Cape of Good Hope / Cape Point

Cape Point, Table Mountain National Park

Sheer cliffs and a lighthouse at the southern tip of the Cape Peninsula. The 'Cape of Good Hope' wooden sign is a must-photograph, and the reserve is home to ostriches, baboons and antelope.

Cape Point Nature Reserve forms the southern section of Table Mountain National Park. It covers 7,750 hectares and lies about 70 kilometres from the city centre, a 1.5-hour drive. There are two main sights. The first is Cape Point itself. From the car park, take the Flying Dutchman funicular (about ZAR 100 return) or walk for 15 minutes to the old lighthouse observation deck, built in 1860. At 238 metres above sea level, it overlooks the coastlines on both sides and False Bay. The second is the Cape of Good Hope, the southwestern tip of the African continent. A famous wooden sign stands by the sea reading 'Cape of Good Hope, the most south-western point of the African continent', and visitors queue to pose beside it. A 1.5-hour clifftop trail connects the two points, or you can drive between them in 3 minutes. The reserve is home to ostriches, bontebok antelope, eland and baboons. Do not leave car windows open or carry food, as baboons will grab it. Whales and seals are occasionally seen off the beaches, and fynbos wildflowers bloom from August to October. Adult entry costs about ZAR 455 (2025 prices). Opening hours are 06:00 to 18:00, or 07:00 to 17:00 in winter. The Two Oceans restaurant serves meals. The classic outing is a 'peninsula day trip'. Drive from the city along Chapman's Peak Drive heading south, reach Cape Point around noon, and return in the afternoon via Boulders Beach penguin colony and Simon's Town. You can also join a City Sightseeing bus or a local day tour, which costs about ZAR 1,200 to 1,500. There are no petrol stations inside the reserve, so fill up before you enter. The wind is extremely strong, so secure your hat. Drones are prohibited.

Cape of Good Hope / Cape Point

Opening hours

Nearby sights

Places to eat nearby