Go to the Cape of Good Hope. Cape of Good Hope

Bartolomeo Dias, a Portuguese navigator, was the first to circumnavigate the cape in 1488. When he returned, he stopped at the southwestern tip of Africa and named it the Cape of Storms. But the king of Portugal, John II, renamed it, calling it a cape Good Hope. This cape was rounded in 1497 by the ship of Vasco da Gama on the way to India. The bold travels of the Portuguese navigators made it possible to lay a sea route around the cape, then regular sailings began, however, due to the deceptive coastline and dangerous fogs, these places have seen many shipwrecks.

In order to reduce the risk of possible catastrophes, it was decided to build a lighthouse on the cape. The first lighthouse was built in 1857 at a height of 238 m above sea level, but it turned out to be so high that fogs and clouds cover it for more than 900 hours a year. After the wreck of the Portuguese liner Lusitania in 1911, the lighthouse was relocated and built just 87 meters above sea level. Construction work began in 1913 and continued for almost six years due to the difficulty of getting building materials here and adverse conditions. weather conditions. The lighthouse is the most powerful on the coast of South Africa. Visible at a distance of 63 km, it emits three flashes of light every 30 seconds with a power of 10 million candles.

The area around the lighthouse

On the shore around the lighthouse, and today you can see the remains of 26 ships that did not manage to go around the cape. One of the most famous shipwrecks was the sinking of the Thomas T. Tucker, one of hundreds of ships built by the United States of America to carry supplies to the Allies during World War II. On the very first voyage, the ship went off course due to fog and ran into the rocks.

The scenic area around the lighthouse is made up of green hills through which trails descend to secluded beaches where elans, baboons, ostriches and bonteboks live - brightly colored antelopes. From this side of the cape, it is difficult to even imagine how many tragedies happened very close by.

Let's say right away that the Cape of Good Hope is not the most south point Africa. But he is definitely the most famous in all of her south coast.
In the Age of the Great geographical discoveries(since the end of the 15th century) ships, skirting the continent, changed course for the first time, turning east towards the Indian Ocean, right here. Therefore, people considered this cape the most southern. Since then, science has stepped forward and clarified that, in fact, Cape Agulhas, located 150 km to the southeast, should be considered the southern point of the mainland. And the Cape of Good Hope bears the honorary title of the most southwestern point of the African continent.

Cape of Good Hope on the map

• Geographic coordinates -34.357890, 18.475453
• The distance from the capital of South Africa, Pretoria, is approximately 1340 km.
• Distance to nearest international airport Cape Town about 45km

An interesting fact is that there are as many as 3 capitals in South Africa. Pretoria is the official capital of the state. But the Parliament is in Cape Town, and the Supreme Court is in Bloemfontein. And these cities are also called capitals. This is explained as follows: at the beginning of its formation, South Africa was a confederation, which included 3 territories - the Republic of South Africa (Pretoria), possessions of Britain (Cape Town), and a country with a very exotic name Orange Free State (Bloemfontein). With the formation of South Africa, it was decided to distribute the authorities in these cities evenly.

Let's return to the Cape of Good Hope. It was originally called the Cape of Storms. And for good reason.
The history of the name is as follows:
Europeans were looking for a sea route to India. To this end, in the middle of the last millennium, an expedition set off from Portugal. And in 1488, Captain Bartolomeo Dias for the first time rounded this cape. But these guys failed to get to India, as the team was tired and revolted. Dias was forced to turn back. On the way back, a storm raged in the cape area. The ship and its crew were pretty battered. The sailor did not invent the original name, calling the rocky ledge simply the Cape of Storms. A little later, the King of Portugal, João II, decided to rename it the Cape of Good Hope, rightly believing that such a name would not only not scare away other sailors, but would also give them hope for a speedy completion of the journey.

The King's initiative paid off. Already in 1497, Vasco da Gama paved the way from the Old World to India. The expedition was successful, and since then the name Cape of Good Hope has been firmly entrenched behind this rocky ledge. Many sailors began to use this route.

Yes, of course, the souls of the sailors were filled with hope when approaching this cape, because most of the way was behind them. Joy spread over the faces of the team. But no matter how amazing and bewitching the Cape of Good Hope attracts attention, it is quite dangerous for sailors. Storms and storms are quite normal for these places. Until now, about three dozen sunken ships can be seen in the surrounding waters.

To facilitate navigation, in 1857 a lighthouse was built 238 meters above sea level. But it turned out to be too high, and sometimes clouds and fog completely covered it completely.

After another shipwreck in 1911, it was decided to move the lighthouse. From 1913 to 1919, the lighthouse was built in a different place and not so high. The new lighthouse rises above sea level by only 87 meters. But it can be seen from a distance of more than 60 km. This is the most powerful lighthouse on the entire southern coast of Africa. Since then, the sea route in the cape area has become much safer.

There is an interesting misunderstanding. In fact, ships passing from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean go around Cape Point, located a little further. But it is the Cape of Good Hope that enjoys worldwide fame.

Behind Cape Point is a cozy Falsbay Bay, similar to the Hawaiian Hanauma Bay. There is beautiful beach washed by the warm current of the Indian Ocean.

Excellent beaches on the border of two oceans, breathtaking views of the surroundings, a variety of flora and fauna in the area of ​​the Cape of Good Hope attract a huge number of tourists.

Cape of Good Hope in pictures

The southwestern tip of Africa - the Cape of Good Hope - is located quite far from the central Cape Town. It's a whole peninsula where you don't go public transport. 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, as it were, covers it from the cold southern winds blowing from Antarctica.

From a practical point of view, I was advised to rent a car or Uber to visit the cape. I did not want to take the car just because of this, and I stumbled upon a much simpler solution - the red buses City Tours, as it turned out, there is an additional tour that goes all the way to the end of the peninsula. This tour departs downtown, circles Table Mountain through District 6, and then travels south on east coast. This is what the coast looks like indian ocean, leaving to the east and remaining behind.

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

Here the guys are resting in the shade:

Well, here the real penguin expanse begins:

This friend seems to be posing:

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

I look back and I am greeted by these views:

I finally get to the very high point here - the observation deck at the lighthouse on top of the mountain. Mandatory distance indicators in such a place:

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

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

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

She wags 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 an eye acuity test - can you spot a horned animal?

Cape of Good Hope.

A couple of days later I boarded a plane and flew from Cape Town to Johannesburg, where I rented a car. To date, I have already managed to drive it 2300 kilometers on South Africa, visit national park Kruger, the kingdom of Swaziland and the mountain kingdom of Lesotho! I am writing these lines in Johannesburg. To be continued!

Probably, there is not a single person in the world who would not know the name of the most famous cape of the planet Earth, the Cape of Good Hope. When you hear this name, a bright picture appears before your eyes - a raging ocean, a ship with brave seafarers and the cabin boy's cry: "Earth, earth!". And, of course, we could not ignore this in any way. iconic place. It was decided to dedicate one day to a trip to the Cape of Good Hope, and at the same time, also visit.

We are heading towards the Cape of Good Hope.
The name comes from the captain's assistant from an English ship that arrived here in 1607 to reconnoiter the area. Entering the bay, the captain sent John Chapman up the mountain to inspect the surroundings. He left and disappeared. After waiting for several hours, the captain decided that his messenger might well have crashed in the mountains, and for some reason gave the order to set sail. Already at the exit from the bay, the sailors noticed the signals of Chapman, who was rushing down to the ocean. The ship sent a boat to pick up the man, and the place was named Chapman's Luck. After the First World War, a road was paved along the steep cliffs. Open since 1922, it has become one of the attractions of Cape Town

You can appreciate the views that open from this road by going to.

The reserve of the Cape of Good Hope, where we are going, occupies the entire extreme part of the peninsula. Antelopes, zebras, ostriches, and monkeys roam freely on over 7,700 hectares; more than 1100 species of plants grow. All nature is protected, so you can’t take anything with you, don’t pick flowers, don’t feed monkeys.

Entrance to the reserve is paid. You can spend the whole day on the territory of the reserve, which the locals do with pleasure, they come here for the weekend and walk in nature, sunbathe and swim, fish. The area is quite safe.

This is probably the most visited place in South Africa by tourists. The legendary Cape of Good Hope has long been considered the most southwestern point of Africa, until scientists determined that this point is 1.5 km from it in a straight line and this point is Cape Point. Here is such a pun, point - Cape Points.))

Tourists usually visit both places at once - the Cape of Good Hope, and the most southwestern part of Africa, Cape Point.

Among the tourists there are very colorful.

You can drive up to the Cape of Good Hope by car along the road along the ocean, or you can walk along the wooden walkways that are laid by the most beautiful beach, which bears the name "beach of God".

230 steep stairs lead to this beach. But it's worth it. White sand, like on the Bounty and two well-known capes along the edges of the beach. Incredibly beautiful place.

Representatives of the local fauna, funny lizards crawl out onto the wooden walkways to bask.

You can climb the cape along a rocky path and admire the views that open from there.
Interestingly, far fewer tourists go to the Cape of Good Hope than to Cape Point. They probably do not want to bother with a two-kilometer walk through the mountains.

In vain. It is very beautiful in here.

But not everyone is afraid of difficulties.

Cape Point and the lighthouse can be reached by funicular or by a well-maintained staircase, admiring the Cape of Good Hope along the way and beautiful views to the national park. I, as always, chose to climb on foot. The husband decided that one cape from him was enough and he would rather spend this time on the beach.)

The road to Cape Point goes up to the old lighthouse - the highest sea lighthouse in South Africa. When they were building, they thought: the higher, the better, the farther it will be visible. It turned out not quite so. Up to 900 hours a year, the lighthouse is covered by dense low clouds, while at sea level visibility can remain excellent. Near the shore, under the very surface of the water, a rock is hidden, on which ships have repeatedly crashed on cloudy nights. The lighthouse continued to shine in the fog, but was invisible. After the collapse of the Portuguese cargo ship "Lusitania" (the ancient name of Portugal), a new lighthouse was built sixty meters above the water. The old one was turned into observation deck where is going Railway. From above, trails depart for those wishing to walk along the rocks to the edge of the cape, from where you can see the new lighthouse and the remains of radar installations from the Second World War.

It goes without saying that I went up to the lighthouse.

Even despite the off-season, there were a huge number of tourists next to it. And that was the first time in South Africa that I heard Russian spoken. A group of Russian tourists came for the tour.

Well, I completed the minimum program, a photo of the lighthouse and its surroundings.

And, of course, she went further, where no lazy tourist had gone, to the edge of the cliff, under which a second, small lighthouse was built.
The heat has already thoroughly got me, but the Russians do not give up to put an end to their tourist map I wanted to, because you can’t consider such a large lighthouse if there is another 1.5 kilometers along the rocks to the real Cape Point.

And now, hurrah! I am standing at Cape Point and in front of me is the ocean and Antarctica.

Although the merging of Indian and Atlantic Oceans located on Cape Agulhas, it is believed that the two currents merge in the area of ​​the Cape of Good Hope. The warm current Agulhas, running from East to West, reaches the Cape Peninsula, where it dries up. The Benguela Current moves from South to North. The current itself is not cold, but its effect on water temperature is associated with the process of displacement of the upper layers of water. Due to this, on one side of the peninsula, the water temperature is always a couple of degrees different from the water temperature on the other. From the lighthouse it even seems that you can see the difference in the color of the water. There are no borders as such - water and water. It's like looking for the place where whiskey and soda meet in a glass. Standing on top of the peninsula and looking into open ocean in the South, you feel the end of the world. Further - only Antarctica, although it is more than 4500 km away. And under your feet - on the one hand, the cold waters of the Atlantic, on the other - a bay called False Bay. The water is warmer there, due to the current from the Indian Ocean, and along it are the most popular beaches of the city. The name of the bay appeared even under the Portuguese. It is so wide that in foggy weather the opposite shore is not visible, and the impression of an open ocean is created.

I go down from the lighthouse, where we meet with my husband. And we go to the local souvenir shop. Quite a decent range.
I was surprised that there was no cafe nearby. There are a huge number of tourists, probably many, after climbing up the mountain, would be happy to sit at a table overlooking the ocean and the Cape of Good Hope. But there was no cafe or any grocery store nearby.

While we were walking along the bridges to the cute birds, we met with a close relative of... an elephant. She sat on the railing and even posed for us a little.

Full of impressions, we returned home. But before the Cape we could not stop. It was last time when we could look at the panorama of the city.

And at home, in a small garden, other representatives of the animal world of Africa were waiting for us.

Evening came, and then the sky cleared and the night showed us constellations that people who live on the other hemisphere never see.
That's all, it's time to say goodbye to the Cape Peninsula.
We're leaving tomorrow. We are waiting for the southernmost point of Africa.

Excursion to the ends of the earth! Is this not a dream!

For a long time it was believed that the Cape of Good Hope is the southern point of Africa. It was discovered in 1488 by the Portuguese navigator Bartolomeu Dias de Novais. In search of a sea route to India, Bartolomeu and his team went around Africa. Having fallen into a severe storm, the ships wandered in the ocean for several days, and then stumbled upon a cape. In memory of the storm, the navigator named it Cape Storms.

Soon, thanks to King Joao II of Portugal, the cape received a different name - the Cape of Good Hope.

Cape of Good Hope - extreme point southwestern part of Africa. Its exact coordinates are indicated on a sign placed in front of the cape. Tourists gather around it all the time.

A little further away from it is Cape Point - a favorite place for visitors due to the powerful lighthouse, 240 m above sea level. A lighthouse named "Cape of Good Hope" was built at Cape Point back in 1857. Currently, it is not operational, but tourists can take the funicular or on foot to the observation deck, located at an altitude of 200 m, from where a beautiful panoramic view opens.

If you look closely, you can see from a height how the waters of the Indian and Atlantic oceans join at the cape. Different shades of water merge together. Equipped on the coast sandy beaches where you can relax with a large company or retire.

Not far from the Cape of Good Hope is the famous among lovers active rest Diaz Beach. Surfers are drawn to the high waves, divers are drawn to the numerous wrecks, and adventurers hope to catch a glimpse of the legendary Flying Dutchman.

On the way to the Cape of Good Hope from Cape Town, on the territory of more than 7 thousand hectares, there is a reserve of the same name with the cape. More than 1,000 plant species, including endemics, are found here. In the impenetrable thickets of the reserve, the artichoke protea grows, the flower of which is the symbol of South Africa.

More than 250 species of birds and many animals live here: elands, zebras, bear baboons, cheetahs, lynxes, mongooses, crocodile-like lizards. And next to them live penguins and fur seals. AT winter time and in spring, southern right whales swim near the Cape of Good Hope.

How to get to the Cape of Good Hope:

• from Moscow to Cape Town with a transfer in Munich, London or Dubai, from where it takes 4 hours to get to the cape by car. The road by car runs through an area filled with wonderful landscapes, so time flies by unnoticed.

For your convenience, Excellence organizes individual tours to the Cape of Good Hope with a departure from Moscow.