Sightseeing in South Africa
Cape of Good Hope
A rocky landscape fascinates its visitors
The Cape of Good Hope is a very steep, high cliff that is located near the southern tip of Africa. Here is the most south-westerly point in the country. Bartolomeo Diaz was the first European to discover the Cape of Good Hope in 1488 while trying to find a sea route to Asia. The impressive collection of rocks characterizes the landscape, as there are numerous stone blocks along the coast, most of which are flooded by water. However, at low tide it is sometimes possible to see the tops of rocks. The rocks that lie just below the surface of the water pose a challenge for shipping.
The Cape of Good Hope and Table Mountain National Park
The Cape of Good Hope and the region that surrounds it are part of the Table Mountain National Park. There are also many steep cliffs to be seen here. There is an interesting hiking trail at the cape. The flora and fauna that have settled in the Table Mountain National Park are worth seeing and offer nature lovers many opportunities to explore nature during their travels. Study trip participants can also make interesting discoveries. More than 1300 different plant species grow in the national park. The animals that live in this region include mountain zebras, lizards and turtles. Around 150 species of birds are also native here. Beautiful stretches of beach are also part of the national park and allow vacationers to spend relaxing hours by the sea.
The Cape of Good Hope is a very special place that allows its visitors to experience the fascination of a beautiful landscape. Its location in the middle of the Table Mountain National Park is unique.
Lions Head
The Lion’s Head is located in South Africa, near Cape Town. Together with Signal Hill and Devil’s Peak, the lion’s head belongs to the Table Mountain mountain range, which lies within the Table Mountain National Park.
The Lion’s Head has a height of 669 meters. Its conical shape and the location of the mountain contribute a lot to the fact that the lion’s head is one of the most beautiful viewpoints that can be discovered in Table Bay. The all-round view that this mountain has to offer is very impressive.
The ascent of the lion head
Hikers can climb the mountain on foot, but need sturdy shoes, provisions and a good level of fitness, because when climbing this mountain it is necessary to overcome 350 meters in altitude. Vacationers who undertake private trips and participants in study trips are rewarded with a fascinating view if they decide to make the strenuous climb. However, since more than two hours are required for the descent, this mountain hike should only be undertaken by holidaymakers who are in excellent health. It is also advisable to avoid the midday heat. A mountain tour that is undertaken in the evening has the advantage, among other things, that it is then possible to enjoy the sunset from the summit of the Löwenkopf. The view of the lights of Cape Town is also a special experience in the evening. The Table Mountain National Park, in which the lion’s head is located, has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Robben Island
The Hell Island
Robben Island, also known as Robbeneiland in Afrikaans, is a small island in South Africa, about 12 kilometers from the capital Cape Town.
But this island is not what the average consumer imagines it to be.
Although there is a turquoise blue sea here, there are no 5-star hotels with colorful cocktails and beach chairs.
Robben Island is a former prison island that became a national and natural monument in the 1990s. The guards’ motto can still be seen today: “We serve with pride”.
Escape – impossible
The prison, in which Nelson Mandela, among others, was imprisoned for almost two decades, is now a well-known museum that is widely visited. In the meantime, former prisoners lead the tourists through the huge detention center, from which it was not possible to escape. The prison was specially built in this location as it was impossible to escape due to the strong and cold ocean currents. In addition, the detainees were sent to work in the quarry that was also located there. There the inmates, as well as Nelson Mandela, carved stones for road construction for eight hours a day. At the end of the day, around 60 to 70 inmates shared a small cell. There was only enough space for each of the inmates to spread their sisal mats on the cold stone floor in order to be ready for the next working day. Nelson Mandela was, among other things, one of the few who had a solitary cell. But regardless of whether Mandela or another prisoner: Anyone who refuted the hierarchy was raped or beaten. It is not for nothing that this island was once called “Hell Island”.
At the end of 1996 the last prisoners and their guardians left the island. In 1999 the prison was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
What used to be called “Hell Island” is now a popular day trip for many tourists and school groups.
