Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope: A Scenic Peninsula Drive
What to see at Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope, plus practical tips including the resident baboons.
The Drive to Cape Point
The route down the Cape Peninsula to Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope is one of the most scenic drives near Cape Town, winding along dramatic coastline with the mountains on one side and the ocean on the other. Cape Point itself, along with the nearby Cape of Good Hope, sits within a nature reserve at the peninsula's southern tip — a popular (if geographically inexact) spot associated with the meeting of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.
What's There
| Spot | What It Offers |
|---|---|
| Cape Point lighthouse | A funicular or short hike up to the old lighthouse, with sweeping coastal views |
| Cape of Good Hope | A dramatic rocky point with a well-known signpost, a popular photo stop |
| Cape Point Nature Reserve | Coastal fynbos vegetation and wildlife, including ostriches and baboons |
| Diaz Beach | A quieter beach accessible via a hiking trail within the reserve |
Practical Tips
The reserve charges a separate entry fee, and it's typically combined with other stops along the peninsula, like Boulders Beach, as a full-day outing. Keep car windows closed and food secured — the reserve's baboons are known to open unlocked doors and grab food from vehicles and visitors alike.
Baboons in the Cape Point area are habituated to humans and will actively try to steal food from cars, bags, or hands — keep windows closed and don't feed them, both for your safety and theirs.
