Cape Point: The Best Things To Do at this Iconic Landmark

Amid a thunderous clash of water against rock, where mountain and ocean meet, Cape Point juts out like an outstretched arm, attracting an incredible diversity of life (furry, feathered and two-legged) to its pristine beaches and rugged cliffs. While it’s not the point where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet (as is often mistakenly cited), it is, nonetheless, a place like no other.

Its wild, unspoilt beaches are the main attraction in summer, however the Cape Point Nature Reserve (7 750 hectares) makes a wonderful day-trip destination year round – for hikers, history buffs, photographers, birders and nature lovers alike. The rocky headland is actually made up of three main promontories: Cape Point, Cape of Good Hope and Cape Maclear. Here are our favourite things to do and discover in this perennially beautiful wilderness.

Important note Visitors are urged to take necessary precautions when exploring secluded areas. Check the weather and wind forecasts if you’ll be hiking. Have the TMNP emergency number on hand: 0861 106 417/107 or 021 937 0300. Criminal incidents should be reported to the nearest police station as soon as you’re able.

Braai and swim at Buffels Bay

Do you speak blue? After spending a day on this crescent-shaped slice of paradise, you’ll be fluent in the entire spectrum! We’re talking turquoise, ultramarine, cobalt, electric, azure and navy – starting off as translucent aquamarine near the shore. This half-moon bay is on the “calmer” eastern side of Cape Point, so the swimming is top-notch (there is also a large tidal pool, great for younger children). There are rock pools to explore, and a short hike between the rocky shoreline and fynbos-clad cliffs to Antoniesgat. With braai and picnic spots aplenty on a stretch of lawn, powder-soft sand and ocean as far as the eye can see, this rhapsody in blue is well worth the drive.
Good to know If you’re planning to braai here or at nearby Bordjiesrif (which also has a tidal pool), you’ll need to bring your own grid and wood. And don’t feed the baboons!
Where to find it Some 9km from the entrance gates, take the Buffels Bay turn-off to the left.

Walk the shipwreck trail

There have been 26 recorded shipwrecks around this coastline. The most accessible is reachable on a short and easy 3km walk (around one hour and 30 minutes). Also known as the Olifantsbos Trail, it leads through fynbos to the beach, where the Thomas T. Tucker ran aground in 1942. This American WWII transport vessel is Cape Point’s most photographed shipwreck and its hull is a popular nest for local birdlife. Plus, the leftovers of pirate ship Le Napoleon (wrecked in 1805) are often visible near the Olifantsbos Point carpark. The weather can be windy in summer and rough in winter, so be prepared and check before setting out.
Where to find it Follow Link Road (the first turn-off to the right after the reserve’s entrance gates) to the Olifantsbos parking area and follow the yellow trail markers from there.
Good to know To see the wreck of the steam trawler Phyllisia (which ran aground in 1968), head to the Gifkommetjie carpark further south on the western coastline, and follow the 7km trail through fynbos to Hoek van Bobbejaan. It’s best visited at low tide.

Spot wildlife

In between the hiking, swimming and sightseeing, you’re likely to come across some of the local inhabitants. These include chacma baboons carrying their babies on their backs, ostriches, Cape mountain zebras, eland, bontebok and other antelope, and the ubiquitous dassies (rock hyrax) – as well as, if you’re very lucky, Cape clawless otters, water mongooses, Cape foxes, genets, caracals, porcupines and leopard tortoises. There are also snakes, so keep your eyes peeled if you’re hiking in quieter areas. It’s an excellent birdwatching site, too, with at least 250 species calling this wilderness home. Keep an eye on the horizon, as you might spot a southern right whale or two during winter.
Safety tip Do not approach or feed any wildlife – especially the baboons. Keep a safe distance and back away slowly if you encounter one on your path.

See the official Cape of Good Hope

It’s worth the 3.5km walk for the bragging rights of having visited the very farthest edge of Cape Town, and the most southwesterly point on the African continent. It also happens to be a spectacularly scenic picnic spot with 360-degree views (and you’ll get to look down on stunning Diaz Beach along the way). A wooden boardwalk leads along the cliffs to the lookout point, with the sign on the rocky shore far below.
Good to know This walk is not to be confused with the two-day Cape of Good Hope Hiking Trail run by SANParks. The Cape of Good Hope is often mistaken for the southern tip of Africa, but that title goes to Cape Agulhas (250km from Cape Town), where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet.
Where to find it Follow the signs from the main parking area to the clifftop viewpoint.
To snap a pic next to the sign, take the road past Maclear Beach (accessed after the turn-off to Platboom) to a parking area on the western shore.

Explore Platboom Beach

Platboom (Afrikaans for “flat tree”) is perhaps the wildest yet most accessible beach in the reserve, on the western flank of the promontory. Despite the sea views, and abundant flora and fauna (including the occasional ostrich and baboon), the white expanses of sand are largely deserted. If you’re feeling energetic, explore the chalk-white sand dunes and rocky outcrops, or simply take a long, undisturbed stroll along the spellbinding coastline. It’s also a great spot for birdwatching and picnicking (don’t feed the wildlife!).
Good to know Due to its secluded setting, swimming is not recommended, but you can certainly dip your toes in.
Where to find it Some 4.9km from the heart of Cape Point Nature Reserve (access runs past Dias Cross, though some folk recommend the hike south from the Gifkommetjie viewpoint).

Visit the lighthouses

Instead of guiding ships to safety, Cape Point’s first lighthouse, built in 1859, was often the cause of mishaps due to its high perch above the ocean that concealed it among clouds. In 1911 the new lighthouse was built, and remains one of the most powerful sentinels on the South African coast, with a range of 60 kilometres and a luminous intensity of 10 million candelas. A short step-trail leads to the old lighthouse, where you will be rewarded with breathtaking views of the ocean and surrounding coastline. And in winter you might even catch sight of whales – use the onsite binoculars to squizz them properly!
Good to know To get closer to the new lighthouse, take the 2km Lighthouse Keeper’s Trail (find it behind the funicular station) along the cliffside, past historical bunkers and down through fynbos. Note, the path ends before the lighthouse, as you can’t access the actual site itself.
Where to find it Follow the trail from the main parking area (or catch the funicular).

Put the fun(icular) into Cape Point

The “Flying Dutchman” – the only funicular in Africa – is a schlep-free (and fun for kids) way to see all the sights at Cape Point. The two 40-seater rail carriages travel up from the base station along a 600-metre track through dense fynbos to the old/upper lighthouse every three minutes. Once at the top (roughly 87 metres above the parking area), you’re met with spectacular views of the point and surrounding beaches and ocean.
Good to know The ghost of the Flying Dutchman – a ship that was torn to shreds at the Cape of Storms 350 years ago – is said to still sail these seas, desperately seeking aid.
Cost Return: R115 (adults); R60 (children aged 6 – 16 and pensioners)
One way: R100 (adults); R52 (children and pensioners)
Free for children under 6 years
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 9am – 5.30pm (5pm in winter)
Where to find it Main parking area at Cape Point

Have a break at Two Oceans Restaurant

Windswept, rosy-cheeked and hungry visitors will find a light and airy space at Cape Point’s long-standing restaurant (it opened its doors in 1995), where large windows paint the picture of a Mediterranean summer. The menu is a crowd-pleasing selection, including seafood platters, pork belly, lamb shank, curries and the like (including children’s options), but it’s the view you’ll relish – a table on the cliff-edge deck is one of Cape Town’s best spots to drink in the never-ending sea views.
View the menu
Good to know Booking is recommended even outside of peak season. The Food Shop next door offers quick takeaway snacks, light meals, pizza and coffee.
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 11am – 5.30pm (5pm in winter)
Contact 021 746 6365, [email protected]
Where to find it Main parking area at Cape Point
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Marvel at Dias Beach

Dias Beach is without a doubt one of Cape Town’s most beautiful – it is literally at the tip of Cape Point (on the western side) and encircled by dramatic cliffs and wild waves. You’ll feel exhilarated as you stand and gaze at the crashing surf, towering crags and sheer beauty. Best of all, it remains largely undisturbed thanks to the 20-minute walk down a steep set of wooden stairs to the white sands (it leads off the ‘Cape of Good Hope’ walk). But for the stunning views alone, it’s worth it, as Dias will render you breathless in the best possible way.
Good to know Swimming is off-limits due to the strong currents – also, keep an eye out for baboons along the path.
Where to find it Follow the gravel footpath from the main car park, which then swings right and becomes a wooden boardwalk.

Get a history lesson

Driving or hiking around Cape Point, you might come across two tall white pillars with a cross on top. These monuments were erected in honour of two 15th-century explorers.
While Bartolomeu Dias wasn’t successful in his mission to sail from Europe to India, he was the first European navigator to round the southern tip of Africa – thus proving that the Atlantic and Indian Oceans joined up. In 1488, after docking in Mossel Bay and reaching the Eastern Cape, he turned his ship around and stumbled upon Cape Point, which he promptly named “Cabo das Tormentos” – Cape of Storms.
After Dias’s unsuccessful quest to reach India, Portuguese King João II ordered Vasco da Gama to complete the trip in 1497. Da Gama struggled to round stormy Cape Point and only managed on his third attempt in five days. But he did make it to India.
Long, long before this, the strandlopers – our Early Stone Age ancestors – lived along this coastline. Two sites identified by archaeologists are Bonteberg Shelter (in the north-west corner) and Black Rocks and Bordjiesrif (on the east coast).
By the early 1800s, the land had been divided up into about a dozen farms – names on the map today are remnants of these (such as Buffelsfontein, Olifantsbos and Paulsberg). And the ostriches you see are descendants of the original group reared by one of these farmers, John McKellar.
The first access road to Cape Point was built only in 1915. The reserve itself was founded in 1938, and incorporated into the Table Mountain National Park in 2004.
Good to know For more fascinating insights into the area, including the Origins of Early Southern Sapiens Behaviour exhibition, visit the Buffelsfontein Visitor Centre, open daily between 9am – 4pm.

Explore above and below the water

Approach Cape Point from the water and see this incredible coastline from a different angle on a three-hour ocean safari in a dive boat. On the approach to Cape Point, it passes through stunning Smitswinkel Bay and Buffels Bay, and gets up close to the cliffs below the lighthouse. You’ll also spot marine wildlife, including penguins and the seals at Partridge Point. The cherry on the top is the chance to snorkel in the kelp forests on your way back to Simon’s Town harbour. Hot showers, coffee and a light lunch await you at the end of the adventure.
Good to know If you’re keen to go scuba diving, they have various options in False Bay and offer PADI courses.
Cost R2 500 per person (minimum 4 people)
Opening times Wednesday – Sunday, 8am – 11am
Where to find it Pisces Divers, 1 Main Road, Simon’s Town, Cape Town
Book Now

Go wild-food foraging

Veld & Sea hosts immersive half-day experiences aimed at learning about, exploring and sustainably foraging the wild ingredients that abound on the Peninsula. Summer is coastal foraging season – around new and full moon (spring tide). It starts on Scarborough beach, where you will immerse into rock pools, hunting for edible seaweeds, mussels and other gems. Once your bounty has been collected, you’ll head to the Veld & Sea Glasshouse, where you’ll help prepare a lovely outdoor lunch on the coals using your foraged ingredients, accompanied by seaweed talks and botanical drinks.
Good to know The summer workshops take place every two weeks until 21 March 2026. In autumn, there’s mushroom foraging; in winter the focus shifts to the land (indigenous plants, weeds, wild herbs and vegetables); spring is for celebratory edible-flower experiences.
Cost R1 550 (adult)
R775 (child under 16 years)
Opening times Selected Saturdays + Sundays, 9am – 2.15pm
Where to find it Good Hope Gardens Nursery, Plateau Road (M65), near Cape Point
Book Now

Pop in at The Scone Shack

This crooked little shack, made almost entirely out of recycled windows and scraps of wood, is a fairytale-esque dessert spot on a smallholding on the road to Cape Point. The land is also home to a succulent nursery, a pond complete with a rowboat and tyre swing, and a menagerie of farm animals and their babies (give Bacon the pig a good belly rub). It’s a marvellous stop after exploring the nature reserve. Take a seat in the rustic tea garden to enjoy the scones – hands down among the best in the Cape; baked in a wood-burning oven and served with utterly delicious homemade jam, butter and cream. The cinnamony ice tea is also delicious! Other sweet treats include Cape brandy pudding, carrot cake, chocolate brownies, pecan pie, milkshakes and chai latte.
Good to know The Scone Shack has no card machine (due to unreliable signal) and only accepts cash. It closes during winter (July to September).
Opening times Friday – Sunday, 9.30am – 5pm
Contact 079 045 1318, [email protected]
Where to find it Lalaphanzi Farm, Plateau Road (M65), near Cape Point

Go e-biking around the reserve

This relaxed e-bike outing begins with an easy, effortless ride from the entry gates through the nature reserve towards the Cape of Good Hope (the most southwesterly tip of Africa), where you can hop off your bike and view the landmarks and resident wildlife – baboons, ostriches, buck and zebras. Then it’s on to Cape Point, to see the lighthouse up close and enjoy the scenery (and lunch at the restaurant). Once done at Cape Point, you have the option of visiting the penguins at Boulders Beach in Simon’s Town. Included in the full-day (8.5 hours) excursion are the services of a professional guide, water, helmet and bike rental.
Good to know Minimum height is 150cm. Suitable for all fitness levels. Pick-up and drop-off from accommodation in central Cape Town is included.
Cost R2 970 per person (minimum two people). Includes entry fees for the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve; excludes cost of lunch and entry fee to Boulders Penguin Colony.
Opening times Daily, 8.30am –  5pm
Where to find it Departure from city centre, with transfers to Cape Point
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Go fishing off Cape Point

Visit Cape Point by boat – and you’ll see why Sir Francis Drake called it the “fairest cape in all the world”. There are various trips available on the Destiny, suited to different interests and occasions. Keen fishermen will relish being in the deep waters, up to 40 nautical miles off Cape Point, where tuna abound; there’s also yellowtail and snoek to be hooked (and crayfish from November to January). Bait and tackle are provided, and an experienced guide and photographer are optional. Snacks and refreshments are served on board. There is also a more leisurely eco-tour (without the fishing) along the scenic coastline to Cape Point, passing a massive seal colony.
Good to know The trips and charters, all sustainability-focused, allow six to seven passengers at a time. Trips are subject to weather conditions; fish species are seasonal.
Cost Fishing: R3 500 per person; R13 500 (private hire)
Marine eco-tour: R1 200 per person (two hours); R5 500 per person (private hire)
Opening times Daily, your choice of time
Where to find it Yacht Club Jetty, Wharf Street, Simon’s Town
Enquire Now

Cape Point Nature Reserve information

Opening times
Monday – Sunday, 6am – 6pm (October to March)
7am – 5pm (April to September)

Entry fees
SA citizens/resident: R110 (adults); R55 (children 2 – 11 years). Valid SA ID card, driver’s licence or passport required.
SADC nationals: R225 (adults); R115 (children). Valid passport required.
International visitors: R515 (adults); R250 (children)
Note: cashless entry only; prices valid until 31 October 2026

My Green + Wild Cards
SANParks’ My Green Card (R212) allows you 12 free entries at any of the Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) pay points within a one-year period. Only available to South African residents of Cape Town, it can be purchased at SANParks Tokai Plantation Office. Take your South African ID, two ID photos, and proof of residency in Cape Town.

Alternatively, a SANParks Wild Card includes unlimited access to all TMNP pay points, as well as 20 other national parks in SA for a year: R930 (individual), R1 525 (couple), R1 870 (family of four). It is available to purchase online at sanparks.org.

Crayfish permit
The Marine Species Access Permit costs R1 135 and allows 12 entries into the Cape of Good Hope section of the park, allowing you to catch up to four crayfish per person per day. The season runs on 12 specific days, usually between December and March. Permits must be purchased at SANParks Tokai Plantation Office.

Good to know No dogs are allowed in the reserve. No quad bikes, jet skis or similar craft.
Contact Buffelsfontein Visitor Centre: 021 741 0230, 021 780 9200
SANParks Tokai Plantation Office: 021 712 7471; 2 Tokai Road, Tokai, Cape Town

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