About Thomas T Tucker Shipwreck Hike
Start: Olifantsbos, Cape Point Nature Reserve
Finish: Olifantsbos
Duration: 3 km, 2 – 4 hours
Fitness: moderate
Our tip: perfect to do with children, as you reach the shipwreck pretty quickly
More officially known as the Olifantsbos Shipwreck Trail the Thomas T Tucker hike falls within the Cape Point Nature Reserve, with over 1 200 endemic and protected plants to explore and various forms of wildlife to look out for (Cape mountain zebra, ostrich, bontebok, red hartebeest, tortoise).
The yellow trail markers will take you from the parking area at Olifantsbos down to the sea. The American liberty ship Thomas T Tucker struck the Albatross Rock here on her first voyage of the war (1942). Her remains lie stranded on the rocks, fairly far from the sea and close enough to explore with children; a hulk of rusting ship. Everyone on board survived, you will be happy to know.
It is the rock pools, teeming with interesting sea creatures, that is the star of the show for children. That and the few red beaked oyster catchers that run along the shore line.
A little further up the coast, if you want to keep going you will find the Dutch coaster, the Nolloth, wrecked here in 1965. Adding this leg to the hike extends it by 2 km or so. To get back to Olifantsbos, carry on up to an inland ridge where you will find a path.
To extend the hike still further, add the Sirkelsvlei circuit. Sirklesvlei is a vlei fed by underwater springs.
Need to Know
WhereOlifantsbos, Cape Point Nature Reserve, Cape Town
WhenDaylight hours.
How muchFree
OvernightStay nearby in Cape Point, in Cape Town
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Additional Reading
For an in depth review of this trail at Cape Point see our article at "The Thomas T Tucker Shipwreck Trail in Cape Point".
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