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One needs little excuse to spend a lovely winter's day out and about in Table Mountain National Park; especially when one lives right on the doorstep of the most popular national park in South Africa.

Over the next while we would like to share our visits to this stunning and world famous park with you all. See here for maps of the area.

Cape of Good Hope : August 2011
Situated at the junction of two of earth's most contrasting water masses - the cold Benguela current on the West Coast and the warm Agulhas current on the East Coast, is the Cape of Good Hope. This area was proclaimed a nature reserve in 1938 and in 2004 became known as the Table Mountain National Park.

The Cape of Good Hope is part of the Cape Floristic Kingdom, the smallest but richest of the world's six floral kingdoms with 1100 species of indigenous plants, some of which occur no where else in the world.

There is also rich marine life in the park - with a difference in sea life to the west of Cape Point to that of the side east of Cape Point as a result of the differing sea temperatures on either side.

There are about 250 bird species in this area, and many small animals, with a few herds of zebra, eland and other antelope.

Travelling along False Bay just before the gate to the park, the view:

Judas Peak by dinkybird, on Flickr



Entrance gate by dinkybird, on Flickr

A view from just inside the entrance gate:

View over False Bay by dinkybird, on Flickr

We had packed a picnic lunch and decided to explore Buffels Bay on the eastern side of Cape Point. This is a lovely area to picnic and for kiddies to explore the sea life along the rocks. Braai areas are provided.

Folk were launching boats from the slipway into the calm ocean.

We enjoyed the birds - gulls, terns and amongst them on the rocks, a pair of Egyptian Geese We spotted a pair of African Oyster Catchers as well.

At the turn off down to the picnic area, a notice to remind us of the rules of the park:

Notice by dinkybird, on Flickr

A lovely paddling pool for kiddies - and yip, some brave souls were in the water ....

Buffels Bay by dinkybird, on Flickr


Buffels Bay by dinkybird, on Flickr


Buffels Bay by dinkybird, on Flickr


Across False Bay by dinkybird, on Flickr


Across False Bay by dinkybird, on Flickr

A visit to the Cape of Good Hope is not complete without going up to the lighthouse and taking a look out over Cape Point where we were lucky enough to be able to see right across to Cape Agulhas.


Making the climb by dinkybird, on Flickr

We decided we were not soft, so would make the climb by foot ... at one point I did think the folk who took the tram up were the wiser

The easy way up by dinkybird, on Flickr

Half way up, a stop to take in the view behind us of two ocean currents.

Two currents by dinkybird, on Flickr

The lighthouse (still so far up!!)

The Lighthouse by dinkybird, on Flickr


Historic Lighthouse by dinkybird, on Flickr

And right there, for those who are lost and not sure which way to begin the walk (or swim) home ....

For tourists who get lost by dinkybird, on Flickr

Cape of Good Hope

View from the top over the west of Cape of Good Hope by dinkybird, on Flickr

Cape Point, with a view right across to Cape Agulhas (yellow dot)

Cape Point to Cape Agulhas, the southern most tip of Africa by dinkybird, on Flickr