New Cape Point Lighthouse — Attraction in Western Cape

Cape Point is the 2nd southernmost tip of Africa. The most south one can get in Africa is a 3 hour drive to Cape Agulhus- where the two oceans (Atlantic and Indian) meet. I love Cape Point. It’s notorious for its tumultuous and responsible for some of the most infamous shipwrecks in the world. Stories have been written, songs sung, tales spun for hundreds of years about Cape Point. Ismael mentions it in his three years aboard The Pequod. I love that the southwestern portion of Cape Point possesses this cacophony of waves and wind and birds that drowns out anything immaterial going on in your head. And I love that to simply turn to the Southeastern path, a mere 20 steps away is almost completely silent, the waters so calm one can hardly believe it’s the same sea. I love the old lighthouse that now’s serves as a monitoring built on its highest peak 238 meters above sea level in 1859 because the “Cape of Storms” had developed such a reputation for its heavy fog, its rocks and its storms. And I love the lizards and flowers that call Cape Point home 🦎 🌸 Further down but in the same national park, there are turtles, zebras, ostriches, bucks, baboons… the wildlife here is breathtaking. So much life. So much history. So much beauty. My heart just swells for the perfection...

The Cape Point Lighthouse, located within the Cape Point Nature Reserve in South Africa, is a historic and scenic landmark. Here are some key details about it:

History: The original lighthouse was built in 1859 but was later replaced by the current structure in 1919 due to concerns about its previous location being too low. The new lighthouse is situated at a higher elevation for better visibility.

Scenic Views: The lighthouse offers stunning panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean, the surrounding cliffs, and nearby bays. It’s a popular spot for photography, especially during sunset.

Hiking Trails: There are several hiking trails around the area that lead to the lighthouse, providing beautiful views and opportunities for wildlife spotting.

Visitor Center: There’s a visitor center nearby that provides information about the history of the lighthouse and the surrounding area.

Access: Visitors can either hike up to the lighthouse or take a funicular railway that runs from the...

Great views, easy hike — totally worth it

We decided to skip the funicular and walk up to the old Cape Point Lighthouse — and we’re glad we did. The trail is well-paved, not too long, and offers beautiful viewpoints along the way. It took us about 20–25 minutes round trip, with some stops for photos.

The climb wasn’t hard at all, just a bit steep in places. At the top, the views are absolutely breathtaking — ocean all around, crashing waves, dramatic cliffs.

Many visitors mention the same thing: it would be helpful if the park added trail signs with estimated walking times. But overall, a fantastic and memorable stop at the Cape of Good Hope.

#CapePoint #LighthouseHike #SouthAfricaViews...