Route through the Cape Peninsula: 8 Places to see in one day

The best way to explore this place steeped in history and natural beauty is by car, The stops are less than an hour from the center of Cape and moving freely is very easy. If you don't drive you can reserve a excursion like this which goes to the best places on the Cape Peninsula in one day.

In Wild Card (South Africa tourist card) entrance fees to most places on the Cape Peninsula are included. Here We will tell you everything about it so that you can decide if it is worth buying it.

Okay now, here are the best places to explore in one day on the Cape Peninsula. get ready for enjoy its landscapes and fauna through the area that for centuries filled the logbooks of great navigators.

With its white sand and With its Victorian colored houses, Muizenberg Beach is a typical South African postcard. They were used by first vacationers to change clothes and now they are practically abandoned, but with the exterior well maintained so that this typical photo of South Africa is not missing.

This long beach is very popular with surfers and has good views of the surrounding mountains, the Muizenberg Mountains.

Another common and funny thing to see, unless you are thinking about taking a bath, is the flag waving with the shark signThe great white shark loves these waters, and since it's such a busy beach, there's a station where they monitor and keep track of the latest sightings. You can approachcarYou can take a look at it from the promenade. To avoid any encounters with the great white shark or any of the dozens of jellyfish species that inhabit its waters, you can take a dip in the marine pool. Dalebrook Tidal Pool at St James Beach.

Simon's Town has its roots in a small Dutch shipyard built in 1743. Originally established as a Dutch naval base that in the 19th century with the invasion of Great Britain came under their control and became a super strategic base for them in southern Africa. Nowadays, Simon's Town preserves its seafaring legacy and colonial architecture. It is a lovely town to walk around, with super cute houses and it is also home to the South African Naval Museum.

Or at least for us It is the best of the Cape Peninsula (well, along with its landscapes). Touring the Garden Route We had already seen the friendly African penguins in Betty's Bay but we were clear that we had to repeat in Boulders Beach. Here lives a colony of more than 3.000 African or Cape penguins. They are the only species of penguins in Africa and they are also in danger of extinction, but you will be able to observe them up close at Boulders Beach, a real privilege! Also, the beach is beautiful.. Boulders means rock and by seeing photos or visiting it you will understand why, the beach of clear sand and transparent waters has gigantic rocks polished by the sea.

The entrance to this protected area It is included in the Wild CardIf you don't have it, it costs about €10 to pay directly at the box office.

To be able to see them up close, they have built wooden walkways that border the beach and a wide platform from where you can have a good time watching them. There is also the possibility of walk along a piece of the beach and feel even more like you're in a documentary, but that happens you need to visit the beach at low tide because then it becomes inaccessible. 

In our case we were by chance Low tide and we highly recommend it. Note that beach access can be a bit difficult because you have to go under or over rocky gentlemen. If you can't see it clearly, you can always turn around and walk along the walkways.

Remember you can't interact with them the slightest. Like all South African animals They are wild and you have to enjoy them by taking photos and observing from a safe distance.

On the way to the Cape of Good Hope National Park we recommend make a quick stop at Smitswinkel ViewpointThe views from the carThe reteras are amazing and there's parking right therecar and better enjoy the scenery. This viewpoint has one of the best views to see on the Cape Peninsula and there is also a path that leads down to the beach.

Of course, The Cape of Good Hope National Park is an essential stop on your route through the Cape Peninsula. It is a place of historical and natural importance protected by UNESCO for its variety of endemic fauna and flora.

The entrance is included in the Wild CardIf you don't already have it, the price is 400 ZAR (about €20). Personally, we think it's... carmost.

As I said, the southern tip of the Cape Peninsula is home to a rich diversity of wildlife, from ostriches to monkeys, including antelopes and hyraxes, which may look like a giant mouse but are cute. In addition, there is also a colony of sea lions that can be seen on the rocks near the shore many days.

It is a fairly large area that you will travel by car with many points to stop, here we leave you the most popular ones that we liked the most; 

• Detour to Buffels Bay Beach. An idyllic beach a few kilometers from the entrance of the Park. Few visitors take the detour so more wildlife is usually seen along the way. It is one of the places where you will be quieter, it has a swimming pool tidal (the kind that fills with the tide) and a picnic area. 
• Visit Cape Point Lighthouse. You can get there on foot in about 20 minutes or by funicular. From the top the views are even better than from the beginning of the path, but from the parking lot itself they are also great. 
• Tour the Wooden WalkFrom the lighthouse parking lot there is a path with wooden walkways that goes down to Díaz beach. If you want to continue, it also takes you to the tip of Cape Good Hope. The bad thing is that if you go down then you have to go up on foot and between round trips it will be a long time. It takes half an hour of descent and 40 minutes of ascent.
•  Get to the Cape of Good HopeOf course, a trip around the Cape Peninsula to its tip and iconic cape is a must. There you'll find the famous carPhone with your coordinates and, as always, stunning coastal scenery.  

The Cape of Good Hope, formerly known as the Cape of Storms, was a crucial point in explorer Vasco da Gama's journey to India. Crossing the Cape represented a great challenge for sailors due to the dangerous weather and sea conditions.. Overcoming it meant opening a new sea route to the east, forever changing the course of the history of trade and exploration. That's why When Vasco da Gama managed to cross it, the name was changed to the Cape of Good HopeCape of Good Hope”, a name that a priori gives more good vibes than that of storms. 

It is known as one carmost beautiful coastal beaches in the world, and no wonder, the views from the car are a true spectacle and each viewpoint more beautiful than the last.

La carThe road skirts the edge of Chapman Peak and is a true feat of engineering, the way it's been integrated into the mountain. If you can avoid a Saturday or Sunday morning, all the better, because it's a super popular spot for running or cycling, it gets practically overrun, and it's a bit of a mood killer to be so focused on other people and overtaking (we're speaking from experience...). To get through Chapman's Peak Drive there is a toll of 60ZAR (around €3) per vehicle. If you're coming from the Cape of Good Hope, you'll enter directly into the carYou'll get off and go through the tollbooth on your way out.

In Hout Bay, you will find a tiny island inhabited by a colony of sea lions. It is far from the coast so to see them up close, you can book one of the boats that leave regularly from the port or there are also snorkeling tours. We tell you more in how to see sea lions in south africa.

Book a boat tour of Duiker Island from 5€

An ideal Cape Peninsula route should end watching the sunset from Camps Bay. A lively beach, full of restaurants and shops from which to view the Twelve Apostles, a unique rock formation that extends from Table Mountain. A lot of people come there to see the sunset, us included. We took dinner to go and ate on the shore watching the sun set while the Twelve Apostles took on a beautiful reddish color.

I hope I've helped you plan.car tu route through the Cape Peninsula with these 8 places to see in one day and that you enjoy its landscapes as we did. To continue organizing your itinerary you can read our articles to travel to south africa and Guide to traveling to South Africa.