Cape Point & Chapman's Peak

What it is

Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope form the southernmost tip of the Cape Peninsula, inside a dedicated section of Table Mountain National Park roughly an hour's drive from the City Bowl. Chapman's Peak Drive is the scenic toll road that hugs the cliffs between Hout Bay and Noordhoek en route, widely rated one of the most dramatic coastal drives in the world. Together they make up the classic full-day "peninsula loop" almost every visitor does at least once.

What you'll see & do

The drive itself is the main event: Hout Bay's harbour, then Chapman's Peak Drive's switchbacks along the cliff face, then on to Cape Point, where a funicular (the Flying Dutchman) or a walking path leads up to the old lighthouse with views over both oceans meeting. The reserve has short walking trails, beaches, and troops of resident baboons — keep car windows closed and never feed them. On the way back, Boulders Beach at Simon's Town is the place to see the African penguin colony up close via boardwalks. Budget the better part of a day for the full loop with stops.

Practical info

Cape Point park fee

Around R400–R450 for foreign adults, cheaper for SADC nationals and South African residents with ID — set by SANParks and revised periodically.

Chapman's Peak toll

A separate toll fee applies per vehicle (a day pass is common) — the road can close in high wind, rockfall risk or bad weather, sometimes at short notice.

Boulders Beach entry

A separate, smaller SANParks conservation fee applies for the penguin viewing boardwalks.

Getting there

Self-drive is the practical option — public transport doesn't cover the full loop — or book a half-/full-day peninsula tour.

Nearby

This is a full-day loop combining several stops — Hout Bay, Chapman's Peak, Cape Point and Boulders Beach are typically all done in one trip rather than separately.

• Accommodation

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