Cape Town | A Day Trip To Cape Point National Park

Waves crash violently against the rocky cliffs climbing into the sky. Birds and baboons crowd tourists to try and snatch their lunches. Hiking trails lead away from the throng of buses and into the hills. Cape Point National Park stretches South, separating False Bay from the Atlantic. It’s home to the Cape Point Lighthouse and Africa’s Southwestern tip, the Cape of Good Hope. You can see both on a perfect day trip escape from Cape Town and hike safely in a city where that isn’t always easy. We’ve put together a quick guide to outline how to get there and what to expect from your day trip to Cape Point, as well as add-ons for Boulders Beach and harbourside fish ‘n’ chips to make the day even more memorable.

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The Ultimate Day Trip: Cape Point, Penguins, and Fish + Chips

Cape of Good Hope: Epic views
Cape Point: The funicular, lighthouses and baboons
Add-Ons: Penguins, fish ‘n’ chips + an Instagram hot spot
Logistics: How to get around + budget for the day

Cape of Good Hope

The Southwestern tip of Africa – where the Dutch East India company – landed in 1652, attracts hordes of visitors every day. Many tour buses head to Cape Point first, so start your day at Cape of Good Hope and you may get more of that precious serenity. While others line up for a photo opp with the Cape of Good Hope sign, head up the stairs for an incredible view of the jagged cliffs diving down into the ocean.

While the Cape Peninsula isn’t the exact point dividing two oceans, on a clear day there’s no doubt you can see both from these bluffs. Grab a seat at the top and keep your eyes fixed on the horizon. You can often see the blow from whales out in the crashing waves.

Note: To make this a hiking day, you can walk between Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point along the coast. It’s a beautiful 3-4 km hike that will take 2-3 hours return. 

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Cape Point

Dutch Funicular + Old Lighthouse

The main attraction of the park is the old lighthouse sitting atop the hill at Cape Point. The panoramic view of the Atlantic Ocean and False Bay is stunning and the lighthouse and old buildings add a nostalgic charm. You can walk up the steep steps for free or pay to take the Dutch funicular up. We were a bit crunched for time so opted for the funicular which, though less rewarding, offers beautiful views as it climbs. 

New Lighthouse Hike

While the Old LIghthouse is swarming with selfie sticks, the route to the New Lighthouse is more serene. It takes you along the top of the cliffs jutting out into False Bay towards the New Lighthouse closer to the ocean. The walk is a fairly easy one-hour round trip and gets you away from the crowds.

Mischievous Baboons

While Cape Point National Park provides a hiking sanctuary from the dangers of Cape Town’s more popular trails, it does have other stealth thieves – the baboons. If you are packing a picnic for the day you may want to enjoy it in your car, windows up. And be sure to take any food waste with you when you go. It’s not good for them to rely on humans for their meals. Plus, even if they are thankful for your banana peel, the rangers will be shooing them away with slingshots. A sad sight.

Cape Point Day Trip Add-Ons

Boulders Beach Penguin Colony in Simon’s Town

Only half an hour from the Cape Point National Park entrance, Simon’s Town is an easy add-on to your day trip. Accessible boardwalks connect the parking area to Boulders Beach where you can walk through the forest of penguin nests. Your best bet to see the colony is to pay the entry fee and watch the birds scuttle about from decks on the beach. 

Kalk Bay Fish & Chips

Grab a picnic table at Kalky’s overlooking the bobbing fishing boats for lunch or dinner on your day trip to Cape Point. Enjoy the perfectly crispy fish and fries with a colourful view. If you can fend off the gulls long enough to enjoy the entire portion you’ll be full for hours. Afterwards you can stroll along the waterfront road lined with craft stores and neighbourhood cafés. 

Related // Cape Town Foodie Guide

The Colourful Stilt Houses of St. James Beach

For the final destination of the day swing by the insta-famous colourful houses of St. James Beach. They have become a prominent feature of Cape Town travel guides (though they’re actually pretty far outside of Cape Town).

We read about tourist muggings here so opted to snap a photo from the safety of the busy street. If you go down to the beach, keep a close eye on your belongings.

Cape Point Day Trip | Logistics

Getting There

When we set out to make our way to Cape of Good Hope, we had no idea how far it was from the city. The Uber fare took us by surprise and we started looking into other ways to do it. Luckily there are a couple great options. 

By Car – Take the famous Chapman’s Peak drive and the journey might just surpass the destination. The beautiful coastal route is especially magical at sunset but leave time to make stops for photo ops.

Car Rental Tip: Booking the cheapest car may not be the best thing in Cape Town. Learn from our mistake and check the KMs included in the rental fee and the rate per KM so that you don’t end up with an unexpected bill.

By Bus – The CitySightseeing hop on-hop off bus offers a trip down the peninsula. A great option for solo travellers or those who don’t want to drive. The 8-hour round trip leaves from several central points along the hop on-hop off route and includes a stop at Boulders Beach to see the penguins.

Budget

• Cape Point National Park – R 320 ($22 USD) for foreigners 
• City Sightseeing Bus – R 460 ($30 USD)
• Funicular – R85
• Boulders Beach Penguin Colony – R 152 ($10 USD)

Enjoy your day trip to Cape Point!