Venus Pool at Cape Point

Date: 11 January 2009

Location: Cape Point, Cape Peninsula National Park

Walkers: Dorothy, Claudia & Richard, Iain & Jenny, Delphi, Psyche & Mer, Renee and friends. Michele and I skipped the walk (both feeling feeble due to recent illness) and went straight to the pool

We started from the Booi se Skerm parking area on the False Bay side of Cape Point, about 10km from the entrance gate. The walkers followed a route into the hills above (Kanonkop). After a two-hour ramble they made their way along the 0.9km stretch of road from the parking area to Venus Pool.


(Photo by Michele)

This is the most perfect natural rock pool I've seen. It teems with life: fish, sea urchins, anemones and star-fish. It is a good spot for some safe snorkelling away from the open sea. At low tide one can see the rocks are covered with black mussels and barnacles. The fisherman were catching a lot of fish. The there is much clean green seaweed in the pool and the wet rocks are slippery. As the tide comes in the waves crash onto the rocks and bring fresh sea water into the pool.


(Photo by Michele)

It is fun to sit on the rocks and have the waves break on your back and run past your legs.


(Photo by Michele)

Looking right one can see down to Cape Point itself, where the Atlantic Ocean meets False Bay. In the far distance one can see Hangklip and the mountains on other side of False Bay.


(Photo by Michele)

Looking left one sees the peaks of Die Boer and Judas Peak. Around the corner is Smitswinkel Bay. It is not possible to walk along the coast here, but there is a route along the top which I've not yet tried.


(Photo by Michele)

There are several terraces of flat rocks next to Venus Pool which makes it possible for all groups of visitors to have their own space to picnic. There is also a spot called The Cauldron where, at high tide, the sea swirls and swells within a circle of rocks. Dorothy, Delphi and Claudia braved a swim here and said it was wonderfully exhilarating.


(Photo by Michele)

We all went home relaxed and tired and sunburnt.