Cape Town Cape of Good Hope & Boulders Penguin tour
Drive the dramatic coastline, walk among endangered penguins
This half-day guided tour from Cape Town travels south along the Atlantic coast to Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve and Boulders Beach, where you walk a boardwalk among African penguins. The route includes Chapman's Peak Drive, Camps Bay, and stops in Simon's Town and Kalk Bay. A live English-speaking guide, air-conditioned vehicle, bottled water and Chapman's Peak toll fees are included, while entrance to the penguin colony and the nature reserve are optional add-ons you choose at booking.
Step-by-step itinerary
Cape of Good Hope and Penguin Colony Tour
- Drive along coast past Bo-Kaap
- Stop at Camps Bay for photos
- Visit Hout Bay harbour and seals
- Drive Chapman's Peak scenic route
- Stop at Noordhoek farm village
- Explore Cape Point Nature Reserve
- Visit Cape of Good Hope sign
- Walk or bus to Cape Point lighthouse
- Lunch at 2 Oceans restaurant or food shop
- Visit Boulders Beach penguin colony
- Pass through Simon's Town navy town
- Pass through Kalk Bay town
- Stop at Muizenberg beach if traffic allows
- Camps Bay 10m
- Chapman's Peak Drive Entry included 15m
- Cape Point 1h
- Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve 20m
- Boulders Beach 45m
What’s included
- Live English-speaking guide.
- air-conditioned vehicle with pickup from your Cape Town location.
- bottled water.
- Chapman's Peak Drive toll fees.
Times
- Every day 08:00
Before you book
Operated by Glorious Cape Tours
Prices and times updated 3 days ago
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The experience
The tour starts by driving slowly along the coast past Bantry Bay and Camps Bay, where you can step out to photograph the Twelve Apostles mountain range and the Atlantic Ocean. From there the route follows Chapman's Peak Drive, a mountain road that drops toward the ocean. There are pullouts where you stop to take in the view. After Hout Bay or Noordhoek farm village (depending on the day's flow), you enter Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, a 7,700-hectare protected area home to over 2,000 plant species, many found nowhere else. Baboons, zebras and antelope often graze along the roadside here.
At Cape Point you can walk a 45-minute trail to the lighthouse standing 300 meters above sea level, or take the funicular for an extra fee. Either way you get a 360-degree view of the peninsula. The 2 Oceans restaurant is here if you want to eat. Boulders Beach, your final major stop, is one of only two mainland penguin colonies in South Africa and home to endangered African penguins. A boardwalk lets you get close to the birds without disturbing them. From there the tour passes through Simon's Town (South Africa's naval base and a seafood hub), Kalk Bay with its 1800s architecture and galleries, and Muizenberg with its long beach and colorful changing huts before returning to Cape Town.
The vehicle is air-conditioned and the guide speaks English throughout. Bottled water is provided. Entrance fees to Boulders Beach penguin colony and Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve are not included in the base price but you can add them when you book. The Cape Point funicular is also optional. The tour runs about five hours total.
Is this one for you?Most half-day Cape Town tours rush through the same stops on a fixed schedule. This one gives you a guide who knows the route and can adjust the pace. You linger at Camps Bay if the light is right, skip the funicular if the walk appeals more, or spend extra time at Boulders Beach with the penguins instead of moving on the minute the group is ready.
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Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3).
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
What exactly is at Boulders Beach that makes it worth the stop?
Boulders Beach is home to a colony of endangered African penguins, one of only two mainland penguin colonies in South Africa. A wooden boardwalk runs through the colony so you can photograph and observe the birds up close without stepping on the beach itself, which protects the penguins from too much human disturbance.
Do I have to pay extra for entry to the nature reserve and the penguin colony?
Yes. Entrance to Boulders Beach penguin colony and Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve are optional add-ons you select at checkout. They are not covered by the base tour price. The Cape Point funicular is also an optional extra if you don't want to walk to the lighthouse.
Is lunch included, or do I need to bring my own food?
Lunch is not included. You have opportunities to eat at Noordhoek farm village (coffee shops, bakeries, juice bars), at the 2 Oceans restaurant near Cape Point, or in Simon's Town and Kalk Bay, which are known for fresh seafood and restaurants. Bottled water is provided throughout the tour.
What is Chapman's Peak Drive and why do we go there?
Chapman's Peak Drive is a scenic mountain road that runs along the rocky coastline between Hout Bay and the Cape Peninsula. The road is engineered to cling to the mountainside as it drops toward the ocean, and there are several pullout points where you can stop to photograph the views and take in the landscape.
How long is the tour and what time does it start?
The tour runs about five hours. Your guide will confirm the exact pickup time and location when you book. Public transportation options are available nearby if you need them.
Cape Town Cape of Good Hope & Boulders Penguin tour
5h · EN · at your hotel
from US$ 47 per person
Next, you choose your date and number of travelers and see the final price.