The suburban railway line from Cape Town City to Simonstown is
possibly one of the most spectacular in the world. The track is so
close to the sea at places that unsuspecting passengers occasionally
get soaked by the spray of waves breaking on the rocks below. Stops
along the way include Muizenberg which was once the home of Cecil John
Rhodes, one time prime minister of the Cape and founder of the still
mighty De Beers diamond empire, his cottage is now a museum and can be
visited daily during the week.
Simon's Town boasts a lovely waterfront emporium in addition to it's historic attractions for which it has become famous.
Simon's Town is a Naval village named after Governor Simon van de Stel
who recommended that the town be used as a winter anchorage due to it
being more sheltered than Table Bay. Under the direction of Baron van Imhoff the port was officially
established in 1743. In 1814 the Royal Navy took over Simon's Town as
its South Atlantic Station until the Base was handed over to the SA
Navy in 1957.
The "Historic Mile" - twenty one of the buildings in St Georges
street are over 150 years old - is a popular walk along pavements once
trodden by Admiral Nelson. The Simonstown Museum has displays on the
early history of the town, and is open to visitors daily except Sunday.
Places of interest are many and only a few are mentioned here: Simons
Town Museum, The Toy Museum, SA Naval Museum, Dido Valley Cemetery,
Admiralty House, Lower North Battery, Church of St. Francis (1837 -
Claimed to be the oldest Anglican Church in SA), West Dockyard, Old
Naval Water Storage Tank, Mosque (1926), Thomas Street, Martello Tower
(1796).
At Jubilee Square, situated adjacent to the new Waterfront Emporium,
pride of place is given to Jean Doyle's sculpture of the Great Dane,
Able Seaman Just Nuisance, who befriended and assisted naval sailors
during World War 11. The Waterfront Emporium offers many lovely shops
from nautical to ethnic, boat charters to Seal Island and Cape Point,
restaurants, pubs, hotel, coffee shops etc.
African Artifacts abound on Jubilee Square. A walk up through the
cobblestone streets amongst the many restored old cottages and houses
is a quiet pleasure and the views down over the town and False Bay
harbour are beautiful. Seaforth and Boulders Beach are very protected
beaches (from the wind) and safe swimming and snorkeling in amongst the
rocks is enjoyed by people of all ages.
Boulders Beach and Foxy Beach are home to only two mainland Jackass
Penguin breeding colonies. A walk along the bridle path from the
carpark at Seaforth will enable you to encounter some of these birds.
Sporting activities include bowls, golf and squash at the Simon's Town
Country Club and Sailing at the False Bay Yacht Club. False Bay is a
fisherman's Eldorado for rock and surf as well as boat anglers…. fish
such as yellowtail, snoek, a variety of Salmon, Snapper, Bream and Reef
Fish can be caught in this area. There is lovely Walk along the
mountain towards Cape Point starting at Glencairn.
The Railway line where the visitor enjoys magnificent scenic seaviews on the ride from Muizenberg ends it's journey here.
Kalk Bay is a fishing village which still retains much of its
original character and has a vibrant night life as well as interesting
shops which are open seven days a week, the town was first inhabited in
the seventeenth century by shipwrecked seamen and deserters.
Fish Hoek
was until recently the only dry town in South Africa, the land on which
the town was built was donated by Lord Charles Somerset in 1818 on the
condition that their be no wine house on the property.
