The ultimate guide to exploring Cape Point

Cape Point sits within the Cape of Good Hope section of Table Mountain National Park, a wild sweep of fynbos, mountains, beaches and rocky coastline at the very tip of the Cape Peninsula. Also, remember that this is not the southern tip of Africa, which is at Cape Agulhas, 150 kilometres to the south-east. 

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The most scenic way to get there is to follow Main Road from Muizenberg, enjoying the coastal route through Fish Hoek and Simonstown. The entrance gate to the reserve is 11 kilometres from Simonstown. It will take roughly an hour to drive to the entrance from the city centre. for the return trip, most travellers come home via Chapmans Peak to admire the sunset.

If you can, aim to get there by 9am, to beat the throng of tour buses that tend to start arriving from 10am

To beat the crowds, tick off the big-ticket sight first, starting with the old lighthouse. From the main car park, a steep, paved path climbs through the fynbos to the old lighthouse. Built in 1859 on Da Gama Peak, it had one major design flaw: at 238 metres above sea level, it was frequently hidden by cloud. So a replacement was later built lower down on Diaz Point. It remains the most powerful lighthouse on the entire South African coastline – visible more than 60 kilometres offshore, flashing three times every 30 seconds. 

The wide walkway is worth it if you’re able; otherwise, hop aboard (at extra cost) the Flying Dutchman Funicular, which cuts out most of the climb. Continue up the final steps for the classic Cape Point panorama.

Most visitors reach the old lighthouse, take a photograph, and turn around. But wait, there’s more!

Behind the upper funicular station, the Lighthouse Keeper’s Trail skirts the cliffs towards the current, working lighthouse. The two-kilometre return walk takes about an hour, threading past fynbos and old military structures before reaching a viewpoint above the lower lighthouse. The view back towards the original lighthouse on the cliff high above is arguably better than the view from the top. The route is uneven and exposed, so only attempt this if you are reasonably fit and the weather is clear.

Seen from above, Diaz Beach is a tantalising crescent of white sand, sandwiched between pounding seas and towering cliffs. To get there, you’ll need to walk down steep wooden steps and along boardwalks from the Cape Point car park: about 20 minutes down and perhaps double that on the way back. But it’s worth it for a completely different perspective on Cape Point and the cliffs above.

However, be warned: this is a beach for walking, photography and admiring the power of the ocean. The sea here has strong rip currents and can be treacherous. Swimming is not allowed. 

You can drive to the famous Cape of Good Hope sign (that’s what most tourists do), but arriving on foot is far more rewarding. The marked trail leaves the Cape Point car park and climbs the slopes above Diaz Beach, with boardwalks and stone steps offering views along the reserve’s western shoreline. At the end, descend to the rocks beside the sign marking the most south-westerly point of the African continent. And no, again, despite what half the tour buses will tell you, this is not the southernmost tip of Africa. The return route is about 3.5 kilometres and takes two to three hours.

There’s a good reason the Fairest Cape is also known as the ‘Cape of Storms’, and dozens of ships have been wrecked rounding Cape Point. The most accessible wreck is at Olifantsbos, where a sandy trail leads through low fynbos to the rusting hull of the SS Thomas T Tucker, an American supply ship that ran aground in fog in 1942. You can also continue along the beach to find the remains of the Nolloth, wrecked in 1965.

The shorter route is roughly three kilometres and takes about 90 minutes, while a longer inland loop is about five kilometres. For a half-day walk, extend the route to Sirkelsvlei, a freshwater pan hidden within the fynbos.

Once the lighthouse car park starts to fill up, that’s your cue to leave. Head down towards the sea at Buffels Bay, where you’ll find wide picnic lawns, braai spots and tidal pools that are great for letting young ones stretch their legs. Bring everything you need for a picnic or braai, as there are no shops at either site and picnic spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Alcohol, dogs and music are prohibited, and there are no lifeguards. Also, beware: the resident chacma baboons are wily, quick and extremely interested in your lunch. Keep food packed away, keep car windows closed and never feed them.

If you want to say you’ve swum at Cape Point, stay out of the open sea and opt for a tidal pool instead. Buffels Bay has the larger, more popular pool, while nearby Bordjiesrif is smaller and usually less busy. There are no lifeguards at either site, and waves can wash over the outer walls, so keep children under supervision and avoid swimming during big swells.

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While a seaside picnic is wonderful, if you want a sit-down meal, head for the Two Oceans Restaurant near the funicular station. In what is one of Cape Town’s most dramatic dining rooms, the views across False Bay are fantastic. The menu is heavy on seafood, with good reason, but meat, vegetarian and children’s options are also on offer. Book ahead, especially during summer and the school holidays. While you dine, keep an eye on False Bay for whales: humpbacks and southern rights from June to October, and Bryde’s whales year-round. 

Cape Point is certainly not a Big Five reserve, but it offers surprisingly good wildlife viewing. Drive slowly and scan the open flats for the resident eland, bontebok, red hartebeest, Cape mountain zebra and ostrich. Tortoises frequently cross the road, while baboons patrol the beaches and picnic areas. The flora is equally impressive: more than 1100 plant species occur here, from endemic ericas to proteas, restios and seasonal bulbs.

Want to spend more than a day here? The Cape of Good Hope Hiking Trail is a 33.8-kilometre circular route that starts and ends at the reserve entrance. Day one covers 13 kilometres of cliffs and coastal plains before an overnight stop in basic hikers' huts near Rooikrans. The return leg on day two is longer, taking you along the Atlantic coast via Platboom Beach, Gifkommetjie, the Phyllisia wreck and Sirkelsvlei. Advance booking is essential. Hikers must be at least 12 years old, start before 9am, and supply food, sleeping bags and cooking essentials. Paid baggage transfers are available for bags weighing up to six kilograms.

For a taste of Cape Point’s wild coastline without committing to the two-day hike, head to Antoniesgat. The moderately challenging 3.5-kilometre return trail starts at the traffic circle south of Buffels Bay and takes about three hours. The path follows the False Bay coastline, passing wave-cut caves, rocky inlets and tunnels carved over millennia by pounding surf. Along the way, views open across the bay towards the Hottentots Holland Mountains, with Vasco da Gama Peak and the Cape Point lighthouse rising behind you. The route is exposed, so carry water and a windproof layer. Stick to the established trail and avoid wet rocks, especially at high tide. 

Almost every visitor drives right past Buffelsfontein as they hurry towards the lighthouse. But few ever stop to discover the wonderful interpretation centre, perhaps the best place at Cape Point to understand what you are actually looking at! Alongside seasonal displays of Cape Point’s plants and wildlife, the centre houses the Origins of Early Southern Sapiens Behaviour exhibition. Its 19 display panels, replica objects and six short films explore archaeological discoveries across the southern Cape. Entry is included with park admission, and the centre is open daily from 9am to 4pm. 

Platboom is one of the wildest beaches at Cape Point, but it’s easy to reach and you’ll often have it all to yourself. A short boardwalk connects the car park to a broad sweep of white sand facing the open Atlantic. Come for long walks, windswept dunes and rock pools exposed at low tide. The beach is particularly good for birdwatching, with gulls, terns, plovers and sandpipers feeding along the shoreline. You might even enjoy the curious sight of ostriches striding across the sand or antelope among the dunes. You could also extend this into a longer walk (about five kilometres) all the way to Gifkommetjie. But then you’ll need a second car or to walk back again. 

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Did you know you can stay the night inside Cape Point? Aside from the simple hikers’ huts, SANParks offers a self-catering cottage within the reserve, giving overnight guests the rare chance to enjoy its beaches and fynbos after the gates close.

Olifantsbos Cottage sleeps six guests (with an optional annex for six more) and is set just metres from a wild beach for endless Atlantic sunsets. It has three bedrooms, a gas-equipped kitchen, a fireplace, a patio and a boardwalk leading directly to the beach. It’s off-grid, with solar lighting and tank water.

All stays are booked through SANParks. Guests must check in together at Buffelsfontein Visitor Centre and arrive before the reserve gates close.

Hours: From April to September, the entrance gate is open from 7am to 5pm. From October to March, it opens from 6am to 6pm. Once through the entrance gate, allow another 10 to 15 minutes to reach the main Cape Point parking area.

Driving: The speed limit inside the reserve is 60km/h, and lower in some places.

Entry fees: At the time of writing (and until 31 October 2026) entry to Cape Point costs R110 per South African adult and R55 per child. SADC nationals pay R225 per adult and R115 per child, while international visitors pay R515 per adult and R250 per child. South Africans must show proof of ID to qualify for the local rate, while SADC nationals need proof of nationality.

Flying Dutchman: Funicular tickets are not included in the entry ticket. Standard return costs R115 for adults and R60 for children.