Chapman’s Peak Drive has been named one of the most scenic drives in the world. It is undoubtedly an iconic route and links Hout Bay and Noordhoek in Cape Town.
The steep cliffs and winding road will keep you enthralled throughout your journey. If you have ever wondered how Chappies came to be, here is the history of this costal road.
Chapman’s Peak Drive was named after John Chapman, a captain’s mate of an English ship called the Consent. According to the Chapman’s Peak Drive website, Chapman was sent ashore by the captain when the ship they were sailing in was unable to move due to a lack of wind. The bay the crew was stuck in is now known as Hout Bay. Chapman’s mission was to find provisions that would assist the men aboard. The captain later recorded the bay as ‘Chapman’s Chaunce’ (chance).
In the early 1900s, Sir Frederic De Waal ordered that a road between Hout Bay and Noordhoek be constructed. There were many uncertainties but the road was cleverly planned out. ‘Despite the steep, unstable cliffs and ravines the road was carefully thought out with the road surface based on the solid and conveniently located 630-million-year-old Cape Granite contour. Many roadside cuttings were carved out of the more workable Malmesbury series sediments,’ states the official website.
Construction on the nine-kilometre coastal road began in 1915 and took seven years to complete. Construction on the granite contour ensured the stability and safety of the route, which is situated on a near-vertical cliff face.
Construction began on the Hout Bay side of the route and later the Noordhoek side. On 6 May 1922, Chapman’s Peak Drive was opened by Prince Arthur of Connaught, the Governor-General of the Union of South Africa.
Chapman’s Peak has been opened and closed numerous times due to unsafe conditions. In 2000 the road was closed until 2003 after a number of fatal accidents. Chapman’s Peak Drive has many measures in place to ensure the safety of those who travel along it. If conditions are unfavourable or high-risk, the drive will be closed.
While Capetonians stuck at home can’t take this drive anytime soon, these photos showcase the beauty of Chappies.
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Image: Unsplash
