| A couple of hours from Cape Town, lying very close to Arniston or Waenshuiskrans, you’ll find the infamous Skipskop that attracted so much attention in the early years – especially for its excellent fishing spots and breathtaking coastal scenery.
About 30 years ago Skipskop was one of the richest areas regarding marine life on the Southern African coast.
Here you could fish to the full extent of your heart’s desire. The active fishing community had to however make way for the development and technological advances of OTB Missile Facility.
Today Skipskop is a marine reservoir – no fishing allowed – and the inner skirts in the area are now being used for missile tests.
Those bearing fond reminders of Skipskop during its glory days as prosperous fishing village, will well recall David Kramer’s (a famous and well-loved local South African musician) magical song about Skipskop’s people having to pack-up and leave the sights of their beloved hidden sea hamlet forever.
The surrounding area, which can be visited, is also a nature lover's paradise with a huge variety of fauna and flora that include fynbos, whales, eland, blue cranes and Cape vultures. On very rare occasions the OTB Missile Facility hosts an open day for those wishing to revisit their beloved Skipskop. This is also an excellent opportunity for travelers to come and see what all the fuss is about.
The De Hoop and De Mond nature reserves, as well as the Skipskop marine reserve, ensure that the environment is well-protected and offer a myriad of opportunities in permitted areas for outdoor recreation including hiking, fishing, bird-watching, swimming, diving, sailing and boating.
Skipskop will always be a sanctuary and a haven that shield its visitors from the outside world. If you could ever manage to come and visit this absolutely awe-inspiring place during a time when it is permitted – don’t miss the occasion, as it will be an event that will certainly go down in the history books. |
