The Cape Peninsula, stretching from the City Centre to Cape Point, is one of the world’s most scenic areas.
A Cape Peninsula tour is a great opportunity to explore Cape Town’s unique cultural and wilderness heritage. This tour encapsulates the best that the Cape has to offer, an awe-inspiring tour of the headland known as Cape Point. Magnificent beaches, breathtaking views, historic and picturesque coastal villages are to be seen along the way.
With Ubuntu Travel, your Cape Peninsula tour is completely private and can be tailor-made with your local guide towards how you wish to spend the day.
Now of course, like everything at Ubuntu Travel, your Peninsula Tour is private and will be completely tailor-made to your interests and what you would like to achieve during your stay in Cape Town.
This will not, however, be a typical travel guide where everything is recommended at once. On a typical trip to Cape Town, you are enjoying between three to six days before heading to the winelands or on a safari. Therefore, a Cape Peninsula tour is not only a fantastic way to appreciate an overview of Cape Town and its trendy suburbs, but also to discover the close proximity everything is to authentic wilderness areas.
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I will, however, strongly suggest you do one thing. Leave early! Perhaps a quick continental breakfast and a freshly brewed coffee or tea is best for this morning, there will be plenty of time for hearty meals later. For those of you who have been caught indulging in South African wines the night before, don’t worry, the first section is a leisurely drive.
Assuming you are staying in or around Cape Town’s iconic V&A WaterFront. Explore the stunning Atlantic Seaboard southwards towards Cape Point, with the incredible Twelve Apostle mountain range towering above you and the breathtaking coastline. Cruise through Clifton with its pristine beaches, and take notes of the trendy bars and restaurants at Camps Bay. You will want to return.
The Atlantic Seaboard: Beaches and Breathtaking Views
We travel along the Atlantic Seaboard via Sea Point, Clifton and Camps Bay, stopping at a Llandudno look-out point before continuing to Hout Bay, a quaint village and fishing harbour with magnificent mountain views and beach.
A visit to Seapoint is not complete without a walk along the stunning seaside promenade. The promenade is frequented by walkers and skaters alike - a sunset jog is a fantastic idea.
A series of four idyllic beaches separated by massive granite boulders. Camps Bay is a wealthy coastal suburb located just ten minutes from the city bowl. Set on the slopes of Table Mountain, it overlooks a series of beautiful sandy bays and the Atlantic Ocean beyond.
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The beaches at Clifton and Camps Bay are absolutely incredible and deserve a special mention, especially if you are looking for sundowner spots. I will warn you though, the beaches may look inviting, but if you’re looking for a comfortable swim… then perhaps the False Bay side is better. The water on the Atlantic Seaboard is cold.
Want to save money on sightseeing? Camps Bay has many bays and beaches and holds a Blue Flag for beach cleanliness and safety. Don’t expect warm waters here; the Atlantic Ocean is extremely cold and has massive waves and riptides. This affluent suburb of Cape Town is still worth a visit with its high-end restaurants, quirky cafes and coffee bars.
Need a dinner recommendation in Camp’s Bay? I have no greater words of advice then get yourself to the Codfather. Jump in the car, hail a taxi, don your trainers - I don’t care how you get there but do it pronto.
Hout Bay: A Quaint Fishing Village
The originally small fishing village of Hout Bay is now a popular suburb of Cape Town. Hout Bay marks the beginning of Chapman’s Peak Drive and is a crescent-shaped South African beach surrounded by mountains on three sides.
Optional: Seal Island boat trip (seasonal, weather permitting - not included in cost).
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Hout Bay is also a wonderful coastal fishing village with a traditional harbor and extensive craft market to wander through. For the adventurers, you can take a tour to Duiker Island and snorkel with the Cape fur seals or even sea kayak and search for resident heavyside’s dolphins.
A popular activity from Hout Bay is the Hout Bay Seal Snorkelling trip. The Cape fur seals live on nearby Duiker Island, and by joining the cruise, you can see the seals up close and even get the option to snorkel with the seals!
Chapman's Peak Drive: A Breathtaking Coastal Route
On through Chapman’s Peak, one of the world’s most breathtaking coastal drives, to Cape Point and the Good Hope Nature Reserve, which has magnificent fynbos vegetation, birdlife, endemic antelope species and zebra, historic lighthouses and shipwrecks.
Chapman’s Peak Drive winds it way between Noordhoek and Hout Bay. Situated on the Atlantic Coast, at the south-western tip of South Africa, it is one of the most spectacular marine drives anywhere in the world. The 9km route, with its 114 curves, skirts the rocky coastline of Chapman’s Peak.
Chapman’s Peak Drive, known as “Chappies” by the locals, is a stretch of winding coastal road that takes you from Cape Town to the Cape of Good Hope. It could easily feature as one of the world’s most scenic routes, as the views are sensational.
You might be tempted to stop at Hout Bay before marveling at the engineering and panoramic views of Chapmans Peak drive. But I would suggest leaving this for another time and prioritize getting down to Cape Point as early as possible.
The best part of your trip home will be driving down Chapman’s Peak, a windy road carved into the mountainside. I would love nothing more than to cruise down it, ideally in an open-top convertible wearing some kind of vintage hair scarf and looking like a model. Instead, I sat in the backseat of my friend’s dad’s car because I haven’t passed my driving test (I also don’t look like a model).
Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve
At the penultimate tip of the Cape Peninsula is Cape Point. Cape Point lies at the south-western tip of Africa and offers great views, a restaurant and a funicular which takes you up to the old lighthouse.
The Cape of Good Hope is found at Cape Point and is an area of outstanding natural beauty. Wildlife can be found at the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, including Mountain zebras, ostrich, antelope and mischievous baboons. Take a guided tour of Cape Point Ostrich Farm, join the shipwreck trail or take a boat out to enjoy the spectacular scenery from the water.
Cape Point is a wonderful introduction to the uniquely diverse Cape Floral Kingdom. A region that boasts more floral diversity than the United Kingdom, and is home to more than 20% of Africa’s plant species. All this is complemented by panoramic ocean views, secluded beaches and a variety of wildlife like chacma baboons, eland, Cape mountain zebra and the endemic bontebok.
I promise, you will quickly forget that just 30 minutes ago you were in South Africa’s second largest city… the magic of Cape Town.
This incredible wilderness, however, does bring in the crowds. And this is why I suggest that you leave early. In the peak summer time (Nov to Feb) queues can develop outside the entrance of the park. And the walkways up to the historic lighthouses and incredible viewing spots can become a little overcrowded.
Luckily, after visiting the lighthouses and enjoying the expansive views of False Bay at the point, there is quite a lot more to explore while visiting Cape Point. If you have restricted mobility, or small children, take the Funicular to the viewing points.
Quick Spoiler Alert - Cape Point is not the most southern tip of Africa. Nor is it where the Atlantic and Indian Ocean meet.
Cape Point itself is the end of the African continent and the point where the Atlantic and Indian oceans meet. Standing here, at the foot of the picturesque lighthouse, with the water crashing below at the foot of hundred-metre-high cliffs, you can look out to see and watch waves that haven’t seen land since Antarctica.
Budget R360 to get into Cape Point Nature Reserve and if you want to ride the funicular, 80 return or 70 each way.
Simon's Town and Boulders Beach: Penguin Encounters
We go on to historic Simon’s Town, a village with charming Victorian architecture, a naval base and a large penguin colony at the beautiful Boulders Beach.
Visiting the African penguins at Boulders Beach is a magical wildlife encounter for children and adults alike. Who would have thought there would be South African penguins happily co-existing alongside day-trippers on Boulders Beach? Walk along the wooden boardwalk and admire the penguins of Boulders Beach going about their daily activities, oblivious to the hundreds of human eyes fixated on them. At the end of the walk, step onto the powder-soft sand and relax alongside these charming creatures. Boulders Beach is the perfect place to visit from Cape Town.
Boulders Beach in Simon’s Town is ideal for kids as immense boulders shelter the cove from currents and large waves - but please always take care. It is a rare pleasure to swim with the penguins but don’t touch or feed them.
The numbers are heartbreaking. In 2021 a census concluded that in just 30 years, the African penguin population in South Africa has declined by 73% from 42,500 breeding pairs to just 10,400. There are now only an estimated 14,700 breeding pairs left on the whole continent - essentially the African penguin has lost nearly 97% of its historical population.
Peak breeding season is March-May so if you want to see some adorable fluffy chicks, that’s your window. My trip luckily coincided with this and I marvelled over the fact that some of the chicks were almost as big as their parents and clad in brown-grey down.
Just 5 minutes from Boulders is Simon’s Town, another coastal settlement and a chance to grab lunch.
I would suggest a morning or afternoon swim at the beach right next door. Away from the walking crowds and framed by large granite boulders, this clean and child friendly beach is sheltered from the wind. Enjoy a sea kayaking experience from Simon’s Town (a Naval town right next door). Navigate yourself around the white granite boulders for a unique perspective of the penguin colony. Snorkel with Cape fur seals at Partridge Point.
Boulders Beach entry costs R160.
Kalk Bay and Muizenberg: Coastal Charms
Wave goodbye to the Mother City and travel down the east side of the peninsula. The next stop on our Cape Peninsular itinerary is St James Beach. Just a 10-minute drive from St James is the gorgeous Kalk Bay town.
For me, it’s everything that Sundays should be: brunch, cake, coffee and browsing lovely shops. Whilst searching for a present for my friend’s mum who had housed me, fed me and driven me around for two weeks, I ended up in a three-story china shop. I was surrounded from every angle by teetering crockery and with every movement I made, stacks shimmied and shook (filling me with terror that a hefty breakage bill was coming my way). As I left the shop I witnessed a flock of hummingbirds drinking from a fountain.
Seriously, Kalk Bay is all sorts of charming and well worth a slot on your Cape Peninsular itinerary especially if you like bookshops, trinkets and jewellery.
One place you shouldn’t miss is Lekker, a cafe named after the Afrikaans word for ‘tasty’. We ate sandwiches and red velvet cake but it’s also a good spot to try some typical South African deserts like melktert and koeksisters.
Muizenberg has a distinct beach vibe and is one of the most popular surf spots in Cape Town. Stay a while and then head to Kalk Bay, a 5-minute drive from Muizenberg. Even though the two towns are so close, they are a million miles away in character.
If there was a contest for the best beach town, Muizenberg would be a strong contender. It’s home to a white sandy beach and the cutest beach huts I ever did see. The baby waves are apparently perfect for beginner surfers but don’t forget your wetsuit as the water is COLD. Only my pinky toe made it into the icy Capetonian ocean.
Stellenbosch: Wine Tasting in the Cape Winelands STELLENBOSCH TRAVEL GUIDE 🍷 Top 20 Things to Do, See, Eat & Drink in Stellenbosch, South Africa 🇿🇦🍖
STELLENBOSCH TRAVEL GUIDE 🍷 Top 20 Things to Do, See, Eat & Drink in Stellenbosch, South Africa 🇿🇦🍖
Our next stop is Stellenbosch, the heart of the South African wine Industry, boasting great beauty and culture that is steeped in South African history. Walk down the canal-lined avenues, in the shade of giant oak trees and beautifully preserved historic buildings. Coffee shops, galleries, antique shops and wine bars spill onto the sidewalks. An air of quiet intellectualism and wine-making history abounds in this university town.
A blend of historical architecture, student life, epicurean delights and oak-lined avenues, Stellenbosch is a picturesque university town surrounded by mountains and vineyards. A walking tour of the town centre allows visitors to take in its beautifully preserved Cape Dutch and Victorian architecture, as well as the many enticing art galleries, craft shops, clothing boutiques and gift stores, while foodies may prefer indulging in mouth-watering cuisine and fine wines at one of the chic restaurants or buzzing bistros.
With the sheer vastness of wine estates on offer, we are truly spoilt for choice when we enjoy a cellar tour and wine tasting in Stellenbosch. South Africa produces some of the best wine in the world, and a visit to one of South Africa’s Cape vineyards can be included on your Cape Peninsula itinerary.
And of course, after a great day viewing the sights of the Cape Peninsula, sealing it with a wine tasting session is a great way to reflect on your incredible day! Again, the fact that historical vineyards are a mere 15 to 20 minutes from anywhere in Cape Town is astounding and alluring.
There are a few options to choose from, but I will highlight some of my favorite.
- For those interested in the cultural history of wine production, then Groot Constantia is for you. Established in 1685, it is the oldest wine estate in the country, and a walk through its grounds provides important insights and conversations around South Africa’s colonial history.
- For a more intimate experience, I would visit either Beau Constantia or Constantia Glen. Both wineries are in the same valley, and you can actually see them from either venue. Expect delicious wine tastings, gorgeous views and incredible food to compliment it all.
At Beau Constantia, pop your head into the Chefs Warehouse… This is Co-founders Kyle and Leah’s favorite restaurant in Cape Town. Constantia Glen is an intimate boutique winery - perfect for couples and families alike with their lush lawns and perfect views. Beau Constantia is for the romantics! A reservation at Kyle and Leah’s favorite restaurant in Cape Town is a must if you have time.
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