Cape Town: Hop-On Hop-Off Bus & Seal Island Cruise

Two buses, one ticket: gardens, wine, seals, and Table Mountain in a single day

You board a red or blue bus at the V&A Waterfront and hop off at stops like Kirstenbosch Gardens, Groot Constantia, and Camps Bay whenever you want. The ticket includes unlimited rides on both routes plus a 40-minute Seal Island Cruise from Hout Bay Harbour with live commentary. Audio guides in 15 languages play on the buses, and Wi-Fi keeps you connected. The whole day is yours to pace: spend an hour at a wine estate or a garden, skip what doesn't appeal, and catch the next bus when you're ready to move.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Cape Town and Seal Island

• Catch bus at Two Oceans Aquarium
• Travel Blue Route to Hout Bay
• Walk to Drumbeat Charters jetty
• Take 40-minute Seal Island Cruise
• Return to Hout Bay Harbour
• Continue Hop-On Hop-Off bus tour
• Visit Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
• Stop at Groot Constantia wine estate
• Explore Camps Bay and Sea Point
• Option to visit Table Mountain Cableway

The experience

The red bus pulls up outside the Two Oceans Aquarium at the V&A Waterfront, and you're already moving. This isn't a guided tour where you sit and listen. It's a hop-on hop-off system that lets you step off whenever something catches your eye, then catch the next bus when you're ready. The combo ticket gives you access to both the Downtown Red Route and the Mini-Peninsula Blue Route, which means you can chase whatever appeals to you: the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens on Rhodes Drive, the historic Groot Constantia wine estate at Constantia Nek, or the white sand of Camps Bay. The audio commentary plays in 15 languages, so you're not dependent on a guide's pace or personality.

The real draw, though, is the 40-minute Seal Island Cruise that's bundled in. You ride the blue bus down to Hout Bay Harbour (passing through Sea Point and along the coast), then walk about two minutes to Drumbeat Charters' jetty. The boat takes you out to where Cape fur seals are actually living, not in a tank or a sanctuary, just in the water doing what they do. The commentary on the boat fills in the details, but mostly you're watching them move. It's the kind of thing that sounds simple until you're there and realize how different it is from a zoo or an aquarium. After the cruise, you can either head back to the bus or stay in Hout Bay and explore Mariner's Wharf, where the boats dock right next to restaurants and shops.

The flexibility is what makes this work. You're not locked into a schedule or a group itinerary. If you want to spend three hours at Kirstenbosch, you can. If Table Mountain looks clear and you want to ride the cableway up, you hop off at the Lower Cableway Station stop and do that instead. The buses run all day, so you catch whichever one comes next. Free Wi-Fi on board means you can check opening hours, look up a wine tasting, or just message someone a photo of the seals without burning through your data. It's the kind of setup that works whether you're moving fast or slow, whether you're traveling alone or with kids.

What’s included

• 1-day Hop-On Hop-Off bus ticket with unlimited access to the Red Route (Downtown to Table Mountain) and Blue Route (Mini-Peninsula to Hout Bay).
• 40-minute Seal Island Cruise with Drumbeat Charters including live commentary.
• audio commentary on the buses in 15 languages.
• free Wi-Fi on board.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (4 to 17 years) · Infant (under 4)

Audio guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Chinese

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

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by City Sightseeing South Africa

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want to see multiple sides of Cape Town (gardens, wine, beaches, mountains, and wildlife) without booking separate tours or arranging transport between them. The single ticket and flexible hop-on hop-off system mean you move at your own pace and only stop where something interests you.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 17 years); Infant (under 4).

Can I get off the bus and get back on later with the same ticket?

Yes. The 1-day ticket gives you unlimited access to both the Red and Blue routes, so you can hop off at any stop and board the next bus that comes along.

How long does the Seal Island Cruise take?

The cruise lasts 40 minutes. After you hop off the blue bus at Hout Bay Harbour, it's a 2–3 minute walk to the Drumbeat Charters boarding point.

What languages is the audio commentary available in?

The bus audio commentary is available in 15 languages. The Seal Island Cruise also includes live commentary on board.

Is the bus accessible for wheelchairs?

Yes, the buses are wheelchair accessible. Infants can sit on an adult's lap or ride in a pram or stroller.

Where do I pick up the ticket?

You can board at any stop on either route. The main ticket office is near the Two Oceans Aquarium entrance at the V&A Waterfront, where the red City Sightseeing bus signs are visible.

Do I need to book the Seal Island Cruise separately?

No, the 40-minute Seal Island Cruise with Drumbeat Charters is included in your combo ticket.

Is there Wi-Fi on the buses?

Yes, free Wi-Fi is available on board so you can stay connected and navigate your next stop.