Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope are kind of a big deal.
For many visitors to Cape Town, they are one of the absolute highlights of their trip — and rightly so. But there is far more to see and do here than simply arriving, taking a photograph at the famous Cape of Good Hope sign and moving on.
So, I’m going to be putting together a series of blogs to help you make the most of your visit to Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope.
We’ll look at the walks, viewpoints, beaches, wildlife, history and some of the things that are easy to miss if you’re simply following the crowds.
And we’ll start with something that many visitors don’t realise: there is some fantastic walking to be done around Cape Point.
Take the Lighthouse Keepers Trail
Before you climb the steps towards the first lighthouse, look to your left and you’ll see a sign for the Lighthouse Keepers Trail.
The sign suggests allowing around 1.5 hours for the return walk, but in reality, if you’re walking at a reasonable pace, it’s around an hour there and back.
The trail takes you down towards the old lighthouse and right out towards the end of Cape Point. Along the way, you’ll get some fantastic views of the cliffs, coastline and ocean.
It’s a beautiful walk and, in my opinion, well worth the extra hour. Many visitors simply head towards the main lighthouse without realising that this trail is there.
If you’ve got the time, don’t miss it.
Hike Towards the Cape of Good Hope
If you’re reasonably fit and enjoy walking, you can take things a step further and hike from Cape Point towards the Cape of Good Hope.
Before you make the descent towards the Cape of Good Hope, the views from the cliffs are absolutely amazing. Looking out across the rugged coastline and the vast Atlantic Ocean, you really get a sense of how wild this part of the Cape can feel.
As you continue, the trail eventually takes you down towards the Cape of Good Hope, the most south-westerly point of Africa, with beautiful Diaz Beach below the cliffs.
This is a completely different experience from simply driving to the Cape of Good Hope, taking a photograph and moving on.
Allow Plenty of Time
For all of this, you need to allow a good few hours. Cape Point isn’t somewhere I’d recommend rushing through.
You also need to be reasonably fit and comfortable walking. There are steps, steep sections and uneven terrain, and the longer walks aren’t for everyone.
But don’t let that put you off if hiking isn’t your bag.
Not a Hiker? No Problem
You can still enjoy the very best of Cape Point without doing the longer walks.
The main viewpoints offer spectacular scenery, and you can get close to the lighthouse without taking on the trails. There are plenty of opportunities to stop, take photographs and simply enjoy the incredible views across the cliffs and ocean.
The walking is an added bonus, not a requirement.
Why We Recommend a Private Tour
This is one of the reasons we believe a private tour is the best way to experience Cape Point.
If you’re travelling as part of a large group or on a tight schedule, you can easily find yourself being rushed from one stop to the next. Cape Point deserves better than that.
With a private tour, we can arrive nice and early, before the busiest part of the day, and give you the time to make the most of your visit.
If you want to walk the Lighthouse Keepers Trail, we can allow time for it. If you’d rather take in the viewpoints without hiking, that’s absolutely fine too.
That’s the beauty of travelling privately. You don’t have to fit Cape Point into somebody else’s timetable.
And if you’re going to make the trip all the way out here, you might as well make the most of it.
Keep an eye out for more instalments in this series, where I’ll share more tips and ideas to help you make the most of your visit to Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope.
