Half Day Cape of Good Hope and Penguins Tour
This Half Day Cape of Good Hope and Penguins Tour from Cape Town includes three of the Mother City’s iconic tourist attractions. These include the Cape of Good Hope, Chapmans peak and the penguins of Boulders Beach. If you are looking at getting out of the city in favour of connecting with nature and mind-blowing scenery, then this half-day tour is for you.
When do the tours operate?
The tours depart daily from 8:30 am
What is the pick-up time?
The pickup time is between 8:20 and 8:40 depending on the location of your hotel.
Where does the tour start?
Our tours include the hotel pick up. You will not need to meet us anywhere. We will come to you. All we need is your hotel name or pick up address for the tour. Tour pickups from centrally located within the Cape Town city (CBD), V&A Waterfront, Atlantic Seaboard, Sea Point, Bantry Bay, Camps Bay area’s only.
What is the duration of the half Day Cape of Good Hope and Penguins Tour?
Approximately 5 hours
What points of attraction do we visit on this half-day tour from Cape Town?
- Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve
- Cape Point
- The Penguins at Boulders Beach
- Chapmans Peak and Hout Bay
Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve/Cape Point
One of our favourite spots in Cape Town is a visit to the Cape of Good Hope Nature reserve and what is known as Cape Point. We spend time exploring the area and take a stroll to the most southerly point. The scenery here is just mind-blowing. You will be rewarded with dramatic cliff faces and ocean views that will make you feel like you have arrived at some mystical land that only exists in the abyss of your imagination. Cape Point was first navigated by Bartolmeu Dias back in 1488.
He named it the ‘Cape of Storms’. If you are fortunate enough to spend some time in Cape Town, you will get to witness why he gave it that name. We just hope your feet are planted firmly on the ground when you do. If you are a sailor or have an interest in sailing history, you will love this place. Cape Point has been a ‘waypoint’ on ships travelling to the Far East for over 400 years.
Besides the nautical significance of the Cape of Good Hope, the area has become an iconic tourists’ attraction due to its ‘just wow!!!’ scenery. But it’s not all about the soaring cliffs, open sea and looming mountain tops.
The Cape of Good Hope Nature reserve is also home to at least 250 species of bird. Unless you have a toasted chicken mayonnaise sandwich for lunch. Then the number will drop to 249. There are also several species of wild animals to be seen. These include red hartebeest, eland, ostrich and Bontebok. What on earth is Bontebok? You will have to join this half-day Cape of Good Hope tour to find out. Oh…and just for the record.
Cape Point is not the most southerly part of Africa. There is a lot of misconception about this. The most southerly point is, in fact, Cape Agalhus situated 150km east of Cape Town. We spend about 1.5 hours exploring this area.
The Penguins at Boulders Beach
What’s that cute little creature on the beach? No, it is not your tour guide. That is, in fact, a penguin. One of Cape Towns most famous creatures after Chinese Tourists. Penguins in Africa?? What?? Yip. Would you have guessed it? The Boulders Beach is home to hundreds of African Penguins. (previously known as jackass penguins). They are the only penguins found in Africa.
Boulders Beach is a perfect spot to view these incredible critters. There are 3 boardwalks that ensure you get up and close and personal with them.
The penguins are situated close to the naval town of Simons Town and are surrounded by ancient granite boulders that protect it from wind and large waves. The beach falls under the Table Mountain National Park and Marine Protection Area. A lovely little spot. We spend about 45 minutes with the Penguins.
Chapmans Peak and Hout Bay
Situated on the western side of the Cape Peninsula between Hout Bay and Noordhoek, Chapmans Peak is rated as one of the most scenic ocean drives in the world. The road has been cut into the steep cliffs that fall sharply for hundreds of metres into the Atlantic Ocean below. The road hugs the near-vertical face of the Chapmans Peak Mountain.
The views on the drive are just mind-blowing, to say the least. Hout Bay is a fantastic seaside fishing village. We spend some time taking a stroll along the quaint harbour with its old fishing boats. If the weather permits, there is the option to take a 1-hour boat ride to Seal Island to view the Seal colony that live there.
The pickup time for this half-day tour of the Cape of Good Hope and Penguin colony is scheduled for 8:30 am. Our guide will meet you at your hotel.
We then take a drive along the Atlantic Seaboard via Sea Point, Clifton and Camps Bay to Llandudno. We will take a break here as this is a great spot to take in the magnificent views.
We then continue the half-day tour of Cape Town to the town known Hout Bay.
We will spend some time exploring this quaint fishing village and harbor area.
Make sure you get a kiss from the resident seal.
Just make sure you have a tasty fish morsel for him in return.
There is an option to take a 1-hour boat ride to Seal Island if the weather is good. (Cost for this excursion is extra).
We will spend about 1.5 hours here.
We then bid Hout bay, her friendly inhabitants and the crazy harbor seal a fond farewell.
We then continue our tour with a scenic drive through Chapmans Peak-One of the world’s most breath-taking views ever!!!
We will stop halfway so you can take in the views and fresh sea air.
The drive including a short break takes about 45 minutes.
The drive then continues through the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve and Cape Point.
Besides the incredible views, the area has some magnificent fynbos vegetation (local Cape Town Shrub), endemic antelope, zebra, historic lighthouses and shipwrecks.
We spend about an hour or so here.
Penguins!! Yes, we have not forgotten about these cute little iconic Cape Town Creatures.
The next part of our half-day tour takes us through the naval town of Simons Town (keep a lookout for the South African Navies submarine and selection of warships) towards the Boulders Beach-home of the African Penguins.
The only penguins to be found on the continent of Africa.
We will spend about an hour exploring the boardwalks and admiring the penguins.
And then, unfortunately, the half-day Cape of Good Hope and penguins tour comes to an end.
We should have you back at your hotel again by about 1:30 pm.
INCLUDED
- Hotel Pick up (pickups from centrally located within the Cape Town city (CBD), V&A Waterfront, Atlantic Seaboard, Sea Point, Bantry Bay, Camps Bay area’s only.)
- Guide
- Transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle
- Entrance fees into the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve
- Chapmans Peak Entrance Fees
- Boulders Beach Entrance fees (to see the Penguins)
NOT INCLUDED
- Lunch
- Drinks
- Tips/Gratuities
- Perfect half-day tour for time-crunched travelers
- A great tour for families
- Daily Departures
- Back at the hotel early
- Round-trip coach transport included
- Free Hotel pick up
- See the only penguin colony in Africa
- Get to see some historical lighthouses and shipwrecks at Cape Point.
- Visit 3 of Cape Town’s most iconic destinations (Cape Point, Chapmans Peak and the Penguins of Boulders beach)
- No hidden costs
