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Chapman’s Peak, Cape Town, South Africa. Photo by TapticInfo –

Top 10 Fun Facts about Chapman’s Peak Drive

Perched on an ancient bed of granite rock and rearing up out of the Atlantic Ocean on the southern end of Hout Bay, you鈥檒l discover Chapman鈥檚 Peak mountain, although, this megalith hardly needs any introduction.

For almost a century, the 9-kilometer-long stretch of roadway that ribbons its way along the mountain鈥檚 almost vertical cliff-face (and just as precipitous drop down into the Atlantic Ocean below) has served as the quickest thoroughfare between the Atlantic towns of Hout Bay and Noordhoek.

1. Chapman鈥檚 Peak mountain is a dramatically beautiful route

The official opening of Chapman’s Peak Drive, Cape Town, on the 6 May 1922 by Prince Arthur of Conaught. Photo unattributed –

Chapman鈥檚 Peak mountain has such a dramatically beautiful route that it has become known, internationally, as one of the most scenic drives in the world.

Being in our very own backyard鈥攁nd one of the attractions our guests love the most about their visits to Hout Bay鈥攚e thought we鈥檇 become better acquainted with our very own world-famous drive.

2. Chapman鈥檚 Peak Drive was hacked between 1915 and 1922

Chapman’s Peak, Cape Town, South Africa in 2022. Photo by TapticInfo –

Between 1915 and 1922, the roadway we now know as Chapman鈥檚 Peak Drive was hacked out of the face of the mountain to establish a more direct route between Hout Bay and Noordhoek. At the time, unsurprisingly, the endeavor was considered a major feat of engineering!

3. Chapman’s Peak Drive was closed for a massive re-engineering project

Chapman’s Peak, Cape Town, South Africa in 2022. Photo by TapticInfo –

Unfortunately, in 1990, after a particularly devastating rock fall, which resulted in a fatality (and lawsuit), Chapman’s Peak Drive was closed for a massive re-engineering project that would provide an exponentially safer roadway for motorists.

4. Chapman鈥檚 Peak Drive was reopened as a toll road in 2003

Chapman’s Peak, Cape Town, South Africa. Photo by TapticInfo –

In 2003, Chapman鈥檚 Peak Drive was reopened as a toll road. And while rock falls are unavoidable on such a cliff face (which braves the wintertime north-westerly winds and rain almost dead-on), the extensive engineering that has been done, including massive steel rock traps and wall reinforcements, ensures that the road can be used safely.

5. Chapman鈥檚 Peak was named in 1607 after John Chapman

Chapman’s Peak, Cape Town, South Africa in 2022. Photo by TapticInfo –

A fun fact is that Chapman鈥檚 Peak was named in 1607 after John Chapman, the captain鈥檚 mate of the English ship 鈥楥onsent,鈥� which had sought refuge in the sheltered waters of Hout Bay. It鈥檚 funny because most imposing landmarks are named after high-ranking officials like captains and governors or, at the very least, the mountaineers who conquer them. Not lowly captain鈥檚 mates.

The marriage of cutting-edge, 21st Century construction and the sheer courage and determination of the original 1920s build has resulted in this project showcasing the outstanding talents of South African engineering.

 It only takes one pass of Chapman鈥檚 Peak Drive鈥檚 114 curves to appreciate this accomplishment, especially when staring up the vertical rock face that hugs the road.

And, needless to say, the feat has garnered several prestigious awards, including the SAACE National Award for Engineering Excellence (2004) and the Bentley Systems prestigious international award (civil Design) for 3D and 2D rockfall hazard analysis and design using the Microstation suite of geospatial software packages (2004). That鈥檚 quite a mouthful.

6. Before Chapman鈥檚 Peak Drive had even been conceived, humankind had put the mountain flanks

Chapman’s Peak, Cape Town, South Africa. Photo by TapticInfo –

Before Chapman鈥檚 Peak Drive had even been conceived, humankind had put the mountain flanks to good use as a lookout point over the entirety of Hout Bay and the ocean beyond. Built in 1782, the old East Fort Battery was one of four fortifications built in Hout Bay by the Dutch East India Company and was intended to protect the bay (and its harbor and industries) against marine attacks from the south.

The husk of the fort鈥檚 old blockhouse (on the mountainside of the road) and the battery of canons (on the ocean side) remain to this day and have become key historical attractions in the area, made even better by the stunning views of the bay.

Also, those guns still work鈥攈aving been restored, proofed, and licensed鈥攁nd are periodically fired on ceremonious occasions. It sure did! On 15 September 1795, a 16-gun British warship, the HMS Echo, tried to enter the harbor only to be met by a fierce barrage of cannon fire.

The intruder beat a hasty exit; although it did sail on to Table Bay where鈥攁fter some 鈥渘egotiation鈥濃�攖he Dutch surrendered and the British assumed control of the Cape Colony.

Aside from gawking slack-jawed, either directly up a staggeringly imposing cliff face of the mountain, or straight down onto the boulder-littered coastline and crashing waves below, there are quite a few other things to do and see along this relatively short section of coastline!

7. Viewpoints offer panoramic views over the whole of Hout Bay

Chapman’s Peak Drive is a scenic road between Cape Town and Hout Bay carved out of a cliff-face between Chapman’s Peak on the Cape Peninsular and the Atlantic Ocean. Photo by Martinvl –

Viewpoints offer panoramic views over the whole of Hout Bay and the glittering Atlantic Ocean that embraces it. You can frequently spot dolphins and Southern right whales from these incredible vantage points, as well as seals sunbathing on the rocks below.

Picnic sites are kept in pretty good condition (with bins for refuse). These also offer stunning, west-facing views over Hout Bay and the sunset, making them a favorite spot for romantic couples!

8. The East Fort is a fantastic historic attraction to visit

Chapman’s Peak Drive is a scenic road between Cape Town and Hout Bay carved out of a cliff-face between Chapman’s Peak on the Cape Peninsular and the Atlantic Ocean. Photo by kallerna –

The East Fort is a fantastic historic attraction to visit and the starting point for many hikes into the fynbos-carpeted foothills of Chapman鈥檚 Peak, a part of the Table Mountain Nature Reserve. It鈥檚 also a great spot to lay out a picnic and watch the sunset.

9. Chapman鈥檚 Peak is a part of the Table Mountain Nature Reserve

Chapman’s Peak Drive. Photo by Gorillabutter –

Chapman鈥檚 Peak is a part of the Table Mountain Nature Reserve and so it is home to a great diversity of unique fauna and flora, which makes hiking its many trails an invigorating pleasure! 

Also, interestingly enough, Chapman鈥檚 Peak is home to two different endangered vegetation types that are endemic to the city of Cape Town鈥擯eninsula Sandstone Fynbos and Cape Granite Fynbos鈥攚hich can be found growing alongside this route鈥�and nowhere else on the planet!

10. Chapman鈥檚 Peak Drive could be safely enjoyed despite the COVID pandemic

View of The Sentinel and Karbonkelberg under a cloud from Chapman鈥檚 Peak Drive, South Africa. Photo by Sara&Joachim –

One of the awesome things about this quintessential Cape Town attraction, which is just as popular amongst locals as it is among tourists, is the fact that it can be safely enjoyed despite the COVID pandemic. Because you explore Chapman鈥檚 Peak Drive by car, maybe pulling over at one of the rest stops to enjoy the views, there鈥檚 no risk of transmission, as long as you keep your distance from other viewers.

With the most recent lockdown restrictions, however, the day pass facility that allows motorists to stop and the route鈥檚 attractions have been suspended until further notice; although, you can still drive the length of Chappies from Hout Bay to Noordhoek. You just aren鈥檛 permitted to pull over at any of the viewpoints or picnic sites, which is a shame but hopefully won鈥檛 last much longer.