Page 158 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - South Africa

156  C APE T OWN

Victorian architecture along the main road in Simon’s Town
7 Simon’s Town as a naval hospital. Among the swimming and snorkelling in
exhibits is a replica of a World protected bays such as Froggy
Road map B5. * 6,600. £ from
Cape Town station, Adderley St. War II royal naval pub and the Pond, Boulders and Seaforth.
n Simon’s Town Museum, cramped quar ters of the original The big granite rocks after which
Court Rd, 021 786 3046. slave lodge. Martello Tower, the Boulders is named provide
Open 10am–4pm walk’s endpoint, was built in shelter when the southeaster
Mon–Fri, 10am–1pm Sat. 1796 as a defence against the blows. A major attraction is the
∑ simonstown.com French. Guided walks can be Boulders Penguin Colony, a
arranged at the museum land-based colony of more than
Picturesque Simon’s Town on request. 2,100 African penguins. A wheel-
in False Bay has been the chair-friendly boardwalk allows
base of the South African P Simon’s Town visitors to see their nesting sites
navy since 1957. It was Museum in the dunes and to watch them
named after Simon van der Court Rd. Tel 021 786 waddle along the beach.
Stel (see p160), who visited 3046. Open 10am–4pm Further south, Miller’s Point has
this sheltered little spot Mon–Fri, 10am–1pm Sat. picnic areas and tidal rock pools.
around 1687. In 1743, African penguin Closed Sun & public The Black Marlin Restaurant here
the Dutch East India hols. = 8 is popular for its fresh seafood.
Company decided to make ∑ simon stown.com/museum At Smitswinkel Bay, a lovely cove
Simon’s Bay its fleet’s winter lies at the foot of a steep path.
anchorage, safe from the storms Environs
of Table Bay. From 1814 until Between Simon’s Town and the O Boulders Penguin Colony
handover to South Africa, it Cape of Good Hope sector of Kleintuin Rd. Tel 021 786 2329.
served as the British Royal Navy’s Table Mountain National Park, Open Feb–Mar & Oct–Nov: 8am–
base in the South Atlantic. The the M4 passes through charming 6:30pm; Apr–Sep: 8am–5pm; Dec–Jan:
town’s characterful hotels and settlements that offer safe 7am– 7:30pm. & 7 ∑ sanparks.org
bars have been frequented by
generations of seamen. Able Seaman Just Nuisance
Simon’s Town’s naval history
is best absorbed by walking the In Jubilee Square, overlooking Simon’s Town’s
“historical mile” that begins near naval harbour, stands the statue of a Great Dane
the railway station and ends at the called Just Nuisance. During World War II this
Martello Tower on the East dog was the much-loved mascot of British
Dockyard, taking in the Simon’s sailors based in Simon’s Town. The animal,
Town Museum, the South African formally enrolled in the Royal Navy, was
Naval Museum, and the Warrior given the title Able Seaman. When he
Toy Museum along the way. The died in a Simon’s Town naval hospital,
he was honoured with a full military
Simon’s Town Museum is housed funeral, which was attended by
in The Residency, believed to be 200 members of the British Royal
the town’s oldest building. It Navy. One room at the Simon’s Town
was built in 1777 as a week end Museum is filled with memorabilia
retreat for Governor Joachim van of the unusual cadet. Just Nuisance and friend
Plettenberg. Later, it also served

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