One of the unquestionable highlights of the Cape Peninsula is the drive along Chapman’s Peak Drive, as the most spectacular section of the coastal road between Hout Bay and Noordhoek is called. For a first longer stop, the impressive beach of Noordhoek, called Long Beach, is a good choice.
The destination and turning point of the tour, for which you should allow a whole day, is the so-called Cape Point at the Cape of Good Hope, located in the Table Mountain National Park, that comprises almost the entire peninsula.
If you want to take at least one of the numerous hikes through the evergreen fynbos vegetation, combined with magnificent views, you should drive to the Cape first thing in the morning and save stops along the east coast for the way back.
One of the most beautiful hiking trails is the Shipwreck Trail, which starts in Olifantsbos and, as the name suggests, leads along the coast to two shipwrecks, namely that of the “Thomas T. Tucker” and the “Nolloth”.
Finally, a stop along the east coast is Boulders Beach and Foxy Beach near Simon’s Town, where the resident colony of African penguins has thrived steadily since trawling was banned in the offshore waters. Foxy Beach has the largest number of birds, but the penguins can only be seen from boardwalks, while at Boulders Beach you can share the beach with them.