Cape Peninsula & Cape Point

Chapman's Peak Drive is a 9-kilometre, 114-curve masterpiece of road engineering carved into the cliff face between Hout Bay and Noordhoek. Completed in 1922, it offers heart-stopping views of the Atlantic Ocean 600 metres below. Multiple lookout points provide perfect photo opportunities, and on clear days you can see all the way to Cape Point. This is frequently voted among the world's top 10 scenic drives.

Cape Point sits within the Table Mountain National Park and is home to the historic lighthouse (built 1860) perched on the 238-metre cliffs. The funicular railway takes you up, or you can hike the scenic trail. Nearby, the Cape of Good Hope — the most south-western point of Africa — is a dramatic headland where waves crash against ancient rocks. Bartolomeu Dias first rounded it in 1488, changing the course of world history.

Boulders Beach in Simon's Town is home to a colony of over 2,000 African Penguins — the only penguin species found on the African continent. Boardwalks lead you right into the colony where you can watch these charming birds waddle, swim, and nest among the granite boulders. The colony was established in 1983 when just two breeding pairs settled here. Conservation entry fees help protect this endangered species.

Simon's Town is a charming naval village with over 300 years of maritime history. The South African Navy is headquartered here, and the town's Victorian architecture, quaint shops, and waterfront restaurants make it a delightful lunch stop. Don't miss the statue of Just Nuisance — the only dog to be officially enlisted in the Royal Navy — and the Simon's Town Museum for fascinating local history.