Hiking The Lighthouse Keeper’s Trail At Cape Point (Cape Town, South Africa)
As part of our tour down to South Africa’s Cape of Good Hope, we had a chance to step out and check out a wonderful little trek, the Lighthouse Keeper’s Trail at Cape Point.
About The Lighthouse Keeper’s Trail At Cape Point:
Editor’s Note: This post is part of our series on South Africa.
The Lighthouse Keeper’s Trail is the most popular trail at Cape Point, and for good reason – it’s beautiful.
Alltrails lists this moderate, out & back trail as 1.7 miles (roundtrip) with 610 feet of elevation gain.
This trail is mostly exposed, and the unpredictable weather on the Cape of Good Hope can be cold, windy, and wet – so come dressed prepared for anything.
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Getting There:
From Cape Town, the drive down to the New Cape Point Lighthouse takes about and hour and fifteen minutes by automobile.
Location:
From the Cape of Good Hope, Cape Point is located due east.
In fact, there is a hiking trail that goes between the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point, the “Cape Point Connector Trail”.
For the less adventurous, there is a parking lot near the Flying Dutchman Funicular that lies at the trailhead.
Section 1: The Ascent From The Parking Lot Trailhead
From the trailhead, the trail ascends steadily up a paved walkway.
Here, you’ll find some strategically-placed benches to rest on or just to take in the views.
Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife, but beware of the marauding Baboons looking for food.
A well-placed bench on the ascent
The colorful larva of the Cape Lappet Moth (Eutricha Capensis)
View of the Lighthouse from below
A Black Girdled Lizard (Cordylus niger) keeps watch over the trail
The Baboons weren’t out on the day we were there
Section 2: The WWII Secret Radar Station
A little past the half-way point on the trail (off to the right) lies the remnants of a secret radar station from World War II.
Here, you’ll see the many hillside fortifications as well as gain stunning views of the Cape.
Inside of some of the forts, there are panels of Baboons and Ostriches, wildlife which you may see along the Cape of Good Hope.
Section 3: The Summit
The last section is the push from the secret radar station to the summit.
From atop the peak, you’ll have outstanding 360 degree views of the Cape of Good Hope, False Bay, and Table Mountain National Park.
The New Cape Point Lighthouse
Final Thoughts: Hiking The Lighthouse Keeper’s Trail At Cape Point (Cape Town, South Africa)
Seeing the Cape of Good Hope in person had been a dream of mine since I first learned about it way back in Elementary School.
Having finally done it, I can tell you that Cape Point was the best place to see it from afar.
In all, I believe the hike took us about 1 hour (roundtrip) to hike, but that was with all the viewpoints, pictures, and birdwatching.
Overall, the trail is relatively easy, good for people of all ages, and definitely worth doing if you are heading down to the Cape.
Cheers!
