Itinerary

A bustling working harbor where you can take a short 40-minute boat trip to Duiker Island to see thousands of Cape Fur Seals. Originally named Houtbaai (Wood Bay) by Dutch explorer Jan van Riebeeck in 1652, it was the primary source of high-quality timber used to build the Castle of Good Hope and early colonial ships. The East Fort, built in 1781, is the oldest functional battery in South Africa and was used to defend the bay against British invasions.

Frequently cited as one of the most spectacular marine drives in the world, this 9km route has 114 curves hacked into the vertical face of the mountain.  Named after John Chapman, a master's mate on an English ship who recorded the bay in 1607. An engineering marvel of the early 20th century, the road was constructed between 1915 and 1922 using convict labor it bridged  the gap between the Atlantic Seaboard and the South Peninsula.

A stop at the Noordhoek Farm Village offers a glimpse into the "rural" side of the Cape, famous for its long, white sandy beach and shipwrecks.  Noordhoek means "North Corner", which was designated primarily an area for vegetable farming to supply ships in Simon’s Town. The beach is home to the wreck of the Kakapo (1900), a steamer that ran aground because the captain mistook Chapman’s Peak for Cape Point in bad weather.

This is the southwesternmost tip of the African continent. Ride the Flying Dutchman Funicular to the old lighthouse for panoramic views of False Bay.  This is the legendary "Cape of Storms" named by Bartolomeu Dias in 1488 which was later renamed "Cape of Good Hope" by King John II of Portugal to reflect the optimism of finding a sea route to India. The Old Lighthouse (built 1859) sits too high (238m above sea level). It was often shrouded in clouds, leading to the 1911 wreck of the Lusitania, which prompted the construction of a second, lower lighthouse that remains the most powerful on the South African coast.

A stroll along the boardwalks to view a massive colony of African Penguins (formerly known as Jackass Penguins for their donkey-like bray).  The beach is sheltered by ancient granite boulders that are over 540 million years old.  This colony is remarkably young; it started with just two breeding pairs in 1982. It is one of the few places in the world where humans can get this close to a wild penguin colony in a residential area.

A quirky fishing village with antique shops, art galleries, and a vibrant harbor where seals often nap on the pier.  The name Kalkbaai (Lime Bay) comes from the 17th-century lime kilns used to burn seashells to produce lime for painting buildings.  Kalk Bay has a deeply rooted "fishing family" culture. During the Group Areas Act of the 1960s, the local fishing community famously resisted forced removals, making it one of the few areas where the original community remained largely intact.

A scenic drive through this coastal town known for its long, flat swimming beach and "Shark Spotters." Historically a "dry" town (alcohol sales were banned for nearly 200 years until recently), it was originally a grant of land given to a Swedish entrepreneur.  The area is home to Peer’s Cave, where the remains of the "Fish Hoek Man" (dating back 12,000 years) were discovered, proving that the peninsula has been a choice residence for humans for millennia.