The Sentinel or Hangberg is a peak marking the western end of the mouth of
Hout Bay
Hout Bay ( af, Houtbaai, meaning "Wood Bay") is a harbour town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. It is situated in a valley on the Atlantic seaboard of the Cape Peninsula, twenty kilometres south of Cape Town. The name "Hout Bay" can ...
in
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...
. It has a sheer cliff dropping towards the sea, and a coastal hiking path is accessible at low tide. It is adjacent to Hout Bay Harbour and the
Hangberg
Hangberg is a neighbourhood of Hout Bay in Cape Town, South Africa. It is situated on the mountain slopes between Hout Bay Harbour and The Sentinel peak, and many of the residents are employed in fishing and other industries related to the harbo ...
settlement, and to the higher
Karbonkelberg peak. Just offshore to the south is a colony of
Cape fur seals
The brown fur seal (''Arctocephalus pusillus''), also known as the Cape fur seal, South African fur seal and Australian fur seal, is a species of fur seal.
Description
The brown fur seal is the largest and most robust member of the fur seals. ...
known as Seal Island, and a
big wave surf spot known as "Dungeons", which has hosted the
Red Bull Big Wave Africa
The Red Bull Big Wave Africa is a surfing competition held annually in Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa.
The event is held at "Dungeons", just east of The Sentinel, a peak in Hout Bay, Cape Town. The reef has been known since the 80's as a ...
competition.
Possible sale
The mountain has been privately owned since 1901. In 2008, the mountain was advertised for sale by G&R Marine Services CC, who purchased it in 2003. The potential sale led to protests by the local Hangberg community. The land is zoned rural, which in theory would allow a single dwelling to be built, but it is surrounded by national park land, and
SANParks
South African National Parks (SANParks) is the body responsible for managing South Africa's national parks. SANParks was formed in 1926, and currently manages 19 parks consisting of , over 3% of the total area of South Africa.
Many parks offer ...
, which wishes to see the peak incorporated into the
Table Mountain National Park
Table Mountain National Park, previously known as the Cape Peninsula National Park, is a national park in Cape Town, South Africa, proclaimed on 29 May 1998, for the purpose of protecting the natural environment of the Table Mountain Chain, and ...
, indicated that it would not allow an access road under any circumstances.
References
Mountains of the Western Cape
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