Sandy Bay to Oudeschip

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Swimming · Views · Wildlife

Free parking. Stick together as a group. Be careful when jumping around on a rusty, old shipwreck.

This route starts at Sandy Bay beach, crosses it, and then dives into the bushes and continues parallel to the coast. Mike Lundy wrote in 1997 (Cape Times) "Crossing Sandy Bay on a hot day over a weekend, dressed in mountain boots and backpack, you might feel the need to stare blankly at the sand one metre directly ahead of you as you walk. This way, you’ll avoid feeling awkward about being overdressed."

Cross the beach (naked or clothed) and find a little path on your left (through dense bush). There is no signage, and many of the small paths leading up the slope go nowhere, so it's best to always remain close to the Atlantic and you'll head in the right direction. You'll pass a granite rock shelter and see many succulents. And always, take a look back at the gorgeous mountains (Table Mountain, Lion’s Head). Life is good? Yes, it is.

After around about an hour, you’ll reach the rocky and breathtaking Oudeschip Peninsula, the destination. You can spot the shipwreck Harvest Capella (1986). You might have to take your shoes off to walk through the water to get to Oudeschip – it will be worth it to get closer to the rusted shipwreck on the rocks. Spend some Robinson Crusoe time here; from there you can also spot another shipwreck far away; to get there would be a hike for another day. Oudeschip Peninsula is a great spot for a picnic.

Head back on land. From here you can take the same path back to Sandy Bay beach or you can take the path straight up the mountain towards the lookout hut. This hut is a station to house rescue equipment to avert another ship disaster, built in 1913 (now empty). From there you can take the path on the right towards the second shipwreck (Maori 1909) and Bos 400 (1994). Apparently this path can easily take you two hours to get to these wrecks and back.

Follow the path straight up and turn left and hike for a while on a gravel road to the sand dunes. You'll see a path leading down back to Sandy Bay beach (the path on the right leads to Hout Bay Dunes).

Tip: go for a swim, as this will be a refreshing end to an eye-catching hike.

Fynbos, Granite rocks and boulders