Hike to the new lighthouse at Cape Point and look out for the Flying Dutchman

Thundering waves, rugged cliffs and the wind that sweeps relentlessly over the tip of Africa – the new lighthouse at Cape Point keeps watch over one of the most dangerous coastlines in the world. Since 1919 it has replaced the historic lighthouse, which stood too high and often disappeared in the fog. Today it is considered the brightest lighthouse in South Africa, its light reaching almost 100 kilometres out to sea. But it’s not just ships that are said to pass here – they say the Flying Dutchman also haunts the stormy waters.

The path to the new lighthouse starts at the Cape Point car park. First you climb up to the old lighthouse, either on foot along a steep, well-built path or with the Flying Dutchman funicular. From there a lonely, less frequented path continues along the cliffs to the new lighthouse. The path is not long, but the wind often blows so strongly here that you have to brace yourself against it. The effort is worth it though: the view of the dramatic cliffs, the endless sea and the waves crashing against the rocks is unforgettable.

And then there is the legend. Again and again sailors and visitors report that they have seen an eerie ship off Cape Point – the Flying Dutchman. According to the legend, in the 17th century Captain Hendrik van der Decken desperately tried to round the Cape in a storm, but the sea swallowed his ship. Since then it is said to glide over the waves as a ghost ship, an omen for sailors and one of the best-known seafaring myths in the world. Keep your eyes peeled – you might just spot it on the horizon.