Fancy a varied Cape Peninsula day trip? The Cape Peninsula in South Africa offers beautiful coastal roads with magnificent views and is perfect for a road trip. There are over 63 beaches around Cape Town, over 560 wineries, and endless restaurants. Penguins in Africa? Oh yes, here we go! How can you decide…

I always recommend getting in the car and going on a road trip on your own. Of course, you can join a guided tour*, but you would always be tied to exact departure times and would never be able to spontaneously stay a little longer.

So pack your sense of adventure, let’s go on a road trip and check out all the highlights of the Cape Peninsula!

• General information about the Cape Peninsula
• Preparation and planning
  • 1. The Groot Constantia winery
  • 2. Surfing mecca Muizenberg
  • 3. Kalk Bay
  • 4. Penguins at Boulders Beach
  • 5. Cape Point National Park
  • 6. Kommetjie Lighthouse
  • 7. Chapman’s Peak Drive
• End of the Cape Peninsula day tour

General information about the Cape Peninsula

The Cape Peninsula is a large strip of land that stretches south from Cape Town. There are many small towns and neighborhoods to discover here, most of which are located by the sea, surrounded by the mountains of Table Mountain National Park on one side and beautiful beaches on the other. Contrary to myth, no, this is not the place where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet. Nor is this the southernmost point of Africa. This place is located in Cape Agulhas, about a three-hour drive from Cape Town.

But the tip of the Cape Peninsula is the southwesternmost point of Africa. Historically, “Cape Point” or “Cape of Good Hope” has been one of the most dangerous seafaring routes, and countless wrecks lie off the coast. Some of these can be seen from land or visited on a dive with one of the diving schools in Cape Town. The following map shows the Cape Peninsula and already includes some of my highlights.

Preparation and Planning

There’s not much to prepare for the Cape Peninsula Day Tour. You’ll need a car and a bit of gas to complete the approximately 150 km tour. Since you’ll be alternating between the beach and the rocks, it’s also a good idea to bring two pairs of shoes (hiking boots or running shoes and flip-flops). Otherwise, some change, sunscreen, a hat, a jacket, water, and, most importantly, snacks.

I recommend starting the route east. Many guided tours* go the other way, but this way you can see the sunset over the ocean at the end of your tour. It’s best to leave around 8:30 a.m.. The first highlight won’t be long in coming.

1. The Groot Constantia Winery

You’ll naturally start your Cape Peninsula day tour, how could it be otherwise, at a winery! Your first stop is the Groot Constantia, the oldest winery in South Africa. I recommend arriving around 9 a.m. or even reserving a table at the Jonkershuis beforehand. Not only do they have good wine and a wealth of history, but they also serve a very good breakfast with a perfect view over the vineyards all the way to Muizenberg. My tip for breakfast: Eggs Provençal or smashed avocado on sourdough.

After breakfast, you can take a digestive stroll through the winery and maybe even end up in the wine tasting room. Among other things, Groot Constantia offers a wine and chocolate pairing, and you can even keep the glass with the Groot Constantia logo.

My tip: The Wine and Chocolate Pairing is easy to share, as it’s enough for two people. Once your stomach is full and your soul is satisfied, it’s finally time to set off again, and the route takes you further south to the first beach of the day.

2. Surf Mecca Muizenberg

The small surfing town of Muizenberg is the perfect place for another short stroll along the water. Watch the surfers, test the water temperature with your own feet and make your way to what are probably the most photographed changing rooms in the world. If you want to walk further and still have time, you can extend the walk a little, as from here there is a coastal path all the way to Kalk Bay.

If you don’t make it today, no problem, as this is also a lovely walk for a day trip, you should consider coming back to Muizenberg. The 3.5 km or so are a quick walk, but depending on the water level, you might get wet feet.

On the way you will pass the St. James Beach and Dalebrook Tidal Pool. If you don’t want to walk this distance, or if the water is too high, you can of course continue to Kalk Bay by car. The rest of the route would take you here anyway.

3. Kalk Bay

Kalk Bay is a very special place. This small fishing village has a lot to offer. Starting with the cute little harbor with its lighthouse, seals, and seagulls. There’s the famous Kalkys, probably the most authentic fish stall in Cape Town. Here, the fish lands directly from the sea to your table; it doesn’t get any fresher.

My tip: If you’re hungry again, definitely eat fish and chips here; authentic South African: snoek and chips (if you don’t like snoek, they also have hake or calamari). Please don’t feed your leftovers to the seagulls. You can always pack everything and take it with you for later.

If you still have time, stroll through the small town, be inspired by the small hippie shops, or stop by one of the art galleries. No time? No problem: You can easily spend a whole day here. Just come back again.

If you’re not up for a full meal after breakfast, I can also recommend this small bakery: Olympia Bakery. The small, rustic shop with the distinctive red door is tucked away in the parking lot on the other side of the street around the corner. They serve excellent coffee and freshly baked croissants.

4. Penguins at Boulders Beach

Well-fortified and with our noses full of fresh, salty air, we continue along the coast until just beyond Simons Town. To give you an idea, it’s probably around 1 p.m. now. This is where the famous Boulders Beach with its penguin colony is located.

You can park right at “Waters Edge Beach.” With a little luck, you might even spot some of the little creatures here. At the actual entrance, you can then walk along a boardwalk to “Foxy Beach” for a relatively high entrance fee (adults R190 ZAR, children R95).

This is where most of the colony’s animals live, and it’s also the main breeding ground. Let’s be honest, how cute and clumsy are penguins? I could stand here for hours and watch the youngsters try to swim for the first time, the older penguins emerge from the water more or less elegantly, and how touchingly the parents tend to their nests. You have to see this!

Boulders Beach & Foxy Beach

Before you spend the money on admission, walk past the entrance on the public boardwalk and continue to Boulders Beach. Here, you can usually see many of the animals and enjoy a fantastic view of False Bay. If you still haven’t had enough of the penguins, you can always pay the entrance fee to Foxy Beach. By the way, the entrance fee goes back to the penguins.

Once you’ve paid the entrance fee, you can visit both beaches, Foxy Beach (Boardwalk) and Boulders Beach. There are fewer penguins here, but if the weather’s good, you can go swimming and might even spot a bird or two in the water. After this relaxation, we continue towards Cape Point National Park.

My TV tip: I recommend “Penguin Town” on Netflix. This short series was filmed in Simon’s Town and explains the life of penguins in a funny and sweet way. You’ll certainly recognize many spots from Boulders Beach in the documentary.

5. Cape Point National Park

Unfortunately, this national park is very expensive for foreigners. If you have a temporary visa (e.g., a student visa), you only pay the local rate. Simply provide your visa number (starting with an A) upon entry. My tip: Check out the Sanparks Wild Card options. If you’re staying in the country for a longer period and plan to visit multiple national parks, a Wild Card (valid for 1 year) might be worth it. Cape Point National Park is huge, and you could easily spend a whole day here. Many visitors think there’s just a brown sign saying “Cape of Good Hope,” and you can take one or two photos and leave. Yes, the obligatory photo is part of it, but Cape Point is so much more than just a famous photo spot for a brown sign.

Caution! Monkeys!

Caution: You’ve probably seen the warning signs. Baboons!! The peninsula’s baboons are unfortunately accustomed to humans and are accordingly aggressive. When traveling in the park, take as little luggage as possible, don’t carry any food in your bag, and make sure you lock your car.

I’ve seen baboons jump into car trunks at the last moment, or even open car doors on their own. Handbag stealing is also very popular among the baboons at Cape Point (including passports and cell phones). If a baboon steals your bag, there’s very little hope of getting it back in the thick bush of the national park.

During a day trip around the peninsula, you probably won’t have much time in the park to explore endless hiking trails, so I’ll limit this article to the highlights.

5.1 Off to the Lighthouse

First, you should, of course, visit the lighthouse and the southernmost tip of the park. To do this, park your car in the parking lot next to the cog railway. The drive from the entrance to the parking lot probably took 30 minutes, and you may have already spotted the first animals, such as ostriches, elands, turtles, or snakes, and certainly baboons. The short hike from the parking lot to the lighthouse is easy and not particularly strenuous.

If you’re not a good walker, you can also take the funicular. This takes you almost to the lighthouse, but you’ll still have to climb the last few steps yourself (approx. €4 one way, approx. €5 return). After a 20-minute hike, you’ll be at the top and hopefully have a great view and a bit of a breeze.

From here, you can continue walking south. Please only use this path in good weather. The path follows the ridge, with steep drops down to the sea on both sides of the path. This is not a trail for travelers with a fear of heights or in strong winds.

The scenery is all the more spectacular. Deep blue sea as far as the eye can see. Look down into the sea every now and then; you might spot seals, whales, dolphins, or even sharks. You’ve never been closer to Antarctica (from this continent).

5.2 Hike to Diaz Beach

Back at the parking lot, you can embark on another hike from here, to the Cape of Good Hope. To do this, walk towards Diaz Beach (please pay attention to the tides if you want to walk down to the beach). This beach is by far one of the most beautiful beaches in the Cape and has snow-white, powdery sand, a pure Caribbean feeling.

5.3 Photo at the “Cape of Good Hope” sign

Further along the boardwalk, you’ll come to the famous “Cape of Good Hope” sign, which, after the spectacular views and Diaz Beach, isn’t all that appealing anymore. It’s usually always busy here, as all the visitors are eager to take that souvenir photo. If you’re lucky, it won’t be too busy yet. Then it’s time to take a quick photo and move on to the next highlight.

5.4 Buffels Bay & Platboom Beach

The other beaches in the national park are also worth a visit. Platboom Beach is reminiscent of scenes from the movie “Pirates of the Caribbean,” and Buffels Bay Beach also offers breathtaking scenery with opportunities for picnics and braaiing.

5.5 Other Hiking Options

If you still have time and perhaps even want to go on a proper hike, I recommend the trails around Sirkelsvlei (approx. 6.5 km, 3-4 hours) and the Shipwreck Path (approx. 5 km, 2-3 hours). Both trails start at Olifantsbos Beach, where various antelope species and even zebras can often be spotted (at least, I’ve always been lucky there).

You should set off around 2 hours before sunset to see the last two highlights (1 hour before sunset if you skip Kommetjie).

6. Kommetjie Lighthouse

Around an hour from the parking lot at Cape Point is the small town of Kommetjie, home of Jeremy Loops (famous singer and songwriter from Cape Town). Along the way, you can also stop at places like Scarborough Beach, Witsand, or Misty Cliffs.

Especially on this side of the peninsula, there are often many kite surfers out and about, doing laps in the sea (warning: not suitable for beginners). Kommetjie is home to one of the most beautiful lighthouses in the region. The 33-meter-high tower is the tallest cast-iron lighthouse in South Africa.

You can even visit it and climb to the top (please note the current opening times during the season, usually between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.). It is connected to a boardwalk that leads through the rocks and fynbos. Although fully automated, the Slangkop Lighthouse is one of the few lighthouses in the world still manned by a lighthouse keeper. Have you ever wanted to shake the hand of a real lighthouse keeper? Well then, go for it!

7. Chapman’s Peak Drive

The best is saved for last. While you’ve certainly already had a great drive up here with beautiful views and scenery, this road will top it all. The Chapman’s Peak Drive starts in Noordhoek and leads all the way to Hout Bay.

If the road is closed (construction work, accident, weather), this will be indicated on a sign at the beginning and blocked off by a barrier. Don’t worry, simply visit Cape Point Vineyards instead; here, too, you’ll enjoy a great view of the sunset and a glass of wine to go with it—a very good alternative.

Especially beautiful at sunset

Chapmans Peak, named after a simple ship’s captain, not a mountaineer or politician, who searched for provisions in this bay (Hout Bay) in 1607. The road was opened in 1919 after years of planning and has been widened or repaired repeatedly since then, whenever the sea washes away parts of the road. The road is 9 km long and offers spectacular views over Noordhoek Beach and later over Hout Bay. You can stop at small parking areas to take photos.

I recommend stopping at the main lookout point “The Lookout Point on Chapmans Peak” for sunset. Be sure to bring a jacket, as it can get quite chilly here. Please note: Chapmans Peak is a toll road. The toll must be paid in Hout Bay, at the end of the road. The current fee is R61 per car (04/2024). You cannot pay with a foreign card, so it’s best to have cash with you (this applies to almost all toll roads in South Africa).

End of the Cape Peninsula Day Tour

Now your Cape Peninsula day tour ends. From here, you drive approximately 45 minutes back to Cape Town. This is my favorite route around the Cape Peninsula in South Africa. Perhaps you’d like to try one or two of these routes. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or need help. See you soon in Cape Town!