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A naval base since 1814, it has the air of an English seaside town with whitewashed Victorian boarding-houses overlooking Mediterranean-blue seas. Nearby Boulders Beach harbours a jackass penguin colony and here in the bays and shallows, you can snorkel amongst both boulders and penguins. Continuing from here on mountain bike as the railway line comes to an end, the coastal road leads to Cape Point where the Nature Reserve lies between you and the south-westernmost point of Africa. Antelope and ostrich share the end of the peninsula with day-trippers come to hike or bike on the hills and beaches. From the lighthouse, the sea falls away towards the Antarctic. The intrepid cyclist can continue on towards Cape Town, along the rocky Atlantic shoreline, on the west side of the peninsula, past quiet villages and deserted beaches, where only surfers brave the freezing waters. The leafy neighbourhood of Noordhoek boasts the longest beach on the peninsula and, unsurprisingly enough, horse-riding is a popular pastime in these parts along with the monthly art route through the studios of local artists. From Noordhoek, the road climbs ever upwards over Chapmans Peak where the cliffs loom tall above the crashing surf below. There are myriad walking trails through these windswept heights but two wheels, or four, will eventually roll you down the hill into Hout Bay. Another expansive beach and sheltered bay encourages sand-and-sail pursuits and the trendy restaurants and popular pubs are well-frequented in summer. The Atlantic seaboard is well-known for its beaches and the picturesque nooks and crannies of Llandudno, the next beach on our roller-coastal ride, allow a more private enjoyment of the spectacular scenery. Closer to town, the connoisseur can choose from the umbrellas, palm trees and volleyball nets of Camps Bay to the blondes and bikinis of Clifton. And if that doesn't raise you heart rate, there's always cage diving with the Great White Shark. Copyright © 2002 Laurianne Claase. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without the permission of the author is prohibited. | 
