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Cape Peninsula
National Park
In May 1998, the entire of the Cape Peninsula was proclaimed a National Park for its extraordinary natural beauty, its unique flora and fauna and its special historical and cultural significance. The new Cape Peninsula National Park extends from Signal Hill in the north down to Cape Point and includes the mountain ranges of the area and the coastal stretches.
The former Cape of Good Hope Reserve in the south of the peninsula became part of the new National Park as well as Table Mountain and the Silvermine resort.
The greatest attraction of the Nature Reserve continues to be the southern part of Simon's Town down to the Cape of Good Hope.
Here one can go on long walks through the Fynbos landscape, particularly beautiful in spring when the wildflowers bloom, and many animals can be observed: many different species of antelope, reptiles, ostriches, zebras and numerous seabirds.
Large troups of Chacma baboons (papio ursinus) feel at home here - and anywhere else in South Africa for that matter.
It is the only protected population of this species in the country. Unfortunately, some visitors do feed them, although it is strictly forbidden.
The social order in a troup is such that the higher ranking individuals may feed first and are even fed by the lower ones.
If you feed a baboon, you'll be regarded as someone of lower rank. The baboon generalises and regards all humans as ranking below himself.
He feels the humans owe him food and when it is denied, he could become aggressive, steel food and occassionally attack.
Eventually such a baboon has to be killed by the rangers.
Keep the car windows closed when baboons approach your car. Don't unpack food and don't leave your car open.
Once a baboon has taken something, don't try to retrieve it. An attack can be terribly dangerous!
The park is open daily from 7 to 5. Tel 021-7809204.
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