Dias Beach Perspective
The cache is located in the Cape of Good Hope section of Table Mountain National Park (current access fee R85 per person – free with a SANParks Wild Card) at a spectacular spot high up on the cliffs looking down the length of Dias Beach towards Cape Point. It is reached by a short detour off the very popular main trail running from the Cape Point car park to the Cape of Good Hope car park. It is far enough away from this and hidden where muggles should not be a problem.
The cache site is a wonderful place to sit and contemplate the awesome splendour of the Cape. Late afternoon is a great time to visit as the sun hits Dias Beach at just the right angle for some great views/photos.
Note: Although the cache is not tricky to reach, take special care moving around above the steep slopes & along cliff edges – particularly in windy conditions, which are common here!
There are numerous approach trails but the most rewarding would be the loop which basically runs along the top of the cliffs from either end point. A waypoint is also given for the shortest access point off the main trail.
There are several places along the cliff top trail where you can lie on your stomach and peer directly down onto the crashing waves and thousands of cormorants on the cliff ledges far below – an awesome sight!
To Reach the Cache
Park @ the Cape Point (CP) car park and take the trail starting below the toilet block heading down towards Dias Beach and the Cape of Good Hope, or
Park @ the Cape of Good Hope (CGH) car park and take the trail heading up and over the rocky point heading towards Dias Beach and Cape Point
Depending on the direction of travel, locate the relevant start/end of the loop trail @ S34 21.363 E18 28.590 (CGH end) or S34 21.288 E18 28.724 (CP end) and follow the trail along the cliff top to S34 21.358 E18 28.745. Here move down a level, then pick up and follow the obvious ledge a few metres to the cache location. The cache, a small cylindrical camo-pot is hidden at about chest height in the rocky wall.
Dias Beach
Named after the Potuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias who sailed around the southern tip of Africa in 1488, the first European known to have done so. One of the most stunning beaches in the Cape of Good Hope Reserve, it is well worth taking the time and effort to visit – not least because it is the location of 2 other great caches (Zambesiboy’s Salt & Pepper GC2VN4W and Pepper & Salt GC2VN4Z) but also the access route for another two challenging caches (Paddawan’s Awaken the Leviathan GC2QK8W and Discombob’s Good Point GCMFFY).
It has a great stretch of brilliant white sand, some heavy wave action and is dramatically surrounded by towering and heavily weathered sandstone cliffs. However, it is not frequently visited as access requires a 20 minute walk followed by a steep descent of a series of wooden steps, so on most occasions you'll have the beach to yourself, apart from the flocks of seabirds and the occasional passing troop of baboons.
The beach is nicely sheltered from north-westerlies but fully exposed to the predominant south-easterly (especially in summer) winds. When this is blowing strongly you will be sand-blasted down on the beach!
It is recognised as a great surf spot for body boarding with a heavy shore break (not for the faint hearted) and when conditions are good, some awesome, but heavy barrels.
Cautions: 1. Check tide times and sea conditions if exploring as you can get trapped by the tide if you cross beyond the rocky slabs at the south end of the beach (Cape Point side).
2. Take great care if you enter the water – it is very cold and there are massive rips, undertow . . . and (of course). . . sharks!