Last Updated on April 22, 2024 by thecapetownblog
Ready to check out Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope?
Both of these beautiful land formations are at the southern tip of the Cape Peninsula, so it takes about an hour to drive there from central Cape Town. You can’t access them 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, which is home to Cape Town’s adorable African penguin colony. So if you’re considering booking the Cape Explorer tour, stay tuned for my full review!
What will you see on the Cape Point Sightseeing Tour?
Boulders Beach
The tour bus can pick you up from the V&A Waterfront, Long Street, or Camps Bay. We got on at the Aquarium, and then it was on to 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. 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.
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, but it’s a great place to eat. Liam and I both ordered fish and chips and a pint, and it cost R210 each. It may have gone up slightly since then, though, as this was a year ago!
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 known as the place where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet, but on the day we learned that the actual meeting point is Cape Agulhas, which is 1.2 kilometers (0.75 miles) east (and also way less touristy!) We had to pay on arrival, and the fees are currently R400 for internationals, R100 for locals, and R200 for SADC Nationals. We were able to pay with card and they just came around on the bus to collect the fees, so it was super easy.
As the weather was bad, we took the furnicular up to the top of the lighthouse for R70. However, ended up having to walk back down due to loadshedding. The walk back down was actually pretty fast, so I kind of wished we had just walked up in the first place!
The views from the lighthouse were stunning – I was so impressed! Our tour guide gave us plastic ponchos to protect us from the weather, so our tour guide gave us plastic ponchos, but the wind was so strong that poncho ended up almost suffocating me!
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 wind and rain, we chose the comfort of the bus.
Cape of Good Hope
The Cape of Good Hope is often mistakenly referred to as “the southern tip” of Africa, which isn’t technically true, but there are very few places further south than here. It does, however, hold the title of the southeasternmost point in Africa, which is pretty cool.
It doesn’t really matter, anyway, because the Cape of Good Hope is known for its stunning scenery. Its name is said to have come from John II of Portugal, who believed that the discovery of the Cape by Europeans was a good sign that they could also reach India. Obviously looking back now, that’s horribly ironic, but there we go…
Anyway, the name wasn’t entirely truthful because there are estimated to be around 3,000 shipwrecks around the Cape of Good Hope due to the turbulent weather and rough seas here! 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, but you also need to pay for entry to Boulders Beach and the Cape Point Nature Reserve on the day. So with lunch and entry fees, you’re looking at R1,365 for the day (although of course, the exact figure depends on what food you order!)
It costs slightly less for South Africans, as locals get reduced entry rates to Boulders Beach and Cape Point Nature Reserve. For a local, it will cost around R925.
Do you need to book the Cape Point Sightseeing Tour in advance?
In late December or early January, you’ll definitely need to book a few days in advance, or more if you can. For the rest of the year, just the day before is probably fine. Liam and I went in February and if memory serves, we booked the 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, so this is a safe bet if you’re keen to secure your place ahead of time.
You can book the Cape Explorer Tour here!
What time does the tour leave?
It leaves between 8 and 9 am, but it depends on your pickup location. The tour also leaves an hour earlier during the peak tourist season, but you’ll be advised of your exact pickup time when you book! We went from Long Street, and it was all super easy.
Are gratuities mandatory?
South Africa does have a tipping culture but tipping at the end of a paid tour isn’t mandatory, though it is recommended. We loved our guide and were happy to tip after a great day out. I think we tipped about R100 each.
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 entry fees, though, as the Cape Explorer tour doesn’t make any extra off of this.
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.