Walkies! A Cape Town guide for dog owners

Want to let the hound do its thing off-leash? These stretches of sand are your best bet:

Mouille Point and Granger Bay: Dogs may run free on designated beach sections at Mouille Point, Sunset Beach and Granger Bay. The rule applies to the signed beach areas, not the promenade, where leashes are compulsory. This rule is widely ignored, but it’s still what you should be doing!

Clifton 1st Beach: Clifton 1st is free-running throughout the year. Nearby Clifton 2nd, 3rd and 4th prohibit dogs from November to March, although they become free-running again from April to October.

Hout Bay Beach: Dogs may run free only in the middle section. The stretches closest to Chapman’s Peak and Mariner’s Wharf are no-dog zones, so do not assume the entire bay is open.

Long Beach, Kommetjie: One of the best doggie-destinations in the city. This broad sweep of sand is free-running throughout the year. Keep dogs under control around horses, nesting birds and the dunes.

Table View and Milnerton: Dolphin Beach, Table View Beach, Lagoon Beach and Sunset Beach are free-running throughout the year.

Blouberg: Big Bay, Small Bay, Blaauwberg Beach, Derdesteen and Eerstesteen prohibit dogs.

Warmer water and wide open sands? What’s not to love…

Fish Hoek and Clovelly: Another great option. Just remember that Dogs are prohibited on Fish Hoek’s main swimming beach, but may run free from the lighthouse towards Clovelly. Clovelly Beach itself is also free-running.

Danger Beach: It’s a tiny beach, but dogs may run free throughout the year. Just remember that the grass and pathway from St James are leash-only, while St James Tidal Pool is off-limits completely.

Glencairn and Long Beach, Simon’s Town: Both are year-round free-running beaches. But remember that Fisherman’s Beach, Frank’s Bay and Froggy Pond nearby are leash-only, and Seaforth prohibits dogs due to the presence of penguins.

Sunrise Beach: Another long and wide beach to let rip with a ball. Dogs may run free east of the lifesaving building. On Muizenberg’s main beach, dogs are prohibited from 9am to 6pm between November and March and must remain leashed at other times.

Sorry, leave the mutt at home if you plan on going to Bakoven, Beta Beach, Big Bay, Blaauwberg Beach, Cosy Beach, Derdesteen, Eerstesteen, Maiden’s Cove, Queen’s Beach, Saunders’ Rocks, Small Bay, Three Anchor Bay, Bikini Beach, Gordon’s Bay Main Beach, Seaforth, Strand and Strandfontein.

Remember that dogs are also prohibited at all municipal tidal pools, even where the adjoining beach is dog-friendly.

Swop the gritty sand for the green, green grass of the city’s best parks.

De Waal Park: This City Bowl favourite offers lawns, shade and a circular path. The City lists animals as allowed, but walkers should follow the on-site signs rather than assume that every part of the park is off-leash.

Green Point Park: Dogs are welcome but should remain leashed through the general park, with free-running limited to the designated dog area. Pets are not allowed inside the Biodiversity Showcase Garden.

Sea Point Promenade: A wonderful seaside spot for a walk, but remember that dogs must remain on a leash and under control. The paved walkway is not an off-leash area, even where adjacent sections of beach allow dogs to run free. Owners must carry bags and clean up immediately. Dogs are prohibited at Queen’s Beach, Saunders’ Rocks and Three Anchor Bay.

Keurboom Park: A southern suburbs gem for sociable dog-walking, with broad lawns, mature trees and designated free-running areas. Keep dogs under control around children’s play spaces and clean up after them (especially on the sports fields).

The Constantia greenbelts: Rules vary across the network. Bel Ombre Meadow, Boschenheuvel Arboretum and parts of the Diep River, Grootboskloof, Keysers River, Pagasvlei, Sillery, Silverhurst, Spaanschemat and Wolwekloof trails include designated free-running areas.

Alphen Common, Alphen Trail, De Hel, Doordrift Trail, Klaasenbosch Trail, the Liesbeek River trails, Maynardville Park and Wynberg Park are leash-only. Pay attention to the signs, especially where a municipal path approaches Table Mountain National Park.

Arderne Gardens and Wynberg Park: Dogs are allowed at Arderne Gardens, but the heritage garden is not a general off-leash exercise area. Keep them leashed unless signs state otherwise.

Wynberg Park: Another spot with leash-only access, including around its pond, playgrounds and picnic areas.

Table Mountain National Park is one of the few South African national parks where recreational dog walking is allowed, but before you lace up your boots or trail shoes there are a few things to remember.

Do you need a permit?

Yes. Regular dog walkers need a SANParks Level 1 My Activity Permit. A Wild Card or My Green Card does not cover dog walking. Also note that the permit is issued to the walker, not the dog. That means you cannot lend your permit to a partner, friend, visitor or dog walker. Each person who walks the dog needs their own permit.

At the time of writing, a  (valid until 31 October 2026) the annual Level 1 dog-walking permit costs R403. An additional member on a multi-user application costs R159, while a day dog-walking permit for Silvermine or Tokai costs R101.

How many dogs can you walk?

A standard permit allows one person to walk no more than two dogs at a time. Permit holders may apply separately to walk up to two additional dogs, but approval is not automatic.

Where can you walk?

Popular permitted areas include Silvermine, the lower Table Mountain slopes accessed from Constantia Nek, designated sections of Newlands Forest, Noordhoek Beach and the lower part of Tokai Plantation. A permit does not give blanket access to every trail. Walkers must remain on approved paths and respect seasonal closures.

Park rules

You must carry the permit and proof of identity (electronic or on paper) with you. Keep a lead with you and use it wherever signs require, or when instructed by a ranger. Keep your dog leashed close to gates, parking areas, picnic sites and braai areas.

Perhaps most importantly, your dog must remain under your control at all times. It may not chase or disturb wildlife. Walkers must remove all faeces and give way to people walking without dogs. Aggressive dogs must be muzzled.

Dogs are prohibited inside the botanical garden itself. However, if you want to bypass the garden to reach the mountain, there is a controlled mountain-access route.

Enter at Rycroft Gate (Gate 3) and take an immediate left turn. Continue through the Seed Orchard and Stock Beds towards the contour path. Dogs must remain leashed at all times here.