Top 5 Things to do at Cape Point anytime of the year

Cape Point

Cape Point is undoubtedly one of Cape Town’s most magnificent natural wonders and sought-after attractions. Located approximately 60km south west of the city of Cape Town, at the very tip of the Cape Peninsula, Cape Point is the ultimate mecca for nature lovers and adventure seekers. Besides its unapologetic natural beauty, Cape Point boasts a rich diversity of fauna and flora, secret beaches, endless adventure experiences, and some of the most thrilling hiking trails in the Western Cape.

With so much to do, see, and experience, visiting the renowned Cape Point should undoubtedly be on your Cape Town bucket list.

Here are the top 5 things to do at Cape Point when exploring this remarkable natural gem.

#1 Go on a Cape Point Hiking Adventure

Cape Point boasts some of the most beautiful, captivating, and down-right exhilarating hiking trails in the entire Western Cape.

Some of Cape Point’s top hiking trails include:

  • The Cape of Good Hope Trail
  • Lighthouse Keeper’s Trail
  • The Gifkommetjie Trail
  • Antoniesgat Trail
  • The Kanonkop Trail
  • The Phyllisia Circuit trail
  • Cape Point Shipwreck Trails: The Thomas T. Tucker Trail & The Sirkelsvlei trail

Check out our ‘Best Cape Point Hiking Trails’ blog to find out everything you need to know about all of Cape Point’s incredible hiking trails.

#2 Visit Cape Point’s Secret Beaches

Cape Point

Besides being one of the Western Cape’s most remarkable natural wonders, Cape Point is renowned for its stunning secret beaches. Cape Point’s array of secret beaches has remained largely untouched and unspoiled by the masses, undoubtedly making it that much more spectacular to witness and explore.

Here are four of Cape Point’s stunning secret beaches, all of which deserve a prime spot on your Cape Town beach and adventure-travel bucket-list.

Cape Point

Buffels Beach

Buffels Beach / Bay is one of the most popular Cape Point beaches amongst day visitors. Not only is it the perfect place to enjoy a picnic with the whole family, but there are several fixed braai (barbeque) spots. An extra bonus is that whenever you feel the need to cool off, you can just jump right into one of the refreshing tidal pools.

Diaz Beach

Diaz Beach is located right at the tip of Cape Point, on the western side, at the base of impressive 200-metre-high cliffs – boasting one of the most magnificent views in the Western Cape. Similar to Buffels Beach, Diaz Beach has remained untouched by the masses, largely owed to its hush-hush location and the extra effort required to get there.

From the parking lot, you will embark on about a 20-minute hike. You will then reach a rather steep set of wooden stairs that will lead you to this picturesque beach escape. Showcasing a white sandy beach, turquoise water and towering cliff faces, the unspoiled shoreline of Diaz Beach is bound to render you speechless. In addition to being one of Cape Point’s most beautiful hidden beach gems, Diaz Beach is known as one of Cape Town’s most magnificent secret sunset spots.

Maclear Beach

While you may need to walk a few short paths to get to Maclear Beach, it’s all part of the charm of this small sandy strip on the Cape Point coast. Besides being one of Cape Point’s most beautiful secret beaches and hidden gems, it’s got a certain mystical feel to it. The route through dense fynbos undoubtedly sets it up as one of the more secluded and intriguing sections of Cape Point. Maclear’s Beach is also regarded as one of the best diving and fishing spots in the area.

Olifantsbos Beach

Olifantsbos Beach is known for its beautiful rocky point and small sandy beach. Beyond its stunning secluded beach location, this rugged, unspoilt section of the reserve offers avid hikers and adventurers a selection of exciting hiking and walking trails. It’s also the starting and finishing point for the popular Shipwreck trail.

Other Cape Point beaches include Bortjiesrif and Platboom Beach, and perhaps even a few more secret beach spots yet to be discovered.

#3 Take a ride on the Flying Dutchman Funicular

The Flying Dutchman Funicular, also known as the Cape Point Funicular, is a funicular railway located at Cape Point. It’s the only commercial funicular of its type in Africa and takes its name from the local legend of the Flying Dutchman ghost ship.

Apart from offering visitors an exciting and novel method of travel, taking a ride on the famous Flying Dutchman Funicular saves visitors the extra effort of an uphill climb from the car park to the iconic lookout point to see the renowned old Cape Point lighthouse; all while being surrounded by spectacular panoramic views of the glorious Cape Point and beyond.

The two 40-seater carriages – which carry a maximum of 10 people (*depending on the current South African Government COVID-19 regulations and protocols) – runs from the lower station at the Cape Point car park, up an incline and through dense fynbos, to the upper lighthouse.

Taking a ride on the legendary Flying Dutchman Funicular is by far one of the top things to do at Cape Point. Best thing is, the whole family can experience this Cape Town bucket list adventure together.

Flying Dutchman Funicular Rates:

Description Adults Kids* Pensioners
Return Ticket R75 R45 R50
One way R50 R35

**Important Note: *Children / Kids: Cape of Good Hope ages 2-12 | Flying Dutchman Funicular ages 6-16 years | Children under the age of 6 ride free | All children must be accompanied by an adult.

**Extra Note: South African pensioners of 60+ years old get special funicular rates | To receive the special pensioners rate proof of identification is required.

Click Here To Get Your Flying Dutchman Funicular Tickets Now!

To find out more about the famous Flying Dutchman Funicular visit the Cape Point website

Book Now!

#4 Explore Cape Point’s Vast & Diverse Fauna & Flora

Cape Point is located in the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve within the beautiful Table Mountain National Park, a declared Natural World Heritage Site. This wildly unapologetic, and glorious natural gem encompasses the scenic Peninsula mountain chain, which stretches from Signal Hill in the north to Cape Point in the south.

Cape Point

From jagged mountain peaks rising from the deep blue, towering more than 200 metres above the sea, plunging cliffs, steep slopes, sandy flats, and an abundance of wildlife to a spectacular display of wildflowers and endless stretches of endemic Fynbos scattered about, Cape Point boasts a rich, remarkable, and vibrant bio-diversity.

Recognized globally for its extraordinary landscapes and vastly diverse fauna and flora, this singular land formation is not only one of the Western Cape’s most magnificent natural wonders, but a world-renowned natural, scenic, historical, and cultural treasure.

Beyond Table Mountain National Park and Cape Point’s rich natural vegetation and distinct bio-diversity, it is home to the world’s smallest, yet most diverse floral kingdoms in the world, known as the Cape Floristic Region. The area mainly comprises of Cape Fynbos, an ancient indigenous vegetation that is completely endemic to the tip of the African continent. It is one of only six floral kingdoms in the world and is the only one that occurs entirely in one country, as such, it cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

In addition to Cape Point’s pristine flora, a plethora of fauna can be seen roaming the park. From baboons carrying their young on their backs, herds of ostriches strolling about and an amazing abundance of birdlife, animal / wildlife lovers should keep a lookout for Cape foxes, an array of antelope, genets, polecats, mole rats, snakes, porcupines, mongooses, tortoises, and several other wonderful wildlife species wondering around and exploring Cape Point’s thriving and diverse landscapes and surroundings.

Cape Point

With so much to offer, Cape Point is a true nature lover’s paradise, and exploring all of its beautiful and diverse fauna and flora is without a doubt one of the top things to do at Cape Point – Whether you consider yourself to be a head-over-heels nature and wildlife lover or not.

#5 Enjoy Outdoor Adventures & Discover Cultural & Historical Spots

Adventure Experiences & Activities

Cape Point

In addition to enjoying an incredible and exciting range of hikes along an assortment of scenic and overnight trails, leading you through natural fynbos and along sandy beaches, Cape Point is known for its amazing and exhilarating variety of activities and outdoor adventures.

Some of these thrilling experiences include:

  • Sea kayaking
  • Mountain biking
  • Action-packed nature walks
  • Surfing
  • Cycling
  • Beach hopping
  • Coastal foraging
  • Deep-sea fishing
  • Exploring a wide variety of stunning dive sites on both sides of the Point

Cape Point has an outdoor activity and adventure experience for absolutely everyone.

Cape Point History & Culture

Cape Point

In addition to being one of the Western Cape’s most remarkable natural gems, Cape Point is rooted in rich history and is widely known as a historical icon of great significance.

Bartholomeu Dias, the Portuguese seafarer, was the first to sail around Cape Town and the Cape (in 1488). On his return voyage, Dias stopped at the south-western tip of South Africa, and named it Cabo Tormentoso, or Cape of Storms. King John of Portugal later gave it the name Cabo da Boa Esperança, or Cape of Good Hope. Another Portuguese explorer, Vasco da Gama, rounded the Cape on 22 November 1497 on his way to India.

The journeys of these explorers led to the establishment of the Cape sea route, which meant more regular sailings around the tip. As these shores were known for its highly unpredictable nature and stormy weather conditions (aptly named the ‘Cape of Storm’), it also indirectly led to several casualties over the years. Today, a number of shipwrecks and stone crosses bear testimony to this treacherous and challenging historic sea route.

In 1859 the first lighthouse was built. Following that, the new lighthouse – the iconic old Cape Point Lighthouse – was built and completed in 1911, which, to this very day, stands loud and proud at 238 meters above sea-level on the highest section of the peak. The old Cape Point lighthouse remains one of the most powerful sentinels on the South African coast, with a range of 60 kilometers and a luminous intensity of 10 million candelas.

Cape Point

Besides being one of Cape Point’s most sought-after sights and attractions amongst locals and tourists alike, it is now used as the centralized monitoring point for all the lighthouses on the coast of South Africa.

The view from the old lighthouse is nothing short of spectacular. Boasting absolutely breathtaking views of the two oceans as well as the surrounding coastline, there’s nothing quite like it! If you’re lucky, you might even catch some amazing whale sightings (specifically between August and October). Remember to keep an eye out for other marine life sightings while visiting Cape Point.

Cape Point

Cape Point Information

Cape Point

  • Location: Click here for a map / directions on how to get to Cape Point
  • Contact details: 021 780 9010 | [email protected] | Website: www.capepoint.co.za | 021 712 7471 | [email protected]
  • Opening times: October – March & April – September: Monday – Sunday, 7am – 5pm
  • Click here for information and details regarding the COVID-19 Government Notice

Cape Point Social Media

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Cape Point Tickets / Fees

Cape Point Entry Tickets:

Description Adults Kids*
South Africans (with ID)** R85 R40
Standard Entry R340 R170
SADC Nationals R170 R85