Cape Point

My scenic motorbike ride to Cape Point - the nature reserve area and famous seaside tourist spot - and back to Cape Town, via Simonstown, Scarborough and Kommetjie along the Ou Kaapse Weg. This is a great scenic route to travel. See what you think.

I live in Table View (on the West Coast side of Cape Town) and hence the first part of the ride is straight - and needless to say a little bit boring. Ha ha! It does have a superb view of Table mountain though.

As I approach the M3 via De Waal Drive - which has some of the best twisties available - the view over the City, harbour and West Coast is priceless. Ironically I never get to stop and take a picture because it is a freeway.

Route M3 from above the harbour area has some beautiful sweeping bends. But further along one must slow down, around Bishopscourt and surrounds, as it becomes a road littered with busy traffic and robots (traffic lights) you know!! Approaching Constantia there's a great fast sweep to the left, just before the T-Junction leading to Ou Kaapse Weg. This is just one of the many great passes in Cape Town. The bends just carry on and on and on.

On towards Noordhoek and through Sun Valley... there is the end of the pass, Ou Kaapse Weg. One can either head straight over the next little pass toward Glencairn, or, my favourite, is turn right just after Sun Valley and head toward Kommetjie. This is one of the most awesome villages you will find with swell surf and great fishing. But more about it later.

Head around the mountain toward Scarborough and past the beautiful lighthouse and one is spoilt for choice of where to stop - just soak up the breathtaking view.

Moving along we will pass through Misty Cliffs. It is always misty - hence the name.

Following that we head through Scarborough which is another of those little villages with only a few homes tucked away on and around the mountain and down to the beach. Thereafter the road is fairly straight - until you get past Cape Point.

Many a traveller will choose to stop somewhere in Cape Point, as it is a huge nature reserve with much history and attractions. The area boasts fine restaurants and exquisite cliff walks. A little piece of trivia for you.... The lighthouse at Cape Point is the most powerful on the South African coast. It has a range of 63 kilometres, and beams out a group of three flashes of 10 million candlepower each, every 30 seconds.! Quite phenomenal.

The road starts twisting and turning after Cape Point. Loads of fun - on any kind of motorbike.

Beware of the baboons who happily sit in the middle of the road and expect you to slow down as they won't move.

The ocean is right by your side as you wander in toward Simonstown. A town full of history and traditions. The SA Navy is based in Simonstown so the heritage is stacked. Plenty of awesome places to stop and nose around. There are museums galore, antique shops for Africa, foreign and local crafters selling curios from pavements and from shops, etc. Too many to mention. Although one day I might. Watch this space.

It is hard to decide which of the many delicious spots one would support for a nibble in Simonstown. I try a different one each time.

One of my favourite places to sit and rest my legs after a long ride is the Simonstown harbour. A never-ending viewing surprise.

We're on the road again... heading on to Glencairn and then over the pass back toward Ou Kaapse Weg to tackle those twisties all over again... Oh yeah!!!!

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