Ultimate guide: visit the Cape of Good Hope in one day
The Cape Peninsula is renowned for its beauty and its tip. Follow our guide so as not to miss anything during your visit to famous Cape of Good Hope. You will discover all the points of interest by following this circuit which goes through Chapman's Peak, Cape Point, Simon's Town, Muizenberg and especially the penguin colony from Boulders National Park.
Tips :
-Leave Cape Town early because the day can be long if you linger in front of these exceptional sites.
-If you want to discover the Cape Peninsula accompanied by a local, we recommend private tours offered by Civitatis. Simply select a language (top right on the site) to book a guide who speaks your native language. It is the ideal option to take care of nothing.
Book this tourBetween Hout Bay and Noordhoek, the road to Chapman's Peak voted the most beautiful road in the world
Start your visit to the Cape of Good Hope by driving towards Hout Bay via the coastal road passing in front of 12 Apostles. Do not stop in the city which has nothing to offer except its (very pleasant) market near the port on Sunday morning. Continue until Chapman's Peak and once the toll is past, enjoy the landscape of THE most beautiful scenic road in the world which ends on the heights of the immense beach of Noordhoek. The view is worth stopping at the side of the road and taking the time to admire the bay of Hout Bay overlooked by the peak of the 'Sentinel'.
NB: You can choose to explore Chapman's Peak by electric bike with E bike Chapman's Peak Drive Guided Cycle tour. It is an incredible experience for a walk with a magnificent view. If you have time, we recommend it.
Visit the legendary Cape of Good Hope at the tip of South Africa
Continue the tour by driving to Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, better known in French as Cape of good hope. There, if you are lucky you will see baboons, ostriches and antelopes but above all you can take the photo in front of the panel of the southernmost tip of Africa. Cape of Good Hope itself is nothing short of extraordinary. The real magic takes place at Cape Point, Cape Town next door (in the same national park). Its lighthouse at the top of a cliff swept by powerful winds reminds us why we have come to the ends of the earth!
Consulting : If you leave early enough, you will have time to hike Shipwreck Trail of Cape Point. It runs along the coast of the Cap de Bonne Esperance National Park for only 1,5 km and there is never anyone there as 99,9% of tourists enter the park, drive to the tip of the peninsula to see Cape Point and Cape of Good Hope and they set off again. This short walk allows you to see the animals of the park which do not show themselves in the most touristic places: baboons, antelopes, dassies, etc… And you can also see several wrecks along the beach as well as the vertebrae of whales. We highly recommend it.
Finish the Cape of Good Hope tour with the Simon's Town penguin colony
After your visit to the Cape of Good Hope, head to Simon's Town for the cute moment of your stay: the penguin colony from Boulders National Park. If you don't want to pay to see their sanctuary, you can simply walk along the driveway along the beach. You will suddenly see some penguins but it is not worth the sanctuary ... In addition, giving financial aid to the center is important because the forecasts estimate the extinction of these penguins in less than 50 years if nothing is done ... A l inside the sanctuary, a path takes you around their nests to the beach reserved for them. If you want to swim, we recommend you go to the 'Water Edge Beach' below the parking lot. There are often not many people and the water is magnificent. Finally, take a walk in the main street of Simon's Town full of cool shops and if you want you can visit the submarine from its naval base.
Consulting : There is better than visiting the penguin sanctuary and than the beach of 'Water Edge Beach'. Now you can combine the two in you swimming on a beach reserved for penguins. This beach is chargeable and is part of the sanctuary. It is managed by the rangers of the national parks of South Africa. They only let in a small number of tourists at a time so as not to disturb the animals. Even if there is a bit of a wait, we highly recommend it! The experience is really great and the penguins often approach you with curiosity! To find this beach, follow the path that leads to the sanctuary even further south.
Sleep in Muizenberg, near the famous South African surfing beach, at the best value for money
A few kilometers from the Cape of Good Hope is Muizenberg, renowned for its surf spot accessible to beginners. We advise you to spend the night in this very charming coastal city and relax outside the metropolis of Cape Town. We recommend the bar-restaurant Cape to Cuba for live music in the evening.
In terms of accommodation we liked The Muize which is the best tip in town. It offers a superb view at very affordable prices and it is 2 minutes walk from the beach and 5 minutes from restaurants.
Check availabilityIf complete, our second crush is theAdmiralty B&B.
Check availability
For more options, read our article on the best accommodation in Muizenberg.
Our tips for a successful trip:
- Book your flight in advance to take advantage of the best prices
Airline ticket prices are cheaper when booked 6 to 3 months in advance. To be sure of getting the best price, we recommend using a flight comparator such as Skyscanner.
- Book your accommodation before departure to have access to the best offers
You will always find a room at the last minute, but the best located accommodations are necessarily those that are always full. That's why it's best to book your accommodations as soon as possible. We recommend going through Agoda which offers the best prices. In addition, this site allows you to be easily reimbursed in the event of cancellation.
- Skip the line to visit the most popular attractions
By booking your excursions in advance on Civitatis, you do not queue on site to get your tickets. Less time waiting = more time enjoying your vacation! Plus, their guided tours ensure you have a knowledgeable guide who speaks your language.
- Use a comparator to find a rental car at the lowest price
Save yourself hours of research with rentalcar.com ou discovercars.com. These comparators are the best for finding rental cars at the lowest prices.
- Don't leave without travel insurance
For us, it is unimaginable to leave without travel insurance. We recommend the one proposed by AXIS. This is the best guaranteed way to leave with peace of mind. However, consider taking out additional specialized insurance for activities not covered (such as skiing or scuba diving).
- Want more information about your destination?
Do not hesitate to complete the information present on this blog with a travel Guide. You can take it in your luggage and refer to it throughout your vacation.
To find out more about South Africa:
The itinéterre team
Itinéterre is a travel blog written by a team of expatriates and locals. They share their experiences so that you can enjoy the best tours in their countries. Their advice will help you plan your vacation easily as if a local is accompanying you!
