Cape Point and Boulders Beach Penguin Tour from Cape Town

Penguins, two ocean meeting points, and a lighthouse with 360-degree views in one day.

A full-day guided tour from Cape Town visits Boulders Beach penguin colony, Cape Point Nature Reserve and the Cape of Good Hope, with over an hour at the penguins and more than two hours to explore Cape Point and its UNESCO heritage site. A live English-speaking guide leads the route. Hotel pickup is included, and you travel in an air-conditioned coach with reclining seats and WiFi. Entry fees to Cape Point and the penguin reserve are paid on the day (discounted rates apply for South African and SADC citizens).

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Cape Point2h
2. Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve30m
3. Boulders Beach1h
4. Silvermine Nature Reservepass by

Explore Cape Point and Penguins

• Visit Boulders Beach Penguin Reserve
• Travel over Ou Kaapse Weg mountain pass
• Stop at Muizenberg Beach for photos
• Pass through Kommetjie and see lighthouse
• Pass by Victorian naval village
• Explore Cape Point Nature Reserve wildlife
• Walk or take funicular to old lighthouse
• Hike or bus to Cape of Good Hope
• Return to Cape Town via coastal drive

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your Cape Town hotel and heads south toward the peninsula. The route passes Muizenberg Beach, known for its brightly coloured changing huts, and Kommetjie, home to the Slangkoppunt Lighthouse built in 1919. You'll spend over an hour at Boulders Beach Penguin Reserve, where African penguins (also called jackass penguins) nest among the granite boulders. The guide shares what makes this colony significant and what the birds are doing as you watch them.

Cape Point comes next, and you have more than two hours to move through the reserve. The old lighthouse, commissioned in 1860 and decommissioned after dozens of shipwrecks, sits at the top. You can walk up or take a funicular (at your own cost) for a 360-degree view of the national park. The reserve itself holds ostrich, zebra, eland antelope and other wildlife: the guide stops for sightings. From Cape Point, you can either hike to the Cape of Good Hope (about 40 minutes, medium fitness required, good walking shoes needed) or take the bus. The Cape of Good Hope is where the Atlantic and Indian oceans meet, and it's the dramatic southern tip most visitors come to see.

After exploring, the return journey crosses the Ou Kaapse Weg mountain pass through Silvermine Nature Reserve, with views over the entire Cape Peninsula. The coach has reclining seats with plenty of legroom, big windows, free WiFi and USB charging at your seat. Lunch isn't included, but restaurants and takeaway options are available along the way. The whole day runs about eight hours from pickup to drop-off.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Cape Town.
• transportation in an air-conditioned double-deck coach with reclining seats, big windows and ample legroom.
• live English-speaking guide.
• over an hour at Boulders Beach Penguin Reserve and more than two hours at Cape Point Nature Reserve.
• free WiFi and USB charging at your seat.
• the optional guided hike from Cape Point to the Cape of Good Hope (or bus alternative).

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:30

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (2 to 11 years)

GroupUp to 60

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 47

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by City Sightseeing South Africa

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want to spend over an hour with the penguins and explore Cape Point thoroughly without deciding between a hiking day or a scenic drive. The tour includes both options so you pick your own pace.

Traveler reviews

4.86★★★★★★★★★★

4,515 verified traveler reviews

5 ★4,062

4 ★365

3 ★46

2 ★15

1 ★27

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 11 years).

How long do I actually spend at Boulders Beach with the penguins?

Boulders Beach Penguin Reserve gets over an hour on this tour, which gives you time to walk among the granite boulders where the African penguins nest and rest, rather than a quick stop and move on.

What's the difference between Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope?

Cape Point is the dramatic rocky headland in the nature reserve where the old lighthouse stands. The Cape of Good Hope is the actual southern tip where the Atlantic and Indian oceans meet. The tour visits both: Cape Point first for the lighthouse and views, then the Cape of Good Hope afterward, either by a 40-minute hike or by bus.

Do I have to pay for entry to Cape Point and the penguin beach?

Yes, entry fees to both Cape Point Nature Reserve and Boulders Beach Penguin Reserve are paid on the day of the tour. South African citizens with photo ID and SADC members with passports receive a discounted rate.

Is the hike from Cape Point to the Cape of Good Hope optional?

Yes, you can hike the route (about 40 minutes, medium fitness and good walking shoes required) or take the bus instead. The guide will be with the group either way.

What's included in the coach for an eight-hour day?

The air-conditioned coach has reclining seats with ample legroom, big vista windows, free WiFi and USB charging stations at your seat. Hotel pickup and drop-off in Cape Town are included, and a live English-speaking guide leads the entire route.