21 Best Sights in Cape Peninsula, South Africa

Part of Table Mountain National Park, a cove sits between giant granite boulders toward the southern outskirts of Simon's Town that's been set aside to protect one of the world's last colonies of African penguins. Here they strut, waddle, swim, flex, parade, primp, preen, breed, nest, snuggle, squawk, and bray like donkeys (hence their nickname, jackass penguins). You can visit the colony via a series of wooden boardwalks, but come early to avoid the frequent busloads of tourists. If you want to avoid the crowds altogether, there are a few penguins on Boulders Beach (which also charges a fee, but is an absolutely glorious and pristine little swimming beach) or on Seaforth Beach. Remember to obey all signs requesting that you leave the penguins in peace, and don't step over fences or try to touch the penguins—they can bite. That said, don't be surprised if a wandering bird comes waddling up to your beach blanket to take a closer look, as they are innately curious.

Cape Point is a dramatic knife's edge of rock that slices into the Atlantic. Looking out to sea from one of the many viewing platforms, you'll feel like you're at the tip of Africa, even though that honor officially belongs to another dramatic point at Cape Agulhas, some 160 km (100 miles) to the southeast. From Cape Point the views of False Bay and the distant Hottentots Holland Mountains are astonishing—as is the sheer magnitude of the rock face jutting into the wild sea. The sense of wildness is magnified by the squawks and cries of seabirds that dance in the thermals above the ocean. The walk up to the viewing platform and the old lighthouse is very steep and very gratifying. If you’re short on time, or don't have the stomach for an on-foot ascent, the Flying Dutchman Funicular, named after a legendary ghost ship, leaves from the lower station at the Cape Point car park, taking passengers to the upper lighthouse every few minutes for a fee. However you go up, take a jacket or sweater as the wind can be fierce, and weather can change suddenly.

It took six years, from 1913 to 1919, to build the old lighthouse, 816 feet above the high-water mark. On a clear day the old lighthouse was a great navigational mark, but when the mists rolled in it was useless, so a new and much lower lighthouse (286 feet) was built at Dias Lookout Point. The newer, revolving lighthouse, the most powerful on the South African coast, emits a group of three flashes every 30 seconds and has prevented numerous shipwrecks. You can't go into either lighthouse, but the views from their bases are spectacular.

Stark reminders of the ships that didn't make it are dotted around the Cape. You'll see their rusty remains on some of the beaches. One of the more famous wrecks is the Thomas T. Tucker, one of hundreds of Liberty Ships produced by the United States to enable the Allies to move vast amounts of supplies during World War II. It wasn't the German U-boats patrolling the coastline that did the ship in, it was the fog, and on her maiden voyage in 1942, it ended up on Olifantsbos Point. Fortunately, all on board were saved, but the wreck soon broke up in the rough seas that pound the coast. The mast you see on the western slopes of Cape Point near the lighthouse belongs to the Global Atmosphere Watch Station (GAW). The South African Weather Bureau, together with the Fraunhofer Institute in Garmisch, Germany, maintains a research laboratory here to monitor long-term changes in the chemistry of the earth's atmosphere, which may impact climate. This is one of 20 GAWs throughout the world, chosen because the air at Cape Point is considered particularly pure most of the time.

During peak season (December–January), visit Cape Point as early as possible to avoid the crowds. There's a shop, a snack kiosk, and the Two Ocean Restaurant, which affords gorgeous views but an overpriced, half-decent menu (you'd be better off dining in Kalk Bay).

The best way to experience the park is to hike on one of the numerous walking trails (favorites include the boardwalk trail to Diaz Beach and the shipwreck trail) and/or enjoy a picnic and dip at the Bordjiesrif or Buffels Bay tidal pools, or on Platboom or Oliphantsbos beaches. A fantastic alternative is to stay overnight in the comfortable basic accommodations, booked through South African National Parks.

Driving from the main entrance to the Cape Point parking area will take around 15 minutes. Within the park, you can also drive or hike to Cape of Good Hope (Africa's most southwesterly point, but nowhere near as dramatic as Cape Point), and there are several turn-offs onto circular drives and toward less-touristy viewpoints or simply for a chance to appreciate the fynbos and potentially see wild animals; the reserve is signposted throughout and there is no dangerous wildlife (aside from snakes), so getting out of your car is perfectly fine, just remember to lock doors and keep food out of view lest you tempt baboons.  Do not feed nor in any way tempt or tease baboons, which are under threat and often food-deprived and consequently can be aggressive. They can also open car doors and will swoop down quickly to take packets from your clutches if given half a chance.

Rock slides and unstable cliff faces mean this fantastically scenic drive can often be closed for maintenance, as it was for the greater part of 2008–2009. Work began on the drive in 1910, when it was considered an impossibility. Charl Marais, a mining surveyor, wasn't deterred by the task and set about surveying a route by sending a worker ahead of him to chop out footholds and create rudimentary platforms for his theodolite. There are stories of him hanging on to the side of the cliff by ropes and nearly losing his life on a number of occasions. With the help of 700 convicts, a road was chipped and blasted out of the rock. Chapman's Peak Drive officially opened in 1922 with views rivaling those of California's Pacific Route 1 to Big Sur. When open, you can access the drive from both Noordhoek and Hout Bay. The toll-gate installed on the drive has been the source of huge local controversy—but you as a tourist won't notice a thing (apart from the fee). Also, this is part of the route for the Cape Argus, the world's largest timed bicycle race—with about 35,000 entries every year from around the globe.

This beach is a well-known surf spot because of its rip tides and large waves, hence its name. It's recommended that people swim in the tidal pools, farther up the beach for safety. This small strip of beach can be accessed via the subway, underneath the railway. What the beach lacks in amenities it makes up for in peacefulness and good waves for surfing. Amenities: none. Best for: surfing, windsurfing. 

With the southern corner protected from southeasters by Elsie's Peak, this sandy beach attracts retirees and families with young kids, who appreciate the calm, clear water—it may be the safest swimming beach in the Cape, although sharks are sighted fairly regularly in the bay between September and March (though that doesn't stop people from swimming, surfing, and Boogie boarding here); shark spotters are employed to keep an eye out and warn beachgoers. The middle and northern end of the beach are also popular with catamaran sailors and windsurfers, who often stage regattas offshore. The snorkeling is good, and it's a great beach for Boogie boarding. It's also one of the best places to see whales during calving season—approximately August to November—though there have been whale sightings as early as June and as late as January. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: surfing; swimming; walking; windsurfing.

If you’re short on time, the funicular, named after the legendary Flying Dutchman ghost ship, leaves from the lower station at the Cape Point car park, taking passengers to the upper lighthouse every 3 minutes. It’s also known as the Cape Point Funicular.

Cradled in a lovely bay of the same name and guarded by a 1,000-foot peak known as the Sentinel, Hout Bay is the center of Cape Town's crayfishing industry (legal and otherwise) and operates several fish-processing plants. It also has knockout views of the mountains, gentle surf, and easy access to the restaurants and bars of Mariner's Wharf. The fact that this is a working harbor, added to the raw sewage of the Inzamo Yethu informal settlement a short walk upstream, means this is, unfortunately, a polluted beach, however beautiful it looks. You are advised not to swim here. Amenities: food and drink; parking. Best for: solitude; walking.

This historic Cape farmstead offers a hodgepodge of shops and activities, including an excellent if small wine shop, a deli-style farm stall, several decent casual eateries and boutiques, and various animal-related attractions that kids will love. The latter include a petting farm, camel and horse rides, and a snake park.

A vast expanse of white sand stretching 6½ km (4 miles) from the base of Chapman's Peak (Noordhoek Beach starts here) to Kommetjie (where you find Long Beach), this is one of the wildest and least populated stretches of uninterrupted beach, with fluffy white sand and dunes, behind which sit a lagoon and private nature reserve. Because of the wind and the space, these beaches attract horseback riders and walkers rather than sunbathers, and the surfing is excellent (especially off Long Beach). There are no lifeguards and there is no bus service, and, as at some other beaches, at the wrong times and more isolated spots, there are real safety concerns (particularly the lonely stretch of sand right in the middle). Despite patrollers on horseback and the occasional all-terrain vehicle, crime is an issue here, and women, in particular, should be careful. Tourists always do best not to look like tourists. Hang out with other people, just in case, unless you're part of a group. Amenities: parking; toilets (Noordhoek). Best for: solitude; sunset; surfing; walking.

Once the fashionable resort of South African high society, this beach is now the place where locals—from all corners of Cape Town—swim, picnic, and learn to surf. A long, sandy beach with a reliable break, this grand old lady of the city’s warm-water beaches is known for the colorful bathing boxes of the type once popular at British resorts. Lifeguards are on duty, and the sea is shallow and reasonably safe—and there is reliable shark spotting. If you're keen on stretching your legs, you can walk along the beach or take the picturesque concrete promenade known as the Catwalk, which connects Muizenberg to St James. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking; showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: sunrise; surfing; swimming; walking; windsurfing.

This lovely collection of great restaurants, art galleries, and boutiques is a great place to spend a few hours or get a quick bite to eat while passing through. Want to stay awhile? The Noordhoek Village Hotel is on the property as is The Burrow pub. 

At Scratch Patch, a gemstone factory about 1 km (½ mile) north of Simon's Town, you can buy and fill a bag (you pay according to the size of the bag) with gemstones that you pick from a garden filled ankle-deep with semiprecious stones, such as tiger’s eye, rose quartz, amethyst, jasper, agates, and crystals. Obviously this is a winner with children, and since 1970, when Scratch Patch opened, the owners claim it has been copied around the world. If you’re lucky, you might find the rare Blue Lace Agate, which has a really interesting story linking it to mineral-rich Namibia and South Africa's little town of Springbok. Attached is Mineral World, a store that sells gemstone jewelry. Another branch of both is found at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town.

The historical exhibits at this rustic museum can feel like artifacts themselves; however, a section with numerous photographs and memorabilia from former Black residents who were removed to the townships of the Cape Flats in the 1960s makes it worthwhile. The museum is currently by appointment only; email to book. 

At 111 feet, this is the tallest cast-iron tower on South Africa's coast, and the views are incredible. Located almost exactly midway between Robben Island and Cape Point, the lighthouse has a 5-million-candlepower light and a range of 30 nautical miles. Since the lamp was officially lit in 1919 it has been capable of producing four flashes every 30 seconds. It’s one of the few lighthouses in the world still to be manned by a keeper—known these days as a "lighthouse officer."  If you're alone or not in a big group, this is a safer place to walk than Long Beach.

The naval museum is filled with model ships, old navigational equipment, old South African navy divers' equipment, a few real, life-size boats, and, oddly enough, a helicopter. You can also climb to the top of the building's clock tower. The newer "Transformation" section includes a display about the SS Mendi and information about how the navy has changed in democratic South Africa. It's staffed by naval personnel and volunteers.

Known for its brightly colored Victorian-style bathing boxes, this stretch of sand has tidal pools that are great for exploring with children; the shallow tidal pools make for safer and warmer swimming conditions. A sheltered cove from the wind, and conveniently located near the St James train station makes this beach incredibly popular during summer and can get really busy on weekends. The bathing huts on the beach with a mountain backdrop make for great holiday pictures. Parking can be a nightmare on busy days because only street parking is available. Amenities: toilets. Best for: swimming, sunbathing.

St James gets its name from this historical church, built in 1858 for the Catholic Filipino fishermen of Kalk Bay, who at the time petitioned the colonial governor of the Cape to build this church instead of the hazardous journey they had to make to Simon's Town each Sunday, by sea or by road. The community built this church themselves and the church steps were documented to have been built from stone taken from the mountain in St James. The church is largely unchanged and still operational with regularly scheduled mass. You can see the times on the website.

Dinky Toys, boats, trains, soldiers, airplanes, some 4,000 model cars, and 500 dolls—what's not to like about this toy museum that is equally enjoyable for both kids and adults? It's packed with hundreds of models of all things locomotive: from cars to trains and tanks, these miniature vehicles date from the 1920s to the present. Some are on sale at the attached collectibles shop.

Here you can walk through a sanctuary housing more than 400 species of indigenous and exotic birds, including eagles, vultures, penguins, and flamingos. With neither bars nor nets separating you from most of the birds, you can get some pretty good photographs; however, the big raptors are (wisely) kept behind fences. Kids will love the "monkey jungle," where a few dozen highly inquisitive squirrel monkeys roam freely, often lighting on your shoulders or back. There's also a small jungle gym for kids to play on at the end of the park. 

Nestled behind Chapman's Peak—and minutes away from Noordhoek Beach—Café Roux is an unpretentious outdoor café with great homemade food and fabulous South African wines at competitive prices. You can get a taste of rural Cape Town life in "paddock" country here.

The Olympia Café, with a menu of Mediterranean-influenced specialities, is popular and usually packed to capacity, especially on weekends. At the affiliated bakery just around the corner, you can buy take-away cappuccinos and pasties filled with springbok and sometimes even rabbit. The croissants are more bread-like than light French pastry. Grab a stool at the bar by the window and watch the ocean and passing foot-traffic on the pavement in front of you.