Things to do near
Smitswinkel Bay
*Distances are shown as the crow flies and not necessarily the actual travelling
distance.
Hiking Trail
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Cape Point (0.8 km from Smitswinkel Bay) Breath-taking views and close encounters with wildlife and pristine fynbos typify the Cape of Good Hope Hiking Trail experience.
Starting at the main entrance gate, the trail is walked in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction. Pick up keys for the overnight hut and leave your car here.
Plan to make the most of the spectacular views from the overnight huts on Da Gama Peak. You can see the sunrise and sunset over sweeping ocean views on either side of the Peninsula.
The overnight hut has hot showers, solar lighting, a gas cooker, rudimentary cutlery and crockery and an outdoor braai area. Order braai wood before starting the trail.
Duration: 2 days
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 23.3 km
Hiking Trail
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Cape Point (5.7 km from Smitswinkel Bay) Experience the essence of Cape Point on this wild, windswept route through beautiful fynbos.
Park at Olifantsbos, then head for the boom where a sign indicates the beginning of the circular trail. The trail starts with a short steep section before the route splits. It can be walked in either direction. Red Hartebeest are often seen on the reed flats.
Bird lovers will enjoy frequent sightings of sunbirds – Orange-breasted Sunbirds and Malachite Sunbirds. On reaching Sirkelsvlei, look out for terrapins sunning themselves on exposed rocks.
Alternative: Park your car in a parking bay on the right-hand side of the road just inside the entrance to the Cape Point Nature Reserve. You may want to leave a second car at Olifantsbos to save you walking back.
Duration: 3 hours return
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 7.5 km return
Beaches
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Cape Point (6.1 km from Smitswinkel Bay) Buffels Bay in Cape Point Nature Reserve is a very popular braai and picnic spot. Beautifully situated, the beach and tidal pool overlooks False Bay and you can’t get closer to the tip of Cape Point.
The reserve is open Monday to Sunday from 06:00 – 18:00 during summer and 07:00 – 17:00 in winter. Facilities include well-maintained ablutions and there is a vast section of lawn for picnicking.
Hiking Trail
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Cape Point (6.4 km from Smitswinkel Bay) Take the turnoff to Venus Pools from the Bordjiesdrif road. The path starts 200 m after the turnoff at Bynes, and ascends towards Kanonkop. At the top is an old signal canon pointing towards Cape Point. From here there are lovely views of Buffels Bay, Cape Point and the Da Gama Monument. The return route takes hikers past an interesting old lime kiln.
Duration: 2 hours
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 5 km
Beaches
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Simons Town (6.7 km from Smitswinkel Bay) Fisherman's Beach is a lovely little sandy cove squeezed between rocky pinnacles near the penguin colony at Boulder's Beach and Simon's Town Golf Course.
The beach is surrounded by lawns and is perfect for a game of beach ball with family and friends or simply soaking up the sunshine.
Here the warmer ocean temperatures of False Bay make Fisherman's Beach a great spot for body surfing, boogie boarding and kayaking.
Beaches
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Simons Town (7.5 km from Smitswinkel Bay) Boulders Beach, which is part of the Table Mountain National Park, is home to a sizeable colony of African penguins. These cute and comical birds waddle around quite unperturbed by the hordes of tourists who flock towards them. Huge boulders create sheltered little coves and the resident penguins often swim past for a look at the people.
Boulders is the most fabulous swimming beach in Cape Town. A swim in the calm, warm waters of Boulders Beach is always fun on a hot summer day but – you never know – you may just see a sleek black and white penguin swimming past. You can also do a fun paddling trip past the penguin hangout.
Of all Cape Town beaches, Boulders Beach is one of the most popular spots for kids and an absolute haven for toddlers. It’s safe, and you can relax without having to watch out for unpredictable waves while pipsqueak splashes around or totters after penguins. It is the most sheltered beach on the False Bay side when the South East wind blows.
Boulders Beach is a pay beach in season so remember to take your Wild Card if you have one.
Hiking Trail
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Cape Point (7.7 km from Smitswinkel Bay) Starting at the Gifkommetjie parking area, the Phyllisia Circuit meanders parallel to the coastline and returns along the shore. The trail is named for the wreck of the Phyllisia, a trawler that ran aground at Hoek van Bobbejaan in 1968.
Duration: 2.5 – 3 hours
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 7 km
Hiking Trail
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Cape Point (7.7 km from Smitswinkel Bay) Depending on how relaxed you take it, the open-ended walk from Gifkommetjie to Platboom should take 1.5 – 2 hours. Staring at the Gifkommetjie parking area, the trail leads to the coast and then south along the shore. The route explores wonderful sections of coastal dune vegetation, marshlands and pans.
Duration: 1.5 – 2 hours
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 5 km
Beaches
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Cape Point (8.1 km from Smitswinkel Bay) Wild and unspoilt, Platboom Beach is a magical place. It’s easy to spend the entire day picnicking, walking and exploring the coastline.
Pretty dunes separate the parking area from the long sandy beach. Birdlife is prolific and terns, gulls, kiewiete and sandpipers are often seen. A peaty stream flows down to the beach. Swimming here is at your own risk – it's not dangerous but there are no lifeguards.
Hiking Trail
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Cape Point (8.6 km from Smitswinkel Bay) The out-and-return Antoniesgat Trail ambles along the False Bay coastline from the turning circle south of Buffels Bay. Along the way is Antoniesgat cave, one of many carved into the sea cliffs by the battering waves. The biggest wow factor is the knockout views of the Hottentots Holland Mountains, False Bay, Da Gama Peak and Cape Point Lighthouse.
Duration: 2 hours
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 3.5 km
Popular Attractions
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Simons Town (8.6 km from Smitswinkel Bay) Jubilee Square, located in the central part of Simons Town, provides a myriad of activites for keen visitors.
You'll have a pick of restaurants and shops, with harbour views to boot. Saturdays you can browse the craft market in the main parking area.
Photo by Planetina, some right reserved.
Hiking Trail
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Simons Town (9 km from Smitswinkel Bay) Experience the historical village of Simon’s Town since 1741 by doing the Historical Mile Walk. The walk captures the history from the days the Dutch East India Company declared Simon’s Town as the winter anchorage for their ships from 15 May to 15 August each year, to the Second British occupation of 1806, up to today.
The town itself still resembles the high street of 100 years ago due to strict zoning and historical conservation. See the preserved historic buildings, and visit the Simon’s Town and Naval museums. Enjoy the waterfront with its interesting coffee bars, restaurants and shops.
Popular Attractions
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Scarborough (9.1 km from Smitswinkel Bay) Red Rock Tribal is not your usual curio shop. Supporting and empowering local artists throughout southern Africa, Red Rock is a treasure trove of interesting and eclectic art. Their mantra is 'the world is full of waste, but not all of it is rubbish!'
Here you'll find innovative crafts that are humourous, clever as well as trendy
and sometimes carrying a social message. Red Rock Tribal are also specialists in old tribal artefacts that have been sourced from various African countries. Definitely worth a visit!
Shop hours are 9:30 - 5:30, 7 days a week.
www.redrocktribal.co.za
Beaches
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Cape Point (9.2 km from Smitswinkel Bay) Olifantsbos is a small, sandy beach and rocky point on the western side of the Cape Point Nature Reserve. It’s a magical place, wild and sometimes windswept, with a number of well-marked hiking trails and short beach walks. The beautiful Shipwreck Trail and Sirkelsvlei Walk start and finish here.
When the Southeast wind blows and there’s a west to southwest swell, surfers come to ride the right point-break on the incoming tide. Olifantsbos is a popular picnic spot offering green lawn, ablution facilities and ample parking.
One of the most amazing places to stay in Cape Town is Olifantsbos Guest House, a self-catering cottage situated right on the beach just south of Olifantsbosbaai. Wake up to the crash of the waves and eland grazing nearby in this unique getaway.
Hiking Trail
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Cape Point (9.3 km from Smitswinkel Bay) A cairn amoungst the fynbos marks the route to the beach from Olifantsbos. The other option is to hike part of the Sirkelsvlei Walk. This section has great views, is good for spotting birds and links up with the Shipwreck Trail.
One of the most easily accessible and extensive wrecks is the Thomas T Tucker. It looks a bit like a scrapyard and provides a roosting spot for numerous seabirds to bask in the sun. Thomas T Tucker wreck ran aground in 1942 on her maiden voyage carrying war cargo from the USA. Another wreck is the Nolloth that ran aground in 1965. The cargo was reputed to have been a large quantity of liquor!
Direct Route: 1.5 hours (along seashore and return)
Circular Route: 2.5 hours (trail turns inland 1.5 km south of T.T. Tucker)
Duration: 4 hours (Direct) to 6 hours (Circular)
Difficulty: Easy