Cape of Good Hope and Penguins Full-Day Tour from Cape Town

Nine hours on the Cape Peninsula: penguins, mountains and the drive that stops traffic

A full-day guided tour of Cape Peninsula from Cape Town covers Bo-Kaap, Clifton, Hout Bay, Chapman's Peak Drive, Cape Point, Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve and Boulders Beach with a professional English-speaking guide, air-conditioned vehicle and hotel pickup included. Entry fees to Cape of Good Hope and Boulders Beach penguin colony are paid separately at each site. A boat ride to the seal colony at Duiker Island is optional.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Bo-Kaap10m
2. Cliftonpassing by
3. Hout Bay1h
4. Cape Point2h
5. Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve30m
6. Boulders Beach1h

Explore Cape Peninsula highlights

• Visit Bo-Kaap colorful neighborhood
• Drive along Atlantic Seaboard past Clifton
• Stop at Camps Bay beach
• Arrive at Hout Bay Harbour
• Optional boat cruise to seal colony
• Drive via Chapmans Peak Drive
• Stop for coffee or juice break
• Explore Cape Point Nature Reserve
• Visit Cape of Good Hope summit
• Optional funicular or walk to lighthouse
• Pass through Simon’s Town and see Just Nuisance statue
• Visit Boulders Beach penguin colony
• Drive through town with galleries and crafts
• Pass by colorful beach huts and watch surfers

The experience

The tour runs nine hours and picks you up from your Cape Town hotel or a location you choose. A professional guide leads the group through the day in an air-conditioned vehicle, starting in Bo-Kaap where Malay, Indian and Dutch traditions meet in the neighborhood's multicolored houses. The route then follows the Atlantic Seaboard past Clifton and Camps Bay, each a stop to step out and see why these stretches of coast draw crowds: Clifton for its glamour, Camps Bay for its white sand beach and the Twelve Apostles mountains rising behind it.

Hout Bay Harbour comes next, a working fishing village where you can browse curio shops or pay separately to board a boat to the Cape Fur seal colony on Duiker Island. From there, Chapman's Peak Drive takes over: a coastal road with sheer drops to the sea and towering mountains that photographers return to year after year. The drive leads to Cape Point, where the mountain and ocean meet in a dramatic landscape. You can hike trails to the summit or take the funicular (own expense) past the Cape Floral Kingdom, the world's smallest floral kingdom and one of its most diverse. Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, Africa's most southwestern tip, sits at the end of the peninsula. Entry is paid on arrival.

Simon's Town comes after, home to the South African Navy's base and the statue of Just Nuisance, the only dog ever officially enlisted in the British Royal Navy. Then Boulders Beach, where around 2,000 endangered African penguins nest among granite boulders. You walk among them to photograph and watch them up close. The final stop is a colorful beach town with galleries and street vendors before the drive back to Cape Town.

What’s included

• Professional English-speaking guide.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• hotel or location pickup.
• fuel surcharge and toll fees.
• stops at Bo-Kaap, Clifton, Camps Bay, Hout Bay, Chapman's Peak Drive, Cape Point, Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, Simon's Town and Boulders Beach.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to16h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Cape Prosperous Private Tours

Is this one for you?At nine hours, this tour fills a full day without leaving room for other activities, which is what makes it possible to see both Cape Point and the penguin colony at Boulders Beach in one trip: the fixed schedule and included transport mean you don't build the day yourself.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 11 years). Children under 6 can't be included in the booking.

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 is there to do at Hout Bay Harbour during the tour?

Hout Bay Harbour is a working fishing village where you spend free time browsing local curio shops or can choose to pay separately for a boat ride to see the Cape Fur seal colony on Duiker Island.

Do I have to pay for entry to Cape Point and Boulders Beach?

Yes, entry fees to Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve and Boulders Beach penguin colony are paid separately at each site when you arrive. The guide will tell you the current rates.

Can I walk to the Cape Point lighthouse, or do I have to take the funicular?

You can walk up to the lighthouse on hiking trails through the Cape Floral Kingdom, or pay separately to take the funicular if you prefer not to hike.

Is Chapman's Peak Drive included in the tour route?

Yes, Chapman's Peak Drive is part of the tour itinerary: a coastal road with mountain and ocean views that connects Hout Bay to Cape Point.

How many African penguins are at Boulders Beach?

Boulders Beach is home to around 2,000 endangered African penguins that nest among the granite boulders. You'll have the opportunity to photograph and observe them closely during the tour.