny shop are the visible concessions to tourism, but you’d be forgiven if you thought you were the first visitor to Scarborough. Such is the pace of the town, the inhabitants and the lifestyle. This is where you snooze to the sound of the sea, with a mountain as a backdrop and a pristine uncrowded beach as the gravitational pull of the town.

The beach is popular amongst surfers, body boarders, windsurfers and kitesurfers. For those less active, a beach holiday in Scarborough, is indeed that – getting away from it all. The toughest choices each day are whether to take a simple stroll, go beachcombing or shell collecting, whether to read a book or worship the sun. If you are up early enough for a sunrise amble look out for the Cape Clawless Otter which is sometimes spotted at the estuary, and birdwatchers will delight in watching the red-eyed oystercatchers peck at the rocks for mussels.

Alternatively you can pack a picnic and walk in the mountains all day amongst sandstone rocks and indigenous fynbos vegetation. Walking in the Baskloof Nature Reserve, takes you from the Scraggy Cat to the Valley of Silence and across the saddle to the peak above Misty Cliffs – if the names aren’t enough to inspire you, then the views will take care of any motivation required. It’s no wonder that many artists, writers and musicians have made Scarborough their home.

Scarborough is ideally located for exploring the attractions on the Cape Point Route – for information on any accommodation in the area, activities or regional attractions please contact Cape Point Route on 021 782 9346 or visit www.capepointroute.co.za

Outdoor Adventures - Just making a point...

You can either watch it on TV or you can experience it for yourself. The choice to immerse yourself in the playground of the Cape is easy, affordable and accessible for novice adventure seekers or hard core adrenalin addicts. The Cape Point Route spans 2 coastlines wrapped around a National Park and runs from HoutBay along the Atlantic Coastline to Cape Point itself, then back along the False Bay Coastline to Muizenberg.

The Cape Point Route is well aware that its’ natural resources and its local people with their hospitality are unsurpassed, but the secret lies in the action. With dramatic mountain ranges, and long ocean fronts, this is the stuff that you see in the movies. So couch potatoes keep watching the screen and everyone else can come and play.

Hop on a bike and do it with wheels - road or mountain bike the entire Cape Point Route (or part thereof) with the wind in your hair, mountains on one side and sea on the other. It beats National Geographic even on a plasma screen! One of the top picks is a meander of anything up to 45km through Cape Point Nature Reserve, an easy ride along a network of tarred roads at the southwestern tip of Africa. And a great moderate to difficult ride, but not too technical takes you about 30km through Silvermine Nature Reserve. For visitors bike hire is available at Noordhoek Farm Village, at the southern end of Chapman’s Peak Drive. Grab some refreshments for the trip from the farmstall or come back afterwards for some pub grub.

Aqua action abounds for waterbabies. Scuba dive into the ocean depths and discover huge kelp forests, reefs and ghostly shipwrecks. For braver souls shark cage diving is one of the ultimate adrenalin rushes. For a more leisurely look at the sharks and the seals and the whales and the dolphins there are boat trips to Seal island in the middle of False Bay. Get a bigger rush on a high speed hobie cat in False Bay and feel the salt spray as you fly past Ark rock and Roman Rock lighthouse – the only lighthouse on a rock in South Africa. Experienced windsurfers should try Kommetjie for world class windsurfing and one of the biggest drops in the peninsula.

For a sensational penguin viewing experience head to Simon’s Town waterfront and sea kayak south from the harbour to Boulders Beach to see the penguins from the water. Seals will wave their flippers at you and the birdlife is astounding. You don’t have to be a professional – the sea kayaks are stable and safe.

For more info on where to stay, eat, shop and play, contact the Cape Point Route on 021 782 9356 or visit our website www.capepointroute.co.za

Do it on the Cape Point Route......

There is expectancy in the air as we head into spring. Our spirits soar with the rise in temperature and we actually start planning our weekends. It’s time to dust off the outdoor gear and acknowledge that the surf’s up! If your brain is as rusty as your winter body, you may need some assistance with fresh ideas or some help with planning Cousin Sue and Uncle Bob’s annual holiday visit.

You’ll be surprised how much there is to see and do on the Cape Point Route, but if you don’t know or if the choices are overwhelming then let the Cape Point Route team help ease you into the outdoor bustle of summer. They’ve been there and done that, and have the local knowledge and experience to select the best wave breaking beaches,
hiking trails, adrenalin activities or romantic getaways to suit your needs.

Winnie the Pooh once said "When you see someone putting on big boots, you can be sure an adventure is about to happen". That’s almost a guarantee if you tackle the mountains of the peninsula – be it hiking from Hout Bay, clambering to a Kalk Bay Cave, wandering the wetlands or a meandering stroll along the catwalk. Professional guides can take you to some lesser known mountain locations. Grab a bike and do it on wheels – wind in your hair, mountains on one side, sea on the other- biking on the road or the mountains is a great way to get in summer shape whilst experiencing the magnificence of the Cape Point Route. There’s horse riding on Noordhoek Beach, golf, tennis, sand boarding and adventure courses, or experience the area from a WWII vintage sidecar!

On the water the easy option is a boat or Jet Ski trip. Trips go to Seal Island and Cape Point, around Simon’s Town harbour and there’s still time to do a whale watching trip. Try jet-skiing in Hout Bay for a new thrill. For more action try surfing. Lessons available in Muizenberg or find a new surf spot, sea kayak to the penguins, head out on a fishing trip to bag a big one or learn to kite surf. If getting wet isn’t your idea of fun, get the thrills of kite surfing with a land sailing encounter! It is worth immersing yourself in the water by taking a dive course and discovering the kelp forests, shipwrecks, coral gardens and deep reefs that surround our coastline.

Families should consider scratching for gemstones at Scratch Patch or climbing to the top of Slangkoppunt lighthouse in Kommetjie. Whizz up to the lighthouse at Cape Point in the funicular or take the kids to Imhoff Farm or Noordhoek Farm Village where parents can relax while the kids play safely.

For more info call the team on 021 782 9356 or visit the website: www.capepointroute.co.za