Last Updated on August 8, 2024 by Hannah Stephenson
Ready to check out Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope?
You can’t access these beautiful landforms by public transport, so if you haven’t got your own wheels, the best way to see them is via the Cape Explorer tour!
I did this tour with my friend Liam when he came to visit me, as I didn’t have a car at the time. We had a fantastic day out and also got to visit Boulders Beach.
So if you’re considering booking the Cape Explorer tour, stay tuned for my full review!
Where does the Cape Point Sightseeing Tour leave from?
The tour bus stops at a few meeting points around the city, including Long Street, Sea Point, and the Waterfront. You can check a full list of pickup locations on the booking page.
Exact pickup time depends on your chosen meeting point, but it should be between 8:30 am and 9:30 am. During festive season, it leaves an hour early, though.
What will you see on the Cape Point Sightseeing Tour?
Boulders Beach
Our first stop of the day was Boulders Beach to see the penguins!
Boulders Beach is a protected beach that’s covered in boardwalks, so we could get close to the penguins but not touch them. This was a good thing, for both their sake and ours – they bite!
It’s also a really gorgeous beach in general. You’ll need to pay the entrance fee on arrival, which is R190 for international visitors, or R45 for locals, as this isn’t included in the price of the tour.
Lunch
After we spent time checking out the cute penguins, the group headed to the Seaforth restaurant for lunch.
This wasn’t included in the price of the tour, either, but it’s a great place to eat.
Liam and I both ordered fish and chips and a pint, and it cost around R230 each.
Cape Point
After a pretty leisurely lunch, it was back onto the bus to head to Cape Point. This is a beautiful landform with rocky cliffs and gorgeous bays, which you can view from the top of the Cape Point lighthouse.
It’s also a great place to spot whales during the winter, although we were here in the summer (not that you’d have known it from how bad the weather was).
Cape Point is mistakenly known as the place where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet (which is actually Cape Agulhas, if you’re wondering).
We had to pay to enter the reserve on arrival. The fees are currently:
- R400 for internationals
- R100 for locals
- R200 for SADC Nationals
We were able to pay with card on the bus. Our guides came around with a machine to collect the fee, so it couldn’t have been easier!
There’s a funicular up to the top of the lighthouse, but I think it’s better to walk. It saves R70, and it’s not as steep as you think!
The views from the lighthouse were stunning. I was so impressed, even as I was almost suffocated by my plastic poncho.
Once we were back down at ground level, we had the choice to go on a short guided hike to the Cape of Good Hope, or hop back on the tour bus and be driven there.
I would usually recommend hiking but due to the weather, we chose the comfort of the bus.
Cape of Good Hope
The Cape of Good Hope is the southeastern-most point of Africa, which is pretty cool. It’s a gorgeous area, although its name is deeply ironic because there are estimated to be around 3,000 shipwrecks in these waters.
On the tour, we got to take a walk around, check out the rock formations, and hike a little way up the rocks for more views. We also saw lots of ostriches and baboons!
We didn’t feel rushed, but you don’t need to spend ages here.
How much does the Cape Point Sightseeing Tour cost?
The base price of the tour is R565, which covers your transport and guide.
On the day, you need to pay for entry to Boulders Beach and the Cape Point Nature Reserve on the day. This takes it up to about R1,165 for the day for internationals, or R755 for locals.
Then, budget another R200 – R300 for lunch!
Do you need to book the Cape Point Sightseeing Tour in advance?
In late December or early January, it’s best to book at least a week in advance.
For the rest of the year, a few days beforehand is probably fine. In February, Liam and I booked our tour about 3 days in advance.
When you book through Viator, you can cancel or change the date of your booking up to 24 hours before the tour starts. This means you can grab your spot, risk-free!
You can book the Cape Explorer Tour here!
Are gratuities mandatory?
South Africa does have a tipping culture but it’s not mandatory. We loved our guide and were happy to tip after a great day out. I think we tipped about R50 each; roughly 10% of the price of the tour.
Can I visit Boulders Beach, Cape Point, and the Cape of Good Hope on my own?
Yes, you certainly can.
A tour isn’t strictly necessary and if you have a rental car, you can visit these places independently and enjoy going at your own pace.
You’ll still need to pay the same entry fees, though.
Discover Cars is great for finding affordable vehicle rentals in Cape Town. You can compare the best suppliers and rank them by price to find a great deal. And if you want to know more about what driving is like here, check out this post!
Is the Cape Explorer Tour worth it?
Yes! It’s an amazing way to see Boulders Beach, Cape Point, and Cape of Good Hope all in one day. Plus, we loved our guide and such a fun day.
The reason that I chose this tour is because I didn’t have a car at my disposal when Liam came to visit, and he really wanted to explore the Cape Peninsula.
You can’t really Uber to Cape Point and Cape of Good Hope as there’s very limited phone signal, and it would be way more expensive than doing the tour.
So the Cape Explorer tour was there to provide all of our transport and take care of the details, so we could just relax and enjoy our day out.
All in all, I had a great time and am so glad I did this tour. If you don’t want to rent a car in Cape Town, I would highly recommend it.