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Welcome to the Cape Town South Peninsula
Welcome to Southern Crossroads. You will be able to find useful information around the Far South of the Cape Peninsula here. So check in every now and again or bookmark us. Please check out the following:
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SOUTHERN CROSSROADS TRAVEL BLOG The purpose of this blog is provide news and views around the Cape Town South Peninsula and guide you through what is inarguably one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The best restaurants in the south The best beaches in the southern peninsula 5 great hikes in the Southern Peninsula A blog designated to distributing information relevant to the members of the Glencairn Glen Road Neighbourhood Watch, such as local security and the ins and outs of fire prevention within the fynbos scattered community. Stolen Copper Pipes – Glencairn Heights, Sat 21st GLENCAIRN & SIMON'S TOWN COMMUNITY BLOG Security & other community related information relevant to the various neighbourhood watches and residents of the Deep South. Secretary for Neighbourhood Watch (voluntary position) Visits to Museum Submarine in Simon’s Town |
It's easy for everybody to do their bit for Green Living, they just need to know how. This blog provides universal advice as well as updating you with global and local Cape Town news. You can also find out ways others are making the world a greener place. Destroying Canada one barrel of oil at a time How to make 2012 your greenest year yet Petition to remove fluoride from drinking water This resource examines the link between runaway brush fires and invasive alien plants in the South Peninsula and to explore what can be done to break this link, while providing practical reference information and news to communities and individuals on the control of invasive alien vegetation and best advice on how to protect their homes from the scourge of brush fires. |
More info on the South Peninsula
Cape Town's South Peninsula is renowned as a perfect vacation destination boasting safe bathing beaches, an array of maritime and water sport activities, fabulous sea side restaurants & pubs and a history of bloody battles, an incarcerated princess and a legendary phantom ship believed to be that of the doomed Portuguese explorer, Bartholomew Dias, which disappeared off the Cape coast in 1500.
It stretches from the popular beach suburb of Muizenberg on the east coast, around Cape Point to the rural settlement of Noordhoek, which is situated on South Africa's chilly Atlantic coastline.
Climate & Sea Temperatures
The peninsula, also known locally as the Deep South, is a fine combination of mountain peaks, robust ocean currents and caves hewn out of sandstone by the potent winter and summer winds.
During the summer months, the prevailing wind is the powerful south-easter, which propels the warm Mozambique current into False Bay, raising the sea temperature from a rather challenging 15°C to a relatively balmy 22°C. In winter, the wind direction changes to north-west, a wind laden with life-giving rain.
During the summer months there is a difference of at least 6°C between sea temperatures on the east or Indian Ocean coastline and the west or Atlantic Ocean side, but this drops significantly in winter, with only around 0.5°C difference.
With a temperate Mediterranean climate, the Far South has mild, wet winters and dry, hot summers, often dominated by the south-easter wind which can reach gale force on occasion. Average summer temperatures, in degrees Celsius, reach the mid twenties whereas minimum winter temperatures drop to around 7°C in July.
Muizenberg
Muizenberg is regarded as one of the country's most famous seaside resorts, popularised by Cecil John Rhodes in the late 1800's. With the advent of the railway line between Cape Town and the naval base of Simon's Town, well-heeled Edwardian city dwellers flocked to the area as a preferred beach holiday destination.
The pristine, sandy white beach stretches eastward for 35 km and is defined by a colourful collection of Edwardian beach huts. Long Victorian woollen dresses and full length bathing suits have, however, been replaced by board shorts and the briefest of bikinis!
Close to the beaches of False Bay is a collection of lakes or vleis which are fed by mountain streams originating in the Constantia and Tokai mountains. Legend, however, has it that the lakes are filled with the tears of a Hottentot princess, held captive in the Elephant's Eye Cave by Portuguese sailors.
These vleis offer fantastic water sport activities, unrivalled bird watching opportunities and even the occasional glimpse of hippo, introduced to control the rampant growth of vegetation!
About 1.5km from Muizenberg - the site of a bloody battle between the incumbent Dutch garrison and the marauding British occupying forces in 1795 – is the quaint suburb of St James, which is sheltered from the wind and has a popular tidal pool and beach. The next stop is the working fishing harbour of Kalk Bay.
Kalk Bay
Kalk, or Lime, Bay is so named as a large kiln was built and operated in the area to produce lime to paint on the early Cape colony dwellings. Today it is a bustling tourism hub boasting a collection of antique, bric-a-brac and curio shops as well as a range of seafood restaurants, outdoor pubs and delicatessens.
The harbor, with its collection of kaleidoscope coloured fishing boats, is always a hive of activity especially during the winter months when the snoek season is in full swing. The mountains above the enchanting fishing village offer a selection of hikes through the Cape's famous floral kingdom and are full of remarkable caves, waiting to be explored by the amateur speleologist.
Further down the South Peninsula are the suburbs of Clovelly, home to a popular and challenging 18-hole golf course; Fish Hoek, the only alcohol free suburb of the Far South as well as a safe bathing destination and Glencairn, named by a homesick Scot who allegedly used to wander the hills playing his bagpipes!
Simon's Town
Once the South Atlantic base of the Royal Navy and, today, South Africa's primary naval base, Simon's Town is named after the erstwhile Governor of the Cape, Simon van der Stel and has the special ambience of an English maritime village. There are a number of historically important museums which are well worth a visit as well as waterfront restaurants, English style pubs and a range of accommodation to suit all budgets.
One of the more famous inhabitants was Just Nuisance, a much beloved dog who took a shine to the sailors and is remembered by a bronze stature erected in the town square.
Simon's Town is also renowned for its big game fishing opportunities, with bluefin tunny and marlin caught off deep sea craft on a regular basis.
The coastal road continues from Simon's Town to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve via the salubrious, seaside suburb of Miller's Point and Smitswinkel Bay, a favourite local fishing area.
The Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve
The 7 680ha nature reserve is the destination of the iconic Cape Point, the meeting place of the tempestuous southern ocean currents. It is also home to the most powerful lighthouse in the world, which provides 19 000 0000 candlepower and has been the saviour of many a ship caught up in the Cape's notoriously violent seas.
One boat which failed to negotiate the Cape well before the advent of the lighthouse was that of the Portuguese explorer, Dias, whose phantom boat, The flying Dutchman, has been sighted on numerous of occasions over the years but always disappears mysteriously into the mist!
The scenic reserve is home to a number of game animals including eland, blesbok, bontebok, zebra, springbok and troops of baboons, which are renowned for their mischievous natures.
The Deep South continues to the stunning sea-side suburbs of Scarborough and Kommetjie, which offer unsurpassed beach, big wave surfing and bathing opportunities. One of the main attractions of the area is the wreck of Kakapo, a brand new ship which was beached in thick sand in 1900 and is a popular beach walk destination from Noordhoek, the final suburb of the Far South and an area known for its rustic appeal, beach horse rides and fantastic surfing.
Here is a list of resources we like
Cheap Hotels in Amsterdam
Find complete tourist information, cheap and best-located hotels, and apartments along with instant and secured online hotel booking, travel advice, airport, and weather.
Cape Town Party Bus Tours
Party Bus Rentals
Cheap International Flights
Information needed when booking international flights from New Zealand.
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