Cape of Good Hope vacation. Cape of Good Hope and African penguins. Location of the Cape of Good Hope on the World Map

To the Cape Good Hope It was first discovered by the Portuguese sea traveler Bartolomeu Dias. This significant event took place in 1488. He named it the Cape of Storms. But the Portuguese King João II did not like this name, and he ordered it to be renamed the Cape of Good Hope, hoping that the name would somehow appease the depths of the sea and the path to India would be open, which later happened.

Cape of Good Hope - symbol South Africa. The cape is located on the Cape Peninsula. From Cape Town it takes 4 hours to get here. Time will fly by: beautiful savannahs, walking ostriches, baboons, antelopes - all this looks extremely beautiful and organic.

Further the path goes through the reserve with the same name. The surface of the earth here is covered with dense, low vegetation, so it is almost impossible to move on foot, only by car. The plants growing in the reserve cannot be seen anywhere else on the planet.

The fauna is also unique. There are monkeys, cheetahs, rhinoceroses, lions, and other predators here. And most importantly, along with these representatives of hot Africa, penguins roam here. You definitely won't see anything like this anywhere.

At the Cape of Good Hope you can sunbathe and swim on the beaches. Swimming season from September to May.

The main attraction of Good Hope is, of course, the 240-meter-high lighthouse, built in 1860. Today the lighthouse does not work, because it is often shrouded in clouds and ships still cannot see it. But it has an observation deck. There is a cable car leading to it, or you can walk. There is also a restaurant and a souvenir shop here. Climbing onto the platform, you get the feeling of flying over two oceans. This is the meeting point Indian Ocean with the Atlantic, in honor of which there is even a special aquarium in Cape Town. On one side the cape is washed by one thing, on the other by another. If you look closely, you will notice that the oceans are slightly different in color.

From the Cape of Good Hope you can take a boat to Seal Island. On this same small island, only four sq. km, there was once a prison, and now a museum telling about the historical events of the country.

The city of Cape Town is located in the Republic of South Africa, on the Cape Peninsula, near the Cape of Good Hope. The city center is occupied by mansions and buildings of old Dutch architecture, built in the Victorian style. But there are relatively few of them. They are sandwiched on one side by Table Bay and on the other by Table Mountain.

Cape Town is often the last stop on South African tours, which include:

Photo hunt in the national park,

This South African city has a lot of entertainment and attractions, but the main ones are the Cape of Good Hope and Table Mountain, which take the breath away of many travelers who have visited there.

Cape of Good Hope

In the 15th century, the Cape of Good Hope served as the personification of the dream of Portuguese sailors looking for a way to India. It was originally called the Cape of Storms, but under King John II this point on the Cape Peninsula was renamed. Now the Cape of Good Hope is famous for its landscapes, which attract millions of tourists. The Cape is the most extreme southwestern point of Africa, which is confirmed by scientists. On the site in front of this place there is an indication with exact coordinates.

Ocean shore near Cape Town.

Nature Reserve on the Cape

The road to the Cape of Good Hope passes through the reserve of the same name. It is distinguished by dense thickets of various plants that make it difficult to travel on foot. Their highest density is observed on the Cape Peninsula, so you can’t get by without a car.

The reserve covers an area of ​​more than 7,000 hectares. In it, along with the rarest representatives of the flora, there are also representatives of the fauna unique to Africa, such as penguins. It is especially unusual to see them next to antelopes and cheetahs, since they are associated only with the coldest points of the planet. However, this is not a mirage. Penguins reached Africa from Antarctica. Previously, penguins walked throughout the reserve, but then a separate area was allocated for them, called Boulders Beach.

Penguins at the Cape of Good Hope.

Lighthouse

The lighthouse was built in 1860 and is now one of the main attractions of the cape. It rises 240 meters above sea level and is considered the highest in South Africa. There is an observation deck at the lighthouse. It is located at an altitude of 200 meters, and you can climb it either by cable car or on foot. Nearby there is a souvenir shop and a restaurant with a terrace offering amazing views.

From here, tourists can see two oceans at once: one side of the cape is washed by the waters of the Atlantic, and on the other, the Indian. Taking a closer look, you will notice that they differ from each other in color.

Beaches

At the Cape of Good Hope you can also relax on the beach. The swimming season usually begins in September: at this time the weather is sunny, and a good tan is guaranteed. The end of the season is in May.

On one of the beaches of Cape Town.

At the same time, there are some climatic features near the coast. For example, the western side is characterized by a mild climate, sandy beaches, peace and tranquility. The beaches are located here. It’s warmer in the east, but the strong winds blowing there make it inconvenient, making it difficult to swim, so tourists in this part of the coast prefer to just sit on the shore and admire the ocean.

Excursions

An excursion to the Cape of Good Hope most often includes a visit to the reserve and the penguin shore. But besides them, there are other attractions that are worth seeing. For example, on the coast of the so-called “False Bay” a road was built to the town of Simonstown, where the British Royal Navy base was located in the past.

The island of fur seals, with an area of ​​4 square kilometers and having a rather turbulent history, is also of interest to tourists. Since the 17th century there has been a prison, hospital and military base. It was on this island that Nelson Mandela, the future president of South Africa, was imprisoned.

In 1999, UNESCO classified the island as a world heritage site. A museum dedicated to the history of the state was opened there. Tourists are given tours of the cells and the prison yard.

Table Mountain

This is the main attraction of Cape Town itself, without which it is impossible to imagine this South African city. Table Mountain, or Mount Table, is recognized as the symbol of the city and is included in the UNESCO heritage list. It rises to 1087 meters.

View of Table Mountain from Cape Town Harbour.

The first European to climb this peak was the Portuguese sailor Antonio de Saldanha. At that time, Table Mountain was covered with centuries-old hardwood trees. They were used in the construction of a wooden fort for a new settlement. Usually mountains end with pointed peaks, but Table Mountain has a flat top, like a tabletop, which is how the mountain got its name.

Most of the time, Table Mountain is covered by clouds, so not all tourists manage to get to it. Due to weather conditions, city authorities may prohibit climbing to the top in order to avoid any incidents with travelers. And the weather in Cape Town is unstable, and the reason for this is the warm and cold currents of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans that are found in this place. When the mountain is covered by thick clouds, the townspeople say that it is covered with a tablecloth.

Many legends are associated with this phenomenon. According to one of them, one of the local residents, whose name was Fan Hanks, smoked tobacco with such a vile smell that the townspeople sent him to the mountain slopes. There he met the devil, who invited him to arrange a competition: who would smoke whom. Hanks accepted the offer. They lit a cigarette, and their smoke covered the entire mountain. Since then, Cape Town residents have referred to this legend when they see Mount Table covered with a white “tablecloth”.

When the weather is good and clear, you can climb to its top using a cable car. This mountain is considered the best observation deck, it is included in the list of the ten most visited places by tourists in the whole world. There are viewing telescopes there, a gift shop and a restaurant. From here you can see the whole of Cape Town. But travelers are especially delighted by the view from the top of the mountain during sunset, when the horizon merges with the ocean.

While walking along Table Mountain, tourists will meet many representatives of the local fauna and flora. There are approximately 1,470 plant species here, including the protea, recognized as a true symbol of South Africa.

Table Mountain is adjacent to several peaks that are part of the Peninsula National Park. These are Devil's Peak, Lion's Head and the Mountain of the Twelve Apostles.

In addition to visiting the Cape of Good Hope and Table Mountain, in Cape Town you should definitely try wines from the Cape region, which are famous far beyond Africa and are highly valued by many gourmets and wine connoisseurs around the world. And also take a couple of surfing lessons at the most famous surfing beach in South Africa.

The southwestern tip of Africa - the Cape of Good Hope - is located quite far from central Cape Town. This is an entire peninsula where public transport does not go. Cape Town is located on the "Atlantic" edge of the peninsula. The location of Cape Town was chosen due to its convenient bay and relatively sheltered climate. Table Mountain seems to shield it from the cold southern winds blowing from Antarctica.


From a practical standpoint, I was advised to rent a car or Uber to visit the Cape. I didn’t want to take a car just because of this, and I came across a much simpler solution - from the red City buses Tours, as it turned out, there is an additional tour that goes to the very end of the peninsula. This tour departs from the center, circles Table Mountain through District 6 and then heads south along the east coast. This is what the coast of the Indian Ocean looks like, going east and remaining behind.

And the first stop is the penguin colony at Boulders Beach. The first penguin already says hello:

Here the guys are relaxing in the shade:

Well, here the real penguin expanse begins:

This comrade seems to be posing:

A crowd of tourists, who, fortunately, are separated from the penguins themselves:

I look back and am greeted by these views:

Finally I reach the highest point here - the observation deck at the lighthouse on the top of the mountain. Mandatory distance indicators in such a place:

And finally, a look ahead - to the Cape of Good Hope itself.

The rocks there, in the distance, have cost the lives and property of countless sailors. Often the storms raging here carried ships away from the cape and the sailors mistook these very rocks for the Cape of Good Hope - and entered the bay, which they mistook for Cape Town Bay. This bay is named so - False Bay - because due to the prevailing winds here it is almost impossible to get out of it. sailing ship.

And I decided to go down slightly, towards the path that leads to the very tip of the cape.

She wiggles up and down, but I didn't have time to get to the end.

But there was time to wander on the other side of the cape - from where much more dramatic views open up.

Here's a test for eye acuity - can you spot a horned animal?

Cape of Good Hope.

A couple of days later I boarded a plane from Cape Town to Johannesburg, where I rented a car. By now I have already driven it 2,300 kilometers across South Africa, visited national park Kruger, the Kingdom of Swaziland and the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho! I am writing these lines in Johannesburg. To be continued!

Cape of Good Hope: Overview

Name of Good Hope (Cape of Good Hope) bears a rocky headland located in the Cape Point area (Cape Point) in the province of the Western Cape, 50 kilometers from. Contrary to the name, the origin of which is associated with the name of the 15th century Portuguese navigator Bartolomeu Dias, this part of the coast is subject to frequent storms and strong storms, since two powerful ocean currents collide in the peninsula area - the warm Mozambique and the cold Bengal. For centuries, sailors have considered this place one of the most dangerous areas for navigation in the World Ocean. Even for modern ships, the route past the Cape of Good Hope is extremely difficult and dangerous, which only the most experienced sailors can overcome.

There is a common misconception that the Cape of Good Hope marks extreme point southern Africa and serves as an indicator of the conventional boundary between two oceans - the Atlantic and Indian. The true extreme southern point– Cape Agulhas (Cape Agulhas) or Agulny - lies 200 kilometers southeast from here. However, on a line from the equator south along the Atlantic coast of the African continent, the Cape of Good Hope marks a psychologically important point when the traveler begins to move more eastward than southward.

The Cape of Good Hope is a high coastal cliff, one of the highest on Earth. The height from sea level here is about 250 meters. Covered with grassy vegetation and low shrubs, the cape, along with much of the Cape Peninsula (Cape Peninsula) is a part National Park"Table Mountain" (Table Mountain National Park) . It's wild, harsh, but very picturesque region, almost untouched by human activity. On this section of the coast with an area of ​​77.5 km 2 there are amazing landscapes and fantastic views of deserted beaches and stormy ocean. Visitors have the unique opportunity to observe an incredible number of seabirds, including penguins, and dolphins and whales frolicking in the coastal waters, or find a variety of endemic plants that grow nowhere else in the world.

About 2 kilometers to the east, on a cliff 238 meters above sea level, there is an ancient lighthouse built in 1859. And, at present, it continues to be used as a central control point for all lighthouses along the South African coast. The way to get there historical building– an exhilarating three-minute ride on the Flying Dutchman funicular, which takes visitors from the lower station (127 meters) to the upper one.

Cape of Good Hope: How to get there

To get to the Cape of Good Hope, you need to fly to or.

Departs from Johannesburg International Airport to Cape Town a large number of flights different airlines, however, some of them fly only on certain days of the week. However, the chances of flying away without long wait more than high. Flights depart daily at 5.55, 7.25, 8.10, 8.25, 9.10, 9.15, 10.05, 10.40, 11.00, 12.00, 12.50, 13.00, 13.55, 14.15, 15.00, 15.10, 16.20, 17. .00, 17.05, 18.00, 19.30 and 21.10. The ticket price ranges from 50 to 210 USD, flight time is 2 hours 10 minutes.

The easiest way to get from Cape Town to the Cape of Good Hope is by renting a car. The rental cost ranges from 25 to 120 USD per day. Distance from Cape Town CBD (CBD) Cape Point is approximately 70 km away and the journey will take approximately 1 hour 20 minutes depending on traffic.

You can also use the Cape Comoot bus service. On this moment this is the only straight line public transport. Every day at 8.30 and 13.00 company buses depart from Zelenaya market square (Green Market Square) from downtown Cape Town to Cape Point, making a 45-minute stop to see a penguin colony. On the return journey, Cape Comoot buses depart at 13.00 and 17.15. The one-way fare is 99 South African rand (about 7.5 USD).

Cape of Good Hope: Lifehacks

The Cape of Good Hope has its own official website, where you can find the necessary information.

Access to the Cape of Good Hope is now open all year round, but due to seasonal changes depending on the weather, its operating hours vary. From April to September the central gate is open from 7.00 to 17.00, and from October to March from 6.00 to 18.00. The entrance ticket costs 135 South African rand (about 10.5 USD), for children from 2 to 11 years old - 70 rand (about 5.5 USD). The funicular operates from 9.00 to 17.00 (April-September) and from 9.00 to 17.30 (October-March). One-way fare for adults is 50 rand (about 4 USD), round trip – 65 rand (5 USD); For children aged 6 to 16 years, a one-way ticket costs 20 rand (1.5 USD), a round trip ticket costs 25 rand (2 USD).

On vehicles Those leaving the parking lot after the central gate closes will be subject to a fine, so be sure to adhere to the opening hours posted at the park entrance.

Other things to do on Cape Point Peninsula:

- Taste world-class cuisine and breathtaking views at Two Oceans Restaurant on the shores of False Bay (False Bay);

— Discover historical places, such as monuments to the navigators Vasco da Gama and Bartolomeu Diaz;

— Visit great beaches, places for picnics and walks in Bordiereef Bays (Bordjiesrif) and Buffels Bay (Buffels Bay);

— Photograph more than 1,100 local endemic plant species;

— Watch whales play as they pass Cape Point during their annual migration from June to October.

— Try to meet the mountain zebra and the world's largest antelope, Elenda;

— Take a walk along the Olifantsbos Point Shipwreck Trail (Olifantsbos Point), to see the results of several of the 26 recorded shipwrecks off the coast of Cape Point;

— Relax actively in the fresh air - go sea kayaking or mountain biking;

- Explore a variety of stunning dive sites.

— Take a walk to the place where people have seen the legendary ghost ship “The Flying Dutchman” for many years (the Flying Dutchman).

There is no place on the world map more mysterious than the Cape of Good Hope: shipwrecks, exotic animals and plants, unusual nature and climate - all this like a magnet attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world every year.

The Cape of Good Hope is located in the South-West of the African continent and is the southern part of the Cape Peninsula. At 45 m north of the cape Good Hope meets another Cape Point. Geographically, the Cape of Good Hope belongs to the Atlantic basin, but is washed by 2 oceans with different sides: Atlantic and Indian.

The eastern part of the Cape is always colder due to the Antarctic Current. The opposite coast of the cape is washed by the warm waters of Fels Bay, formed by the Indian Ocean. Due to the collision of cold and warm waters, strong air currents are formed around the cape, giving rise to strong winds and storms in the sea.

Highest point Cape is Mount Table (Table Mountain), its height is 1086 m. Near the Table there are the mountains Devil's Peak (height - 1000 m), Lion's Head (670 m), 12 Apostles and Signal Hill (350 m).

Table Mountain near the Cape of Good Hope

Table Mountain is listed world heritage UNESCO and is a symbol of the nearby city of Cape Town.

The mountain owes its name to its unusually flat peak. Thanks to which, the Table resembles a table. Not every tourist is able to see the mountain, as it is often covered with clouds. Locals They call this phenomenon “tablecloth.”

In good weather the mountain is visible from Cape Town. From the city you can climb to the top of the mountain along cable car, or on foot. At the top there is an observation deck and telescopes. This gives you a bird's eye view of Cape Town and the ocean. The mountain is composed of sandstones, it has steep slopes covered with vegetation.

History of the formation of the Cape of Good Hope

The Cape of Good Hope is located on the African Plate and is part of the coastal spit of the Cape Peninsula. The history of the appearance of the Cape of Good Hope is inextricably linked with the formation of the African continent. The Cape took shape during the Triassic period, after the separation of Africa from Pangea.

At that time, this land was not a cape at all, but a small island. Over a long period of time, the ocean deposited sand between the island and the mainland, slowly connecting them.

Locals call this phenomenon "Africa's Helping Hand." During the Ice Age, the Cape of Good Hope, like the entire southern part of Africa, was covered with ice.

People began to inhabit southern Africa during the Stone Age, as evidenced by numerous cave paintings. Rock carvings of the cape were discovered nearby in Cape Town.

Explorations of the Cape of Good Hope

The Cape of Good Hope appeared on the world map during the Age of Discovery. Interest in the cape stems from the East India Company, which required a sea trade route from Europe to India. Like all the greats geographical discoveries The Cape of Good Hope was discovered by accident.

The discoverer of the cape is considered to be the navigator of Portuguese origin Bartolomeu Dias. All the men in the Dias family were engaged in navigation, so Bartolomeu was well acquainted with navigation and ship control; already at the age of 30 he became a ship captain on state pay.

In 1487, the Portuguese king Juan II ordered to equip a naval expedition of three ships, two of which were military sailing ships. The goal was to find new way to India via Africa. A year later, they reached the southern hemisphere of the Earth and began their journey along the shores of the African continent.

Unbearable heat and a storm raging off the coast of Africa forced Dias to change course and set sail for 2 weeks open sea. After the storm subsided, the ships returned to their usual course and reached the southern part of the continent. Ahead was the Indian Ocean and a direct path to the shores of India.

However, Dias failed to reach its shores. The crew began to demand to return home due to dwindling supplies, scurvy and very hot weather. The captain decided to return in 3 days.

During these three days, the ship managed to reach Cape Agulhas and go around it. On the last day of their journey, Dias and his team rounded an unknown cape and turned back. Dias named it the Cape of Storms because strong winds blew around it. The Cape of Good Hope appeared on the world map thanks to Juan II. Upon returning to his homeland, Dias presented a report to the king, who did not like the name Cape of Storms.

It was decided to rename the cape His Majesty the Cape of Good Hope. The name, which was too long, did not catch on and was changed to the Cape of Good Hope. This name was supposed to give hope to sailors heading to the shores of India.

For 5 long years, no one searched the coast of India. Interest in it awoke only after the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus. King Juan II again orders an expedition through Africa. In 1498, Vasco da Gama rounded the Cape of Good Hope and headed for the shores of India.

Dias later made attempts to reach the Cape of Good Hope, but whether he succeeded in his plans is unknown. Dias's ship went missing southern shores Africa. After which a legend was born that the ship forever wanders off the coast of the cape it discovered. Perhaps this story served as the prototype for the famous tale of the Flying Dutchman, a ghost ship.

The path to India past the coast of Africa was laid, but the Portuguese were not interested in exploring it. The first European settlements in these areas were organized by the Dutch in 1652. It was they who began to study the cape, the population living in these parts and nature.

The pilgrims managed to find out that historically the area of ​​the cape belonged to the Hottentot tribe, a relative of the Bushmen tribe. It was the Dutch pioneers who founded the city of Cape Town near the cape, the name of which can be translated as “proud on the cape.”

Cape Town began to prosper as all the ships rounding the Cape of Good Hope docked at the port to resupply. The cape became an outpost of the East India Company on its way to India.

In 1657, the Hottentots, dissatisfied with slavery and the taking of land by Europeans, started a war. The excitement was suppressed by the Europeans. In 1795, the settlement could not resist the onslaught of Napoleon and the territory, along with the cape, went to France.

The Cape of Good Hope disappeared from the world map in 1796. That year, Great Britain ousted the French, and the Cape became known as the “Provincial Colony of Good Hope.” These territories would later become part of the Union of South Africa.

The British managed to find gold deposits near the cape and organize diamond mines, to which adventurers from all over the world flocked. Cape Town has become the main city in Africa. Only in 1961, the Cape of Good Hope, as part of the Union, became the independent Republic of South Africa (RSA) and regained its name.

Climatic conditions

The climate at the Cape of Good Hope is marine subtropical. It’s not for nothing that the peninsula got its name Cape of Storms. The wind blows strong here and does not stop throughout the year. In summer the wind has southeast direction, and in winter - northwestern. The best time Spring is considered the best time for tourists to explore the Cape of Good Hope.

In the southern hemisphere it occurs in September-November. In spring, the cape begins to become covered with greenery, there is little precipitation and the temperature allows you to enjoy a walk along the cape.

In summer, the Cape of Good Hope is heated by the warm currents of the Indian Ocean. This is a hot and dry season with little rainfall. Summer on the Cape lasts from December to March. average temperature in summer 25 °C, but in some years the temperature exceeded 40 °C - this is the absolute temperature maximum.

Autumn at the Cape of Good Hope occurs between April and May. This is a pleasant and not hot time to travel. At this time you can fully appreciate the beauty local nature.

Largest quantity Precipitation falls on the cape in winter in June-August. In June last year, 122 mm Hg fell. Art.

This is the rainiest and cloudiest month of the year. The wind, which constantly blows on the cape during the rainy season, intensifies, remaining warm.

Average temperature for the last 3 years:

Month January February March April May June July August September October November December
Average temperature during the day, 0 C 26 26 24 22 19 16 16 17 19 21 22 24
Average temperature at night, 0C 18 18 17 15 14 11 10 11 12 14 15 17
Cloudiness, % 13 13 18 24 27 33 28 31 29 23 20 17

Flora and fauna

The Cape of Good Hope on the world map does not have the best location. But from the point of view natural map world, this area is unique.

Only here there are signs warning car owners: “When starting the car, make sure there are no penguins under it.”

It’s hard to believe, but on such a small piece of land, animals whose habitats are hundreds of kilometers apart coexist peacefully. Only at the Cape of Good Hope you can meet monkeys, zebras, penguins and ostriches in one place in just a few hours of walking. 5% of all animal and plant species on the planet can be seen in South Africa.

The most frequent guests of the cape are marine inhabitants. Off the coast of the Cape of Good Hope you can meet entire colonies of fur seals, and see sharks and whales swimming past. Since the cape goes deep into the sea, its shore becomes an excellent viewing platform for observing these amazing sea creatures.

One of the symbols of the cape are fur seals. These are small pinnipeds that are black or brown in color. Not far from Cape Town you can see the island of fur seals. According to various estimates, from 50 to 70 thousand seals live on it. The island looks more like flat rocks with water sticking out on them, on which fur seals live. Previously, poachers caught seals for the production of fur coats; now this is officially prohibited and the animals are under the protection of the South African authorities.

The monkey family on the island is represented by baboons, who are so accustomed to living among people that they are not afraid of their presence. Tourists often try to feed the animals, so the South African authorities were forced to put up signs with the following content: “Baboons are wild and dangerous animals.”

There are even employees on the island who drive animals away from tourists with sticks. Baboons belong to the monkey family and are very similar in appearance. The height of baboons reaches 75 cm. The usual habitat of baboons is East and Central Africa.

On the way to the cape, you can meet elephants and herds of antelope, which still live in the Republic of South Africa. African ostriches can be found not only on special farms, but also in the wild. They are the only remaining members of the ostrich family in South Africa. The height of birds can reach more than 2.5 m, and their weight exceeds 150 kg.

An encounter with an ostrich can be dangerous for a tourist. In total, about 850 bird species live permanently in South Africa and the Cape of Good Hope. On the cape you can easily find the nests of some of them.

Penguins are a favorite among tourists. Their population on the Indian Ocean coast is large. They scurry around everywhere, their main habitat is Boulders Beach.

Local authorities decided to give the beach to the penguins. The cape is home to spectacled penguins, which are listed in the International Red Book. These penguins are also called donkey penguins because of their ability to make sounds similar to the “ey” of a donkey.

2/3 of the flora of the Cape of Good Hope consists of rare plant species that cannot be found in any other corner of the world. Most of The cape is occupied by the Fynbos biome, consisting mainly of rare species of shrubs. There are about 9 thousand species here.

Good Hope Reserve

The reserve is considered not only the main attraction of the cape, but also of South Africa itself. Its area is more than 7 hectares of land. You can get to the reserve from Cape Town by car or rent a bicycle. The journey by car will take about 1.5 hours. The road to the Cape of Good Hope is laid through the territory of the reserve. There is an ostrich farm nearby.

The Cape of Good Hope remains the most unique point on the world map in terms of the number of unique animal species. Not so long ago, scientists from the UK proved this. The reserve presents all animals and plants living on the Cape Peninsula and in South Africa.

The history of the reserve began recently, in 1938. By that time, more than 1000 various types animals and several thousand plants.

In this place are rare species animals that are found only on the territory of the reserve and animals brought from all over South Africa. Hyenas, rhinoceroses, ostriches, crocodiles, penguins, giraffes, zebras, antelopes, elephants - all of them can be found in the reserve.

The reserve is open daily for tourists, the only restriction is bad weather. During storms and storms, tourists are prohibited from visiting the park and the Cape of Good Hope. The most popular among tourists are fur seals and penguins, who are happy to be photographed and are not afraid of humans.

Cape Beaches

During the swimming season, when on the coast good weather tourists are allowed to swim on the beaches of the cape and sunbathe. The swimming season lasts from September to May.

It is worth remembering that the cape is washed on both sides by different oceans, so the temperature in the western part is always a little lower, but there are sandy entries into the water and the waves are calm.

Eastern Bank warmer, but at the same time gusty winds constantly blow there and formations big waves. The beaches in this part are more suitable for walking and contemplating the ocean.



There are no blank spots left on the world map thanks to people like Bartolomeu Dias, who spent their entire lives for one discovery. Cape of Good Hope - extraordinary a nice place, filled with the romance of wanderings. The edge of the earth that everyone should see.

Article format: Mila Friedan

Video about the Cape of Good Hope

Penguins in Africa: