Chapmen's Peak drive is a popular tourist attraction and essential pass on the south-western tip of South Africa. It is the brainchild of Sir Nicolas Fredrick de Waal – the first administrative of the Cape Province - and can be found tucked away between Noordhoek and Hout Bay on the southerly extension of Constantia Berg. This road shows unpolluted views of the Atlantic Sea and offers guests truly idyllic sights and sunsets; a place that will make you feel like you're on the edge of the world.
After Sir Nicolas Fredrick de Waal successfully engineered and built the famous de Waal drive in Cape Town, he decided his next project would be something slightly more challenging; a road which would be 593m above the Atlantic Ocean with a sheer drop below. Not only would this road become absolutely essential to Cape Town commuters but it would become one the local's favourite picnic spots and a treat for foreigners visiting.
Before work could start on the road the mountain had to be surveyed. The surveying party set out – often on their hands and knees as the cliffs were unstable, rotten and steep making them incredibly dangerous. Two possible routes were considered: the route over the low nek from Noordhoek to Hout Bay and the pass along the steep vertical cliffs. Both however seemed to be impossible; however de Waal gave the go ahead for the road to be built on the impressive edge of the Atlantic Ocean, on the vertical cliffs.
The road was built by convict labourers supplied by the newly formed Union Government. The construction started in 1915 and finished seven years later in 1922; however a first portion was opened in 1919 which allowed locals to picnic at a lookout point along the pass. Despite the incredible risk of the sheer drop below, the road took reasonably quick to complete as its surface could be conveniently based on the solid 630 million year old Cape Granite and be carved out of the workable Malmesbery sediments.
The road closed in 2000 after a woman was killed in a rock fall incident. Safety measures had previously been taken during the winter months however after fires, soil erosion created a rock fall hazard. This incident took place in early January on a calm summer day when the rock fall risk was minimal, signalling the alarm that the road was no longer safe. After re-engineering, the road was finally opened up to the public in 2005 as a toll road.
Chapman's Peak has offered staggering views to locals and tourists for over 80 years. Tourists who stay in Noordhoek accommodation have the amazing opportunity to drive other this pass every day while exploring the peninsular and locals commuting to work are faced with some of the most beautiful sights that their home town has to offer every day. Lookout points allow optimal sunset viewing, and the picnic tables and lush green grass entices picnickers to relax and enjoy the nature and incredible splendour around then. Whether you're simply using Chapman's Peak to get to work in the morning, are staying in Noordhoek accommodation and are using the route as part of a sightseeing route, or are stopping at one of their many lookout points to enjoy sundowners with a loved one, you'll find it difficult to not be gobsmacked by the sheer beauty before you. |
