Cape of Good Hope - A Iconic Landmark at the Tip of Africa

Initially known as the Cape of Storms, the Cape of Good Hope is a very famous cape located at the southwestern tip of Africa
It is a landmark of Cape Town and marks the meeting point of the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans

Situated within the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, the reserve actually contains two capes; the Cape of Good Hope and another cape known as Cape Point, which is also a popular attraction within the scenic area
Although within the reserve, the Cape of Good Hope is accessible by car
The entrance to the scenic area is quite simple, with flowering shrubs on both sides and rolling hills in the distance
On the way to the Cape of Good Hope, one can see a distinct black-and-white monument on a distant hillside
This monument commemorates the Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama, who pioneered the sea route from Europe to India via the Cape of Good Hope
Due to its location uphill and the overgrown vegetation, it is essentially impossible to reach the base of the monument, and it can only be admired from afar
Across the road from the monument, there is another monument facing the Atlantic Ocean, dedicated to another Portuguese navigator, Bartolomeu Dias, who initially named the cape the Cape of Storms
Along the way, one can also spot baboons resting by the roadside, which are not at all afraid of people and leisurely stroll or rest with ease
There are two paths here, one leading to the Cape of Good Hope and the other to Cape Point
Cape Point is located on the mountain and requires a cable car to reach, while the Cape of Good Hope is by the sea
If one chooses to visit Cape Point first, they drive to the entrance at the foot of the mountain and can then take the cable car or hike up the mountain
The hike takes about half an hour to reach the top where the lighthouse is located
For those who prefer to save energy, cable car tickets can be purchased at the base of the mountain
The cable car can accommodate 40 tourists at a time and takes 3 minutes for a one-way trip up the mountain
Operating hours are from Monday to Sunday, 9:00 am to 5:30 pm
Additionally, there is a shop at the base of the mountain that sells souvenirs
Those interested can purchase postcards here, which can then be stamped with the Cape of Good Hope’s commemorative postmark to send to oneself or friends
Upon reaching the mountaintop, one can enjoy a panoramic view of the entire Cape of Good Hope
On clear days, the colors of the blue sky and the sea complement each other, making it a place one would linger
There is an old lighthouse on Cape Point, which is also an iconic structure of the Cape of Good Hope
Climbing several dozen steps leads to the old lighthouse, which is no longer in use today
Underneath the old lighthouse, there is a large rock covered with graffiti from tourists from all over the world
In front of the old lighthouse, there is a wooden pole with several signs pointing in different directions, indicating the distances to major cities around the world from this point
You can find that it is 12933 kilometers away from the capital
Standing on the mountaintop, in addition to enjoying the charming sea views, one can also overlook the nearby Cape of Good Hope

The Cape of Good Hope is the boundary between the cold current of the Atlantic Ocean and the warm current of the Indian Ocean
You can see a distinct boundary between light blue and dark blue on the sea
On your left is the Indian Ocean, and on your right is the Atlantic Ocean
After seeing the boundary of the two oceans, you can continue walking forward by rounding the lighthouse
At this time, you might as well look back at the scene on the top of Cape Point and you will find it extremely majestic
Continuing to walk to the end, here is the southern tip of the Cape Point
You can see a new lighthouse currently in use at Cape Point not far in front
Due to the relatively high position of the lighthouse on the mountain top just seen, if there is fog on the sea, ships on the sea often cannot see it
Therefore, this new lighthouse is rebuilt closer to the sea surface
The new lighthouse is located under the rocky cliffs and tourists cannot reach it
However, you can learn about the history of the lighthouse through a stone tablet beside the end
After coming down from Cape Point, you can go to the Cape of Good Hope
The Cape of Good Hope is a prominent small headland with magnificent and wonderful scenery
When the weather is clear, you can see the blue sky, dark blue sea water, brown rocks and white waves, as well as the refreshing sea breeze and groups of seabirds flying freely
You can take a walk on the beach beside the Cape of Good Hope
This beach is different from what you remember
There are rocks everywhere and the wind and waves are very strong
If the weather is not cold, you can slowly walk to the rocks close to the sea water and touch the sea water of the Atlantic Ocean, but be careful not to slip
There are also many piles of kelp washed up by the sea scattered on the beach
Kelp is not allowed to be sold here, but you can pick up one and take a photo as a souvenir
Walking to the other end of the beach, there is a long golden commemorative sign
The half-person-high commemorative sign is made up of three pieces
The left side is in English, the right side is in Afrikaans, that is, South African Dutch, and in the middle is the accurate latitude and longitude of the Cape of Good Hope 1828’26″E, 3421’25″S
This is also a place where every tourist who comes to the Cape of Good Hope takes a group photo
You might as well take a photo here to prove that you have been here
If you still can’t bear to leave after visiting, you might as well go and sit in the restaurant in the scenic area
This restaurant named Two Oceans is located on the top of the mountain, not far from the lower station of the cable car
The restaurant has a great view and you can enjoy the charming sea view of False Bay
Opening hours: Open all year round from 9:30 to 17:30
Service facilities: Barrier-free services: Barrier-free parking lot, barrier-free entrance
Tips: Sometimes the wind and waves at the Cape of Good Hope can be very strong
It is recommended to bring a coat when you go to avoid catching a cold