A Perfect Day on A Cape Peninsula Tour

[Updated September 2020]

These sunny days beg for a fun day out on a tour of the Cape Peninsula. The whole family can enjoy a slow drive through charming seaside towns to the most south-westerly point in Africa, Cape Point. Then wind back along the Constantia wine route or head to Imhoff Farm in Kommetjie for family fun, followed by a spectacular drive along Chapman’s Peak. Penguins, camels, lighthouses, Italian villas – this route has it all! This is our guide to a self-drive Cape Peninsula tour.

Start your morning with a surf lesson and coffee in Muizenberg

There are plenty of surf shops and surfing centres along the Muizenberg beach strip. Gary’s Surf School offers surf classes for young and old, which includes your board and wetsuit. If you already have the basics down then rent a board and wetsuit for less than 200 bucks and take to the waves. After a bracing ocean session head to any of the beachfront cafes for a well-deserved breakfast!

Cucina Labia for glamour and high tea

Capetonians are familiar with local cinema of the same name, Casa Labia is the former Muizenberg residence of Count and Countess Natale Labia. This lovingly-restored Italian villa is home to Casa Labia by Ideas Cartel, open seven days a week .

Antique shopping, book shops and pastries in Kalk Bay

Charming Kalk Bay, just a five-minute drive from Muizenberg, is a warren of cobbled streets, old bookshops, creperies and coffee shops. The Kalk Bay Trading Post has a jumble of odds and ends, old postcards, wooden furniture, print, cutlery, glassware. If you’re lucky you may find a real treasure. Fish and chips on the harbour is an absolute staple, and for an after-lunch treat, the kids will love the generous scoops of ice-cream from the Ice Cafe.

Explore the historical stairs in sleepy seaside Simon’s Town

Simon’s Town is home to the South African Naval Museum, the much-loved statue of the hound “Just Nuisance”, second-hand book shops and lots of restaurants for a spot of lunch. You can also get a bit of fresh air on a ramble in the mountains behind Simon’s Town.

Say Hi to the penguins at Boulders Beach

Boulders Beach has a breeding colony of over 2,000 endangered African Penguins. The beach forms part of the Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area so an entrance fee is required to protect these dapper birds. Entrance is free for Wild Card holders.

Drive to the end of the world at Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve

Take a drive to what feels like the end of the world, to the most south-westerly point on the African continent – the Cape of Storms – where many ships met their match. The old lighthouse stands proud guardian here. Kids will love seeing the baboons in their natural habitat while adults will be bowled over by the incredible views. It is worth taking the funicular for an awe-inspiring view.

Cape Peninsula tour options:

Route 1: Cape Point to Camps Bay

The young at heart will love Imhoff Farm, Kommetjie

Imhoff Farm has it all from camel rides to horse-rides on the nearby beach, paintball, a petting zoo with bunnies and goats, three restaurants, cheese tastings and a chocolate shop.

Directions from Cape Point: exit Cape Point National Park and turn left onto Kommetjie Road (M65). Pass through Scarborough and, before entering Kommetjie, turn right onto Slangkop Road (M82) towards Ocean View. At the robot intersection (where Slangkop Road rejoins the M65) drive straight across and into Imhoff Farm.

Chapman’s Peak Drive for spectacular panoramic views

Just as picturesque as the famed Amalfi Coast drive in Italy, Chapman’s Peak has to be one of the most beautiful drives in the world. The ocean and sky become a wash of liquid space as you wind your way to Hout Bay. There is a R50 toll fee.

Bay Harbour Market, Hout Bay

Open from Friday Evening and during the day on Saturday and Sunday, the Bay Harbour Market is a friendly and bustling spot. Choose from over 100 food stalls. They have everything from koeksisters to crayfish, with live music and handmade curio products.

Sundowners at The Twelve Apostles Hotel

The terrace of the five-star 12 Apostles Hotel and Spa on Victoria Drive is a great way to end off your day out.

Route 2: Cape Point to Kirstenbosch Gardens

Explore the Constantia Wine Route: Steenberg Wine Estate, Groot Constantia, Klein Constantia, Eagles’ Nest

The Constantia Valley is home to the oldest wine farms in the country just a stone’s throw from the city centre. These beautiful vineyards offer a variety of top-notch tasting rooms as well as awarded restaurants and bistros to keep the designated driver happy.

End off with the Kirstenbosch Boomslang Tree Canopy Walk

The Kirstenbosch National Botanic Gardens is a peaceful spot to finish your Cape Peninsular tour. Kids will love the realistic dinosaur sculptures in the cycad garden and the impressive Boomslang Tree Canopy walkway which snakes its way above the treetops.

Book flight deals to Cape Town

 

If you’re not up for a self-drive full-day peninsula tour, the bright red City Sightseeing buses are a great way to see parts of the peninsula without having to rent a car or drive. The Blue Mini Peninsula Tour and Purple Wine Tour are both available for a day tour (you will have access to both tours with this ticket).

The Blue Mini Peninsula Tour includes stops at Kirstenbosch Gardens, World of Birds and Imizamo Yethu Township in Hout Bay.

The Purple Wine Tour stops at Groot Constantia, Eagles’ Nest and Beau Constantia.

Now that you have the ultimate guide on your Cape Peninsula tour, which route are you going to take?

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All information on this blog page was correct at the time of publishing and may change at any time without prior notice. Travelstart will not be held liable for loss or inconvenience resulting from the use of out-dated or incorrectly noted information.