Chapman's Peak Drive
A 9 km coastal road carved into the cliffs of the Cape Peninsula's west coast, with 114 bends connecting Hout Bay and Noordhoek, often ranked among the world's most beautiful coastal drives.
Chapman's Peak Drive is a cliff-side road on the Atlantic side of the Cape Peninsula. Carved between 1915 and 1922 along the sandstone-granite contact zone between Chapman's Peak and Noordhoek Peak, it is about 9 km long and has 114 bends. Cliffs rise on one side, and the Atlantic drops tens of metres below on the other. It is often listed among the world's most beautiful coastal roads. Starting from Hout Bay and heading south, there are many roadside viewpoints where you can look back at Hout Bay and Sentinel Peak. The highest lookout overlooks the 8 km white sand beach of Noordhoek, and sunset there is especially beautiful. The road is usually part of the one-day Cape Peninsula loop: Cape Town, Camps Bay, Hout Bay, Chapman's Peak Drive, Noordhoek, the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point, Boulders Penguin Beach, Kalk Bay, and back to Cape Town. The road was closed for long periods in the 2000s due to rockfalls. After reinforcement, it became a toll road with rockfall protection sheds. It closes temporarily during heavy rain and strong winds. The road is narrow with sharp bends, large vehicles are banned, and you may only stop at designated lookouts. Hout Bay has the most accommodation and dining options, and the drive itself takes only 20–30 minutes, but allow time to stop for photos.