Safari Holidays to South Africa and Namibia for independent travellers.

To drive around the Cape Peninsula and stopping en route will take up most of a day, but the trip is certainly worth the time. 

The highlight of the drive is undoubtedly the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point - offering crisp, clean air, and spectacular views from the high sea cliffs.

Contrary to popular belief, however, this is not the most southerly point of Africa - this accolade goes to Cape Agulhas, some 250 km southeast.  

Both Capes are in the beautiful Good Hope Nature Reserve, which is home to a variety of flora and fauna, including the Cape mountain zebra, antelope, rock dassies, abundant birdlife, and baboons - which are an attraction in their own right!  

Visit the Penguins at Boulders Beach

A worthwhile stop on the way to the Capes is Boulders Beach, just past Simon's Town - a rugged coastal area which is home to a large colony of African or jackass penguins, so called because their call sounds like a donkey braying. 

African penguins are the only nesting penguins in Africa, and a wooden boardwalk takes you right into the middle of the nesting area.

If you can brave the Atlantic Ocean, there is also the opportunity to take a swim with the penguins. 

Beaches, Cliffs and Winding Roads

A pleasant place to stop on your way back to Cape Town is Noordhoek.  The massive expanse of white beach here is particularly popular with surfers and walkers (although it is not safe for swimming), and there are also a couple of restaurants/cafes if you are in need of a light lunch or afternoon tea.

The winding cliff road running alongside the Atlantic coastline from Noordhoek to Hout Bay, called Chapman's Peak Drive, is now open, having been closed for nearly 4 years.  It is a toll road, but well worth the small fee as the scenery is awesome. 

Hout Bay

Hout Bay itself, although set in a very attractive bay, is a pretty uneventful small seaside town.  Its main claim to fame is that it is an important fishing port for snoek (barracuda) and crayfish. 

Mariner's Wharf, part of the working harbour, offers the opportunity to buy fresh fish from one of its fresh fish markets, or several operators run trips to the nearby Cape fur seal colony. 

The short drive back from Hout Bay to Camps Bay and Cape Town along the coastal road is also extremely attractive (and makes up for the lack of anything else at Hout Bay).