FULL-DAY CAPE PENINSULA TOUR (SELF-DRIVE)

CAPE PENINSULA TOUR – CAPE POINT NATURE RESERVE (SELF-DRIVE)

“Should I join a pre-planned group tour? or should I book a qualified tour guide? or should I ask a friend in Cape Town to tag along? or should I simply drive myself?…and what are the dangers to look out for? am I confident enough to drive on Chapman’s Peak and still enjoy the views? am I familiar with the things to do and see along the route? have I calculated the time to be spent at each stop?…and have I taken into consideration the costs of entrance fees, tollgate, and fuel?” These are some of the questions you will have to answer when planning the Cape Peninsula tour.

Arriving at the Cape Point Nature Reserve and standing near the old lighthouse while imagining the expanse of the Ocean that stretches away from you all the way to Antarctica, it’s easy to understand why the Cape Peninsula Tour is by far one of the most popular tours that leaves a lasting impression on the minds of many travellers visiting Cape Town.

The Cape Peninsula is a generally mountainous peninsula that juts out into the Atlantic Ocean at the southwestern extremity of the African continent. At the southern end of the peninsula are Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope. On the northern end is Table Mountain, overlooking Table Bay and the City Bowl of Cape Town. Compared to other southern African regions of comparable size, the Cape Peninsula has more topographical variability, which results in breathtaking landscape. The Cape Peninsula spans from Mouille Point in the north with trendy coastline area known for posh seafood restaurants and steakhouses with oceanfront patios, and for the Sea Point Promenade, which winds along the oceanfront past the DHL Stadium (Formerly known as the Cape Town Stadium sports and concert venue) and the red-striped Green Point Lighthouse (The oldest operational lighthouse in South Africa, lit in April 1824).

Following the coastline will take you past some of Cape Town’s most well-known suburbs, including Bantry Bay, Clifton, Camps Bay, Llandudno, and Hout Bay, before you begin the world-famous Chapman’s Peak Drive ascent. You will pass the seaside agricultural village of Noordhoek at the end of Chapman’s Peak Drive on your right. The coastline then continues to the villages of Kommetjie, Misty Cliffs and Scarborough before arriving at the Cape Point Nature Reserve.

Cape Peninsula tour is by far one of the best ways to experience almost a 360-degree round trip around Mother City and its surroundings. Rushing it will cause you to miss out on many fascinating things to do and see along the way, but stopping for an extended period of time at one place will cause you to miss out on even more incredible things to do and see along the route. If you want to truly take in this gorgeous journey, you must be wise. The question is “How do you strike a balance between time and adventures?”

Even though anyone can take a trip to the Cape Point National Park on their own, I usually suggest travelling in a group, with a partner, or friend unless if you are a solo traveller and insist on travelling alone. If you’ve never been to the Cape Point Nature Reserve, you might think that the best option is to drive from Cape Town, stop at Muizenberg beach, Boulders Beach to see the Penguins, and continue driving until you reach Cape Point Nature Reserve and Cape of Good Hope, and then drive back to Cape Town via Chapman’s Peak Drive. However, you’ll undoubtedly miss out on a lot of exciting activities and sights along the way.

PREPARING FOR THE CAPE PENINSULA TOUR

Unless if you have your own car, make sure you hire the smallest vehicle (Group A) well in advance. This will give you the comfort and confidence knowing that you have a roadworthy vehicle available and ready for the journey ahead, and can take your own time at each stop – you will be in control of your trip. Most car rental companies give you free 200km usage per day and charges an average of R2.75 per kilometre for any excess kilometres with a refundable deposit. A return trip for this tour is just under 200km with all the stops I mentioned below.

Make sure you eat breakfast and pack enough snacks and a few bottles of water for the road. If you are a South African resident, remember to bring your Identification document with you to qualify for local rates at the Penguin Colony and Cape Point Nature Reserve – I have also included all the fees for non-residents at the end of this article. There is also a toll-gate fee of R52.00 ($2.90) when driving through Chapman’s Peak Drive. Those are the only three entrance/toll fees you will pay on this trip.

BEGINNING YOUR TOUR

Leave your accommodation at 09:00 am and drive straight to Muizenberg via the M5 instead of Chapman’s Peak Drive. It will be more enjoyable to drive on Chapman’s Peak Drive on the way back from Cape Point Nature Reserve because there are several places on the left side where you may stop and have a stroll. Muizenberg beach is where you will find the popular muliticoloured beach huts or changing rooms.

For best Instagram pictures, pass the first few huts near the restaurants and walk to the ones on the far side and away from the restaurants. Take pictures from the back at an angle (as shown above and below), you will be able to capture the huts in a long straight line with the ocean or the mountain as the backdrop. You may also take pictures from the front of the huts if you like. Spend 30 – 40 minutes exploring the area and then continue with your journey.

CAPE POINT NATURE RESERVE

From Muizenberg, join the main road (M4) and drive towards Simon’s Town. You will drive through small towns such as Kalk Bay, Fish Hoek, and Simon’s Town – remember your ultimate destination is Cape Point Nature Reserve. Things get little interesting after Simon’s Town especially after Boulders Beach. The drive may intimidate you but just relax, don’t think about any bad things that could happen, and focus on the road. No matter how excited you are when you spot baboons on the road, never feed them or get out of your car to snap pictures with them. Simply proceed at a slow speed, giving them room to move out of the road. It’s an amazing 35-minute scenic drive with mountains and cliffs on your right and the Ocean on your left. Drive until you see a well-marked entrance to the Cape Point Nature Reserve on your left. Follow the signs until you get to the main entrance – this is where you will pay the entrance fee. After paying, continue to drive for another 15 – 20 minutes and lookout for ostriches and other such as the Cape mountain zebra and the world’s largest antelope, Eland on the way until you reach the reserve’s parking area.

Park the car and and give yourself a pat on the back for getting this far. Make your way to the Dutch Fanicular office to buy a one-way/roundtrip Dutch Funicular (Cable Car that transport you to the old lighthouse) ticket. I recommend buying a one-way trip ticket and descend by foot, you will have the best views and opportunity to make multiple stops along the way to take amazing pictures. Standing near the old lighthouse, look on the side and you will see stone walkways (pictured below), you get a beautiful view of the “Point” and cliffs from there too.

Now keep descending until you reach the well-known “Cape Point” signage; you can also stop to take pictures there. When you arrive at the parking area, you will likely feel a little hungry or fatigued but also eager to explore more.

By now you should have seen a sandy beach shaded by enormous cliffs at the bottom, that is called Diaz beach and behind the cliff is Cape of Good Hope. Although swimming there is not advised, you can stroll there as well by following the wooden boardwalk. If you are extremely fit, you can descend to Diaz beach using the wooden stairs. Going down there is extremely simple and enjoyable, but climbing back up is very exhausting.

If you are not particularly fit, don’t worry; the views are still spectacular from the top. Walk back to the parking area when you are finished. By this point, you should be feeling hungry, but thankfully, Two Oceans restaurant is open to make sure your stomach is satisfied.

You are done and ready to go back home right? Wrong! From here, drive down the road until you see a left turn with a small board written Cape of Good Hope. Follow that road until you reach another parking area. The well-known “Cape of Good Hope” signboard can be found here.

BOULDERS BEACH – PENGUIN COLONY

When you are ready to leave the Cape Point Nature Reserve, exit the reserve and drive back towards Simon’s Towns for about 35 minutes and until you reach a brown road signage written “Boulders Beach” or Penguin Colony”. At that point, turn right into the parking area. The Penguin Colony has two entrances, but your ticket entitles you to use any one. The main entrance takes you to an enclosed boardwalk where you can clearly see the colony. The other entrance gives you access to Boulders beach where you can swim with some penguins.

Park the car and walk a few metres to the Boulder Beach entrance to pay the entrance fee. By now, the water ought to be warm enough for you to swim with the penguins. If you don’t feel like getting yourself wet, you may still observe the colony from the boardwalk. If you’re going to swim, don’t forget to pack a towel, swimsuit, and sunscreen. Here, you may spend an hour or two.

CHAPMAN’S PEAK DRIVE

Around 16:00 pm or 16:30 pm, depart Boulders Beach and travel via Simon’s Town central in the direction of Noordhoek (or you may opt to drive through seaside villages of Scarborough, Misty Cliffs, Kommetjie, and Noordhoek before joining Chapman’s Peak Drive). Noordhoek is a little farming community with a gorgeous long white sandy beach. Unless you don’t mind swimming in icy water, skip the beach and take in the scenery from above.

Follow the Chapman’s Peak Road signage, then pull over at the first recommended spot on the left to take it all in and take some pictures (you will have the exact view/shot as shown above). When finished, continue driving on Chapman’s Peak Drive while taking in the views of the Atlantic Ocean on the left – don’t rush the drive. Along the route, keep an eye out for side parking spaces (there are a few of them; don’t worry if you miss one; there will be another one soon). Sunsets are breathtaking from Chapman’s Peak Drive as well, so stop to appreciate the beauty and give yourself a pat on the back for a fantastic day.

When you are ready to go, keep driving past the toll gate, through the suburb of Hout Bay, where you’ll join the M6 road, and past the suburbs of Llandudno, Twelve Apostles, Bakoven, Camps Bay, Clifton, Sea Point, and Green Point all the way to the V&A Waterfront and then back to Cape Town.

The time should be around 19:30 or 20:00 but don’t worry, it will still be clear outside if you are doing this during the summer season. If you prefer to, you can skip the sunset on Chapman’s Peak Drive and enjoy sundowners with an amazing sunset in Camps Bay.  Now take pride in your accomplishment, you have successfully completed almost 360-degree adventureous round trip of the Mother City and its surroundings.

Please note that I have left out the best fish and chips restaurant in Kalk Bay (Kalkies), Water Bike rides in Simon’s Town, Seal Island boat tour in Hout Bay, Cape Point Vineyards in Noordhoek, and Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. However, if you shorten your time spent at Boulders Beach and Cape Point Nature Reserve, you can include them as well.

ENTRANCE FEES:

CAPE POINT NATURE RESERVE ENTRANCE FEES

NB: Cape Point and Boulders Gates are a cash-free environment and we only accept payments via debit and credit cards.

1. R94 adults and R47 children for SA Residents (all you need to bring along is your South African ID)
2. R188 adults and R94 children for SADC nationals
3. R376 adults and R188 children for International adults
4. Tickets for the Flying Dutchman Funicular (Cable Car) cost R90 return for adults (R75 one way), R50 return for children (R40 one way), and R55 return and R40 for pensioners.

The current park operating times are from 8 am to 4 pm daily and the Funicular from 9 am to 4 pm on weekends.

BOULDERS BEACH (PENGUIN COLONY) ENTRANCE FEES

1. R44 adults and R22 children for SA Residents (all you need to bring along is your South African ID)
2. R176 adults and R88 children for foreign guest
3. R88 adults and R44 children for SADC nationals

The current operating times are from 7 am to 5 pm daily.

THINGS TO DO AND SEE INSIDE THE CAPE POINT NATURE RESERVE

1. Numerous beaches including the spectacular Diaz Beach
2. Dozens of amazing viewpoints
3. Plenty of unique fauna and flora
4. Ride the Flying Dutchman Funicular up to the viewing point below the old lighthouse.
5. Discover cultural and historical spots including monuments to explorers such as Vasco da Gama and Bartolomeu Dias
6. Great swimming spots, picnic sites and walks at the Bordjiesrif and Buffels Bay tidal pools
7. Photograph the more than 1 100 indigenous plant species that grow nowhere else in the world.
8. Watch massive whales moving past Cape Point on their annual migration (around June to October)
9. Over 250 bird species
10. Spot the Cape mountain zebra and the world’s largest antelope, Eland, etc
11. Walk the shipwreck trail to view a few of the 26 recorded shipwrecks around Cape Point
12. Hike along a wide variety of scenic and overnight trails through natural fynbos and along sandy beaches
13. Take part in a range of exciting outdoor activities, such as sea kayaking and mountain biking

CAPE POINT NATURE RESERVE HIGHLANDS

1. The breathtaking views of Clifton and Camps Bay as you head down the Cape Peninsula
2. A boat ride to Seal Island from Mariner’s Wharf
3. A scenic drive along the world-famous Chapman’s Peak Drive
4. Visit Simon’s Town and the endangered African Penguins at the Boulders Penguin Colony
5. Cape Point and Cape of Good Hope
6. Take a walk on the Boomslang bridge at the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens

To see a lot of the Cape in a short period of time, a full-day private Cape Peninsula Tour is ideal. Get in touch with me at tebogo@westerncapeexperiences.com if you continue to feel that you need an experienced individual to lead you on this journey.

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