Exploring Cape Point: What to See and Do
At the tip of the Cape Peninsula lies Cape Point, a headland rich in maritime legends and natural drama. Cliffs rise above the Atlantic, seabirds soar on wind currents, and hiking paths lead to views that once challenged explorers 500 years ago.
Cape Point is often mistaken for the exact spot where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans converge. In fact, the official meeting point lies 250 kilometres further east, at Cape Agulhas.
Despite this common misconception, Cape Point offers South Africa’s most spectacular landscapes. You’ll find dramatic coastlines, historic sites, unique wildlife, and unforgettable viewpoints, making it a must-see destination no matter the exact ocean boundary.
Where is Cape Point?
Cape Point is part of the Cape of Good Hope section of Table Mountain National Park, a protected area covering 7,750 hectares of beaches, cliffs, and fynbos. It is about 60 kilometres from central Cape Town, reachable in an hour by car.
Visitors can approach by three scenic routes:
- The M3 via Ou Kaapse Weg offers the fastest inland journey.
- The M4 False Bay coastal route runs through Kalk Bay and Simon’s Town.
- The M6 via Chapman’s Peak Drive hugs the Atlantic seaboard (toll road, occasionally closed in bad weather).
Inside the reserve are two famous headlands: Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope. Both are worth exploring for their views, walking trails, and sense of remoteness.
A Short History
Sailors once regarded this coastline with awe and dread. In 1488, Portuguese navigator Bartholomeu Dias rounded the tip during a storm and named it Cabo das Tormentas—the Cape of Storms. His king later renamed it the Cape of Good Hope, in the hope of a new sea route to the East.
In 1497, Vasco da Gama succeeded in rounding the Cape en route to India, securing its place on the world’s most important maritime passage. But the journey was treacherous. Unpredictable weather, fog, and strong currents caused countless shipwrecks, some of which can still be seen along the reserve’s beaches.
Later centuries brought settlement. By the early 1800s, farms dotted the area, and ostriches, descendants of those first reared here, still roam the dunes today. Access remained difficult until 1915, when the first proper road was built. Two decades later, in 1938, the reserve was officially established, and in 2004, it became part of the greater Table Mountain National Park.
Stone crosses, replicas of those erected in honour of Dias and Da Gama, still stand along the coast, reminders of the explorers whose voyages changed the course of history.
Things to Do at Cape Point
Cape Point offers a variety of activities, from walking trails and unspoilt beaches to historic sites and wildlife viewing. Visitors can explore lighthouses, shipwrecks, and cultural landmarks, or spend time at tidal pools and picnic spots. With so much to see and do, it’s easy to fill a full day in the reserve.
Enjoy Nature & Wildlife
Cape Point falls within the Cape Floral Kingdom, the smallest yet richest plant kingdom on Earth, recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Over 1,100 species of plants grow here, many of which are found nowhere else. In spring, the fynbos burst into flowers, creating a vivid natural display.
Wildlife sightings are part of the experience. Visitors often encounter chacma baboons, ostriches, eland, bontebok, and the small, rabbit-like dassie (rock hyrax). More elusive creatures include the Cape mountain zebra, caracal, porcupine, and Cape clawless otter.
Birdwatchers are spoiled too; over 250 species are recorded here, including the colourful orange-breasted sunbird and pelagic seabirds gliding offshore. From June to October, southern right whales pass by on their migration, often visible from the cliffs.
Adding a scientific layer to this wild setting, Cape Point is home to one of only 20 Global Atmosphere Watch stations worldwide, where South African and German researchers monitor long-term air and climate data.
Beaches
The Cape Point shoreline hides some of the Cape’s most striking beaches. Each has its own character, ranging from family-friendly to wild and remote.
Buffels Bay & Bordjiesrif
These two beaches on the reserve’s eastern side are favourites for families and groups. The waters here are calmer than the western shore, and natural tidal pools make for safe swimming. On a hot summer day, they are among the few places inside the park where you can swim.
The lawns beside the pools have braai (barbecue) facilities and shaded picnic areas. You’ll often see locals arriving with cooler boxes and wood for the fire—it’s one of the few national park beaches where cooking is allowed. Children love the large pool at Bordjiesrif, while Buffels Bay sometimes attracts curious Cape fur seals.
Why it’s worth it: Swimming in a protected natural pool, framed by fynbos-covered hills and the ocean beyond, is a very “Cape Town” experience. It also gives international visitors a glimpse into South African social culture, where seaside picnics and braais are a weekend ritual.
Platboom Beach
On the opposite side of the peninsula lies Platboom, a long and almost empty Atlantic Ocean beach. The waves pound in with full force and the sands stretch for kilometres. You’ll often have it to yourself, except for a wandering ostrich or a troop of baboons moving through the dunes.
It’s not a swimming beach—currents are strong and the water icy—but it is perfect for long walks, birdwatching, and photography. The landscape is striking: bright white dunes, black rocky outcrops, and endless blue sea.
Why it’s worth it: For visitors used to crowded coastlines, the sheer emptiness of Platboom feels otherworldly. It’s a chance to see what much of the Cape coast looked like before development.
Diaz Beach
Tucked beneath towering cliffs on the western side of Cape Point, Diaz Beach is the reserve’s showstopper. Reached by a steep wooden staircase from the Cape of Good Hope trail, it takes effort to reach, but the reward is immense.
From above, the beach looks like something out of a travel poster: a crescent of white sand at the base of 200-metre cliffs, with waves rolling in from the deep Atlantic. Down on the sand, it feels secluded and wild, with very few people making the trek down.
Swimming here is unsafe due to powerful rip currents, but most visitors come for the setting itself. Photographers in particular prize the vantage points both from the beach and from the cliff path above.
Why it’s worth it: Diaz offers one of the most dramatic seascapes in South Africa. Standing there gives a sense of scale and solitude that few beaches in the world can match.
Walking Trails at Cape Point
The best way to experience Cape Point is on foot. The reserve has a network of paths that range from short, family-friendly walks to half-day hikes that reveal the wild side of the peninsula. Trails are well-marked, and along the way you’ll encounter fynbos, wildlife, and uninterrupted ocean views.
Cape of Good Hope Trail
- Distance: 3.5 km return
- Time: ±1.5 hours (easy pace)
- Highlights: Reaching the most south-westerly point of the African continent
This is the most popular walk in the reserve, leading from the main parking area to the iconic Cape of Good Hope signboard. The route follows a wooden boardwalk and gravel path along the cliffs, with sweeping (but safe) drop-offs to the sea below, and extraordinary views of Diaz Beach.
Why it’s worth it: For the sense of achievement—standing at the famous sign, surrounded by the ocean on three sides, feels like reaching the “end of Africa.” It’s also a very photogenic walk.
Shipwreck Trail (Olifantsbos)
- Distance: 3–5 km (varies depending on chosen loop)
- Time: 1.5–3 hours
- Highlights: Historic shipwrecks, birdlife, and fynbos
This trail starts at Olifantsbos and follows a sandy path through low fynbos to the coast. The most accessible wreck is the Thomas T. Tucker, an American World War II supply ship that ran aground in 1942 when its compass failed in thick fog. Its rusted hull remains on the beach, now home to nesting seabirds.
Longer variations of the trail take you further down the coast to the wrecks of the Nolloth (1965) and Phyllisia (1968). The route is exposed, so be sure to bring a hat and water, but the scenery is unforgettable.
Why it’s worth it: Few places allow you to walk right up to a real shipwreck in such a wild setting. The sense of history is tangible, and the landscapes are as dramatic as the stories behind the wrecks.
Lighthouse Keeper’s Trail
- Distance: 3.4 km one way
- Time: ±1.5–2 hours
- Highlights: Cliffside path, history, and lighthouse views
This trail begins behind the funicular station and winds along the cliffs toward the new lighthouse. You’ll pass old bunkers from World War II, patches of colourful fynbos, and endless views across False Bay. The path eventually drops down toward the new lighthouse, the most powerful on the South African coast.
Why it’s worth it: It’s less crowded than the funicular route and offers some of the best panoramic viewpoints in the reserve.
Longer Hikes
- Sirkelsvlei Trail: 6.5 km, about 3 hours. A quieter inland loop past wetlands, often good for spotting antelope and birdlife.
- Cape of Good Hope Trail (Overnight): A two-day, 33.8 km circular route managed by SANParks. It takes hikers deep into the reserve, with overnight huts and a chance to see the wilder, less-visited areas of Cape Point.
Why walking is essential at Cape Point: Driving will take you between the main attractions, but it’s only by walking that you experience the stillness, the smell of the fynbos, the sound of the surf, and encounters with wildlife. For many visitors, the trails are the highlight of their day.
Visit the Lighthouses of Cape Point
The waters around Cape Point were notorious among sailors. Treacherous currents, unpredictable fog, and violent winter storms earned it the name Cape of Storms. To help guide ships around this dangerous headland, two lighthouses were built here — each with its own story.
The Old Lighthouse (1859)
Built in 1859 on the highest peak of Cape Point, 238 metres above sea level, the first lighthouse was positioned with the idea that a greater height would increase its visibility to ships. Its lantern, imported from England, was impressive for its day.
But the design had a fatal flaw. Because it stood so high, the light was often hidden by fog and low clouds. For roughly 900 hours each year, ships could not see it. Mariners soon nicknamed it “the invisible lighthouse.”
The most tragic incident came in 1911, when the Portuguese liner Lusitania, carrying more than 700 passengers, struck Bellows Rock below the lighthouse. Though most on board survived, the accident proved the lighthouse was dangerously unreliable.
Visitors can hike up a steep set of steps (or ride the funicular part of the way) to the old lighthouse. The views from here are spectacular, stretching across False Bay, the Atlantic Ocean, and the rugged cliffs of the Cape of Good Hope. The building itself is no longer operational, but it’s a historic landmark that tells the story of maritime navigation in the 19th century.
The New Lighthouse (1919)
After the Lusitania disaster, a second lighthouse was commissioned. Completed in 1919, it was built just 87 metres above sea level on a rocky ledge, well below the cloud line. This strategic position made it far more effective, and it remains in use today.
The new lighthouse is still considered the most powerful on the South African coast. Its light has a range of 63 kilometres (34 nautical miles) and flashes in a group of three every 30 seconds. With a luminous intensity of 10 million candelas, it is a vital beacon for modern shipping routes.
Reaching the new lighthouse requires more effort. The trail down is steeper than the route to the old one, but the reward is an up-close view of a working coastal sentinel.
Why it’s worth it for visitors: Standing at these lighthouses connects you to centuries of maritime history, from the age of Portuguese explorers to modern shipping. Add the incredible coastal views, and it’s one of the most memorable stops inside the reserve.
Ride The Flying Dutchman Funicular
Not everyone wants to hike up the steep paths to the old lighthouse, and that’s where the Flying Dutchman Funicular comes in. It’s the only funicular railway in Africa, carrying visitors from the main parking area up 600 metres of track to just below the old lighthouse. Each of the two carriages seats 40 passengers, and the ride takes about three minutes.
The funicular is named after the Flying Dutchman, the legendary ghost ship said to roam the waters off the Cape of Good Hope. Sailors told tales of a Dutch East India Company vessel caught in a storm here in the 1600s. Refusing to turn back, its captain cursed himself and his crew to sail the oceans forever, never finding safe harbour.
Over the centuries, sightings of the ghostly ship, sails glowing or vanishing suddenly into mist, became part of maritime folklore. Naming the funicular after this story ties modern visitors to that long history of Cape legends.
The funicular has its own history. Before it opened in the 1990s, tourists were ferried up in a diesel bus also called the “Flying Dutchman.” The modern version is electric, environmentally friendly, and built entirely with South African materials.
At the top station, visitors step out just below the old lighthouse. From here, it’s a short climb to the viewing platforms, or you can stroll around the station, which offers spectacular vantage points over the cliffs and False Bay.
- Operating hours: Daily, 9am–5:30pm (closes at 5pm in winter).
- Tickets (2025/26): Return R115 adults, R60 children; one-way tickets also available; under-6s travel free. Discounts for pensioners.
- Where: Main parking lot inside Cape Point Nature Reserve.
Why it’s worth it: The funicular makes Cape Point’s most famous viewpoints accessible to almost everyone, including those who may not want a steep uphill walk. For families with children or older visitors, it’s a comfortable way to reach one of the reserve’s top highlights — with the bonus of riding a piece of African transport history.
Cultural and Historic Sites
Cape Point carries layers of human history. Driving or hiking through the reserve, you may come across two striking stone crosses on the cliffs. These are replicas of the markers placed by Portuguese explorers Bartolomeu Dias in 1488 and Vasco da Gama in 1497, commemorating their attempts to navigate the Cape on their way to establish sea routes to India.
But the story stretches far deeper than the Age of Discovery. Long before European sailors arrived, the area was home to strandloper communities – coastal hunter-gatherers whose lives were closely tied to the rhythms of the sea.
Archaeologists have identified sites such as Bonteberg Shelter and Black Rocks near Bordjiesdrif, where stone tools, shell middens, and traces of ancient hearths provide glimpses into how these early inhabitants lived off the land and ocean thousands of years ago.
Walking among these sites connects today’s visitors with centuries of history, from the early communities who gathered food along the shore to the navigators who faced the challenges of the “Cape of Storms.”
Enjoy a Meal at Two Oceans Restaurant
After exploring Cape Point, appetites tend to build, making Two Oceans Restaurant a top option. Open since 1995, it is known for fresh seafood, attentive service, and panoramic views across False Bay.
The menu celebrates the ocean on its doorstep. Signature choices include the Two Oceans seafood platter, a generous spread of crayfish, prawns, mussels, and line fish. Lighter plates range from sushi rolls and sashimi to the classic grilled line fish of the day, while vegetarians are well looked after with dishes such as roasted vegetable lasagne.
Floor-to-ceiling windows make the views part of the dining experience, but the outside deck is the real prize on a clear day. Reservations are strongly recommended, particularly if you’d like one of those coveted edge-of-deck tables.
- Opening times: 11 am – 5.30 pm (5pm in winter)
- Bookings: https://capepoint.co.za/facilities/#Dining 021 780 9010, info@capepoint.co.za
The Food Shop
For a quick, casual bite, the Food Shop is a convenient choice. It offers light meals and snacks—such as pizza, biltong, droëwors, and South African favourites—for enjoyment on the terrace overlooking the bay or to take away for a picnic elsewhere in the reserve. It’s a relaxed stop for families, hikers, or those ready to refuel before continuing their day.
- Opening times: 9am – 5.30pm (5pm in winter)
Visitor Information
Gate entry to the park is managed by SANParks
- Hours: October–March: 6am–6pm | April–September: 7am–5pm
- Entry Fees (SANParks 2025/26)
- South Africans: Adults R115, Children R60 (with ID)
- South African Pensioners R60
- International visitors: Adults R515, Children R250
Important Tips
- Keep food secured—do not feed baboons.
- Check weather and wind forecasts before hiking.
- Wear sturdy shoes and bring water and sunscreen.
- Carry cash for small farm stalls and cafés nearby.
Plan your Visit with The Oyster Collection
Planning a Cape Town holiday with The Oyster Collection means more than choosing where to stay, it’s about experiencing the region with the insight and care of dedicated hosts.
Alongside our distinctive accommodation, we offer private guided tours, including a full-day journey to Cape Point. This interactive tour follows one of the world’s most scenic drives, from the Atlantic seaboard through Hout Bay and over Chapman’s Peak, down to the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point.
The return route passes through Simon’s Town, with a chance to see the penguin colony, before continuing along the coastline past Fish Hoek and Muizenberg. Book your stay with the Oyster Collection for a luxury getaway that includes the very best of Cape Town and the Cape Peninsula.
Q: What is so special about Cape Point?
A: Cape Point is part of the Cape of Good Hope section of Table Mountain National Park. It’s known for its dramatic cliffs, unspoilt beaches, historic lighthouses, rich biodiversity, and views across both the Atlantic and False Bay. It’s also a UNESCO-listed Cape Floral Region, home to unique fynbos found nowhere else in the world.
Good to know: The reserve covers 7,750 hectares, with over 1,100 plant species and plenty of wildlife, including baboons, ostriches, antelope, and seasonal whale sightings.
Q: Do the two oceans meet at Cape Point?
A: No. The official meeting point of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans is at Cape Agulhas, about 250 kilometres southeast of Cape Town. Cape Point is often mistaken for this because of its dramatic position at the southwestern tip of the peninsula.
Good to know: Many visitors include both Cape Point and Cape Agulhas in their itineraries — but Cape Point is closer to Cape Town (around an hour’s drive).
Q: What is the difference between Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope?
A: Cape Point is a promontory within the Cape of Good Hope section of the national park. The Cape of Good Hope refers to the rocky headland to the west, while Cape Point lies slightly east of it. Both are part of the same protected reserve.
Good to know: A short boardwalk links the Cape of Good Hope viewpoint with vistas over Diaz Beach and Cape Point — perfect for photographs.
Q: Why is the Flying Dutchman called the Flying Dutchman?
A: The funicular is named after the legendary ghost ship, the Flying Dutchman, which sailors believed was doomed to sail forever around the “Cape of Storms.” The name reflects Cape Point’s maritime history and folklore.
Good to know: The funicular runs every few minutes from the main car park to the old lighthouse lookout, making it an easy way to take in the views.
Q: Can you swim at Cape Point?
A: Swimming is not recommended on the exposed western beaches such as Diaz or Platboom, due to strong currents and rough seas. However, the tidal pools at Bordjiesrif and Buffels Bay on the eastern side of the reserve are safe for swimming and popular with families in summer.
Good to know: Bring your own picnic or braai supplies for these areas, but be mindful of local baboons and never feed them.