You are looking down on the valley known as Noordhoek – the name first noted in 1743 was the north corner of the farm called Slangkop occupied by Christina Diemer, the widow of Frederick Rousseau.
Before the Europeans settled the area it was occupied by the indigenous Khoi who moved in and out of the valley as the seasons changed.
However Peers’ cave, which is in the area in front of you, was the site of the discovery of a human skull which has been dated as being between 15 and 20 thousand years old.
Long Beach, on the right stretches to Kommetjie in the distance. If it is a clear day you might spot what looks like a black dot about three quarters down the beach, this is the remains of the British steamer Kakapo. On 25 May 1900 she was steaming south in bad weather and mistook Chapman’s’ Peak for Cape Point and turned to port and steamed right onto the beach.
Beyond that in the distance is the Slangkop lighthouse operational since 4 March 1919. It is the tallest cast iron tower on the South African Coast, 100 feet from base to its balcony. On the slopes of Chapman’s Peak is the Serina kaolin mine – kaolin is used in ceramics, medicine,bricks, coated paper as a food additive, in toothpaste and in cosmetics.
To the left you can see False Bay and the towns of Fish Hoek and behind that Simonstown.
There is a charge for entering the Silvermine reserve unless you have a Green Card - park at the reservoir parking area.