The 7 superb scenic drives in Cape City

The realm round Cape City is extremely various and completely lovely and affords an ideal number of scenic highway journeys from beautiful coastal drives to mountain passes and vineyards. Driving round Cape City you’ll be able to benefit from the beautiful surroundings, see wildlife, do a wine tasting or attempt some adventurous actions. A few of the prompt drives we’ve executed many occasions and each time we discover new locations to go to and actions to do. Out of many issues to do in Cape City scenic drives are one thing to not miss right here.

There are a number of unimaginable coastal drives from Cape City that provide spectacular surroundings and loads of superb issues to do. The scenic drive alongside the Cape Peninsula together with Chapman’s Peak Drive might be our favourite right here. The surroundings alongside the route is breathtaking when you come to South Africa for a honeymoon this drive is unquestionably to be included in your itinerary.

Cape Peninsula scenic drive

Driving route: Cape City – Camps Bay – Hout Bay – Chapman’s Peak Drive – Noordhoek – Kommetjie – Misty Cliffs – Cape Level Nationwide park (Cape of Good Hope) – Boulders Seashore (Simon’s City) – Muizenberg – Cape City.

• Distance – 145 km loop
• Time – something between 4 and eight hours relying on what number of locations you go to.
• When to do the drive – the world is gorgeous any time of the 12 months the very best is to do the drive on a pleasant not very windy day.

Cape Peninsula excursions

Highlights of the drive

• Camps Bay – lovely seashores, and ice-cold water.
• Hout Bay – the very best place for recognizing Cape Fur seals on this drive.
• Chapman’s Peak drive – probably the most scenic drive in Cape City.
• Kommetjie – a stupendous white-sand seashore with nice waves for browsing.
• Cape Level Nationwide park – the place you’ll be able to spend all day, there are numerous strolling routes, some lovely seashores, and really chilly water.
• Boulder’s Seashore, Simon’s City – is likely one of the must-see locations in Cape City. It’s a small hidden white-sand seashore surrounded by big boulders with fairly a number of penguins swimming and strolling round.
• Muizenberg – a busy surf city with colourful wood cabins on the white sandy seashore.

Issues to do on the Cape Level drive

• Snorkeling with seals in Hout Bay
• Guided kayaking tour in Hout Bay
• Browsing in Kommetjie – good waves for all ranges, there’s a board rental place close to the seashore.
• Mountain climbing at Cape Level Nationwide park. There are a number of brief hikes in addition to a 2-day hike with staying at an in a single day hut.
• Swimming, stress-free, and watching penguins at Boulder’s Seashore.
• Browsing or SUPing in Muizenberg, you may get a browsing lesson or hire a board from one of many surf retailers right here.

Chapman’s Peak Drive

More often than not the route goes alongside the coast with many beautiful lookouts and countless white-sand seashores. I’d undoubtedly advocate together with this drive in your Cape City itinerary. It’s not a protracted drive however there may be a lot to see right here that it’ll take you your entire day, the sooner you begin the higher. The primary cease is Camps Bay the fanciest neighborhood of Cape City and the place with the most costly property within the nation. 

From there you drive over the cross to Hout Bay the place you’ll be able to see seals within the harbor, for ideas locals will present you ways they feed seals. Lastly, you’re attending to Chapman’s Peak Drive. It’s on a toll highway you pay ZAR 50/US$3 for a automotive to drive by but it surely’s completely price it. It is likely one of the most lovely drives within the nation.

Cape Level Nationwide park

Take your time within the Cape Level Nationwide Park. There’s a lot to see right here. One can spend the entire day simply driving and strolling round; it’s a fully lovely place. The highlights of the park are Cape Level, Cape of Good Hope, the Lighthouse, Diaz Seashore, Kleine Bucht, Vasco Da Gama Cross, and Bordjiesrif Tidal Pool. The best means of attending to the Lighthouse and to the summit of Cape Level is to take a Flying Dutchman Funicular, you should buy tickets on-line and skip the road.

There are a few day mountain climbing trails at Cape Level; Ship Wreck path (3-5km), Phyllisia Circuit (7km), Kanonkop (5km), Cape of Good Hope Path (3,5km), Lighthouse Keeper’s Path (2km). Ask for a map on the entrance, all the paths are marked and comparatively simple.

Boulders Seashore, Simon’s City

A small white-sand seashore hidden between big boulders with calm warmish waters is part of the marine protected space. The distinctive great thing about Boulder’s Seashore isn’t the one cause that draws guests to this seashore daily, cute African penguins are at all times round; strolling, swimming, or resting on the rocks.

To high up your marine animals’ expertise in Simon’s City do a snorkeling or a diving journey to see seals and Cow sharks (they aren’t recognized to assault divers). Simon’s City is likely one of the greatest spots for diving in Cape City together with diving with sharks.

Muizenberg

A very good place for browsing or studying how you can surf, there are a number of surf retailers on the seashore so you probably have extra time you’ll be able to keep right here for a few days. Don’t neglect to take a look at the colourful wood cabins in Muizenberg, which superior distinction with the white sand seashore and blue sea. One of many high Instagram locations round Cape City.

You may keep in Muizenberg and watch the sundown on the seashore or finish your day with the beautiful Lion’s Head hike and watch the solar taking place from the highest of it. Lion’s Head is likely one of the hottest sundown spots in Cape City.

Locations to remain on the Cape Level drive

Throughout the peak summer season season lodging within the space is normally fully-booked. When you are available December-January it’s extremely beneficial to guide a spot upfront.

There are various implausible espresso retailers in Cape City the place you’ll be able to cease for breakfast and low earlier than your scenic drive.

Cape City – Hermanus drive

Driving route: Cape City – Strand – Gordon’s Bay – Rooi-Els – Betty’s Bay – Harold Porter Botanical Backyard – Kleinmond – Hermanus – Sir Lowry’s Cross – Cape City.

• Distance – 260 km return, a method alongside the coast, return over Sir Lowry’s Cross. 280 km if driving alongside the coast each methods.
• Time – 5 hours for the drive and taking images, plus additional time for actions.
• When to do the drive – August & September are the very best months if you wish to see Southern Proper Whale close to Hermanus. Summer season months, November – March, have the very best climate although it will get very windy in December – January. Throughout Christmas and New Yr this route is extraordinarily busy.

It’s considered one of our favourite scenic drives that we normally do as a day journey from Cape City. We’ve executed it many occasions and each time we’re heading that means we get very excited. The surroundings is really spectacular; lovely mountains, rugged shoreline, white-sand seashores, dramatic drops, and various marine life. If you wish to do the Backyard Route highway journey from Cape City this drive is a good way to start out it. After Hermanus, you simply proceed driving in direction of Mossel Bay the place the route begins.

Highlights of the highway journey

• Clearance Drive is a shocking drive alongside the coast from Gordon’s Bay.
• Rooi-Els – a small city on the sea.
• Crystal Swimming pools Pure Reserve.
• Stony Level Nature Reserve, penguins sanctuary in Betty’s Bay.
• Harold Porter Botanical Backyard.
• Whales and dolphins in Hermanus.
• Penguins and sea birds in Gansbaai.

Issues to do

• Swimming at Koel Bay at one of many seashores on the way in which from Gordon’s Bay to Rooi-Els.
• Mountain climbing in Crystal Swimming pools Nature Reserve, there’s a good 2-3 hours return hike to the falls and pure swimming pools, an 8km stroll. Open from November to April, dawn to sundown. Entrance ZAR60 per particular person.
• Browsing at Koel Bay seashore, convey a surfboard with you and look ahead to sharks.
• Snorkeling at Rooi Els, you’ll be able to spot crayfish water isn’t as chilly as in Cape City however you continue to want a wetsuite.
• Mountain climbing on the Harold Porter Botanical Backyard.
• Whale watching in Hermanus. The height season is from August to December, the height season October – November when Southern-right whales are within the space. Normally, you see many seals and occasional penguins within the water as nicely throughout the tour.

Clarence Drive

The Clarence Drive from Gordon’s Bay to Rooi Els is simply as beautiful as Chapman’s Peak Drive. It’s on the winding coastal highway with many viewpoints and a few nice and normally empty seashores. While you cease at a viewpoint close to Gordon’s Bay look out for seals and dolphins there are normally some within the water near the shore.

Betty’s Bay

A pleasant small city of Betty’s Bay with lengthy and normally empty white-sand seashores surrounded by mountains. The native seashore is a pleasant place for a picnic on a not-windy day. If after visiting Boulder’s Seashore you’re nonetheless eager to see extra African penguins go to Stony Level Nature Reserve, there are a whole bunch of penguins there normally chilling on the seashore proper on the entrance. 

Harold Porter Botanical Backyard

This lovely backyard is filled with lush inexperienced vegetation and flowers. Harold Porter Botanical Backyard is a pleasant place to return for a picnic, stroll across the backyard, or have a meal on the restaurant. There are a number of day mountain climbing trails right here; the Zigzag, Fynbos, and Leopard’s Kloof Trails. To go to Leopard’s Kloof or to do the hike there you need to begin earlier than 1pm.

Hermanus

There are various nice issues to do in Hermanus. When you’re within the space between August and November we’d advocate doing a whale-watching tour, southern proper whales are in Hermanus this time of the 12 months, and probabilities to identify them are fairly good.

If you need extra adrenaline-pumping exercise you are able to do cage diving with sharks the place you’ve good probabilities to see nice white sharks and a few bronze whaler sharks.

If in case you have extra time you’ll be able to keep for an evening in Hermanus and prolong this drive to Cape Agulhas, the southernmost level of Africa (for extra particulars see the drive under).

Locations to remain in Hermanus 

Cape City – Cape Agulhas highway journey

Driving route: Cape City – Gordon’s Bay – Betty’s Bay – Hermanus – Elim – Struisbaai – Cape Agulhas – Arniston – Napier – Sir Lowry’s Cross – Cape City.

• Distance – 500 km loop (a method alongside the coast, return inland over Sir Lowry’s Cross).
• Time – 2-3 days.
• When to do the drive – summer season months November – March is the very best climate. December – January could be fairly windy. Christmas and New Yr are very busy.

Cape City to Cape Agulhas drive with a tour

Highlights of the drive

• Gordon’s Bay drive.
• Stony Level Penguins colony at Betty’s Bay.
• Whales, seals, and penguins in Hermanus.
• Elim, a small village with cute little homes lined alongside the principle avenue.
• The comfortable city of Napier with many cafes, eating places, and memento retailers on the principle avenue.
• White fisherman cottages in Arniston
• Waenhuiskrans Collapse Arniston
• Cape Agulhas, the southernmost level of Africa
• Cape Agulhas Lighthouse

Issues to do

• Shark cage diving in Gansbaai, all 12 months spherical although inquire earlier than as generally orcas are within the space and sharks (Nice Whites) disappear.
• Wine and beer tasting, there are a few locations round Hermanus and a few on the way in which to Cape Agulhas.
• Exploring Waenhuiskrans Cave.
• Watching the sundown on Struisbaai seashore.
• Recognizing Parrie, an enormous stingray that lives on the harbor of Struisbaai.

This route isn’t a day drive however somewhat a pleasant weekend getaway from Cape City. Driving alongside the coast a method and inland again you get an opportunity to see the gorgeous coast, sandy seashores, inexperienced rolling hills, picturesque vineyards, and small cities.

Gansbaai and Elim

Gansbaai is a small city the principle cause vacationers come right here is whale-watching or shark diving because the excursions begin right here. From Gansbaai drive by Elim on the way in which to Struisbaai, it’s a small however pretty fisherman city with white cottages lined up alongside the highway. Simply outdoors Elim, there’s a good wine property/restaurant Black Oystercatcher Wines.

Napier

The second possibility, driving from Hermanus previous Stanford by Napier it’s shorter when you take this route you’ll skip Gansbaai and Elim however you get extra wine farms on the way in which. Napier is a stunning city with lovely outdated homes, good eating places, cozy cafes, and memento retailers. It appears very lovely within the Jacaranda season between October and December.

Arniston

Arniston is a small fisherman city the place many locals go for the December vacation, the highlights of the city are white-colored fisherman’s cottages on the harbor and Waenhuiskrans Cave. You may go to the cave solely at low tide. The one entry to the cave besides the ocean is thru a gap in a cave at excessive tide it’s underwater. The cave is massive with a stupendous view over the ocean.

Struisbaai and Cape Agulhas

Struisbaai and Cape Agulhas formally are two small cities however in actual fact one place, it’s a really quiet place out of season, in December-January and Easter many South Africans come right here for the vacation. The principle factor that draws vacationers is the Southernmost Level of the African continent, the purpose formally divides two oceans; the Atlantic and the Indian although there is no such thing as a seen line between them.

Although the purpose is inside Agulhas Nationwide park there is no such thing as a gate or entrance price. One other native attraction is Parrie the Stingray, a large stingray that has been residing within the harbor for a few years. Typically there are two or three stingrays within the harbor. Struisbaai has a pleasant lengthy seashore for swimming, working, and watching the sundown or dawn.

Locations to remain in Struisbaai/Cape Agulhas

West Coast Flower route drive

Driving route; Cape City – Durbanville wine route (non-compulsory) – Melkbosstrand – West Coast Nationwide Park – Langebaan – Paternoster – Cape City

• Distance – 316 km
• Time – something between 6 and 10 hours
• Finest time for the drive – August and September are the very best months for driving this route if you wish to see hundreds of wildflowers protecting the fields and the coast alongside the West Coast

Highlights of the drive

• Durbanville wine route
• Lovely coastal surroundings; white-sand seashores, sand dunes, and so forth.
• West Coast Nationwide Park – the closest to Cape City place to see well-known Namaqualand flowers.
• Langebaan – a calming seashore city in style for kitesurfing.
• Paternoster – an enthralling city with nice seafood eating places.

Issues to do

• Wine tasting at Durbanville. The realm is thought for Sauvignon Blanc. Many wine farms in Durbanville have attention-grabbing pairings e.g. wine and nougat, MCC and macaroons, and so forth.
• Mountain climbing/driving and having fun with wildflowers at West Coast Nationwide Park.
• Chilling on the Lagoon in Langebaan.
• Consuming contemporary seafood at Paternoster.

Spring is the very best time to drive the Namaqualand flower route although the world is gorgeous any time of the 12 months and price visiting even outdoors the flower season. On the way in which from Cape City to the West Coast, you’ll be able to cease at a few wine farms in Durbanville and do some tastings. A giant benefit of this drive in comparison with the opposite coastal routes is that there’s by no means a lot site visitors even throughout the December vacation. This drive is usually a excellent begin for a Cape City – Namibia highway journey.

West Coast Nationwide Park

It’s the closest place to Cape City to see the well-known flowers of Namaqualand. At West Coast Nationwide Park you’ll be able to see a singular mixture of fields and hills lined in a flower carpet subsequent to the white-sand seashores of the Atlantic Ocean. There are a few mountain climbing, biking, and driving routes contained in the park that can take you to probably the most spectacular corners of the West Coast. 

Langebaan

A small city with a stupendous lagoon and lengthy sandy seashores is likely one of the hottest locations for kitesurfing in Cape City. Summer season months December to February is the very best time for kitesurfing right here. When you go to it throughout the flower season, it’s unlikely there might be any wind.

Paternoster

One other small city on the West Coast with conventional fishermen’s white homes, countless white sandy seashores, and a stupendous shoreline. Paternoster is known for its contemporary seafood and fish eating places in addition to bakeries. It’s a pleasant place to cease for lunch with unimaginable sea views. 

Locations to remain in Langebaan

Cape Winelands drive

Driving route: Cape City – Stellenbosch – Helshoogte Street – Franschhoek – Franschhoek Cross – Babylonstoren – Cape City

• Distance – 180 km return
• Time – 1-2 days if you wish to do wine tasting and another actions within the space.
• Finest time for the drive – summer season between November to March is the very best time for visiting the Winelands. Wine farms get extraordinarily busy in summer season over weekends you probably have an opportunity it’s higher to do a tasting on weekdays.

Go to Winelands with a tour

Highlights of the drive

• Incredible wine farms round Stellenbosch – you’ll find a number of the greatest South African wine farms right here.
• The historic middle and the College of Stellenbosch – a pleasant space to stroll round and drink a cup of espresso.
• Jonkershoek Nature Reserve – a shocking place for mountain climbing.
• Lovely Helshoogte Street with a few beautiful estates. 
• Franschhoek Motor Museum – a whole bunch of vehicles from the primary motorized automobiles to the Formulation 1 racing vehicles.
• Wine farms in Franschhoek – this wine route is considered one of our favorites in Cape Winelands
• Franschhoek Cross – a stupendous mountain cross with superb views
• Babylonstoren – this place has every part; wine tasting, lush inexperienced gardens, eating places, and so forth. You may simply spend a few hours exploring it.

Issues to do

• Wine tasting in Stellenbosch
• Mountain climbing in Jonkershoek Nature Reserve
• Wine tasting in Franschhoek
• Driving the Franschhoek wine tram
• Diving over the Franschhoek Cross
• Visiting Franschhoek Motor Museum
• Having fun with the gorgeous backyard at Babylonstoren

It’s a stupendous drive by the principle wine areas in Cape City with beautiful views, nice wines, lovely estates, and plenty of superb actions. You are able to do this journey in sooner or later or spend extra time within the space there are sufficient locations and issues to do to maintain you busy for per week. 

Stellenbosch

The city itself and the encircling space are completely beautiful. Stellenbosch is a bustling College city the one time you’ll be able to see it quiet is throughout holidays. The historic middle of the city may be very good for strolling; outdated oak bushes, colonial-style buildings, the College campus, vintage retailers, and small cafes.

Regardless of the small dimension, there are numerous issues to do in Stellenbosch together with superb out of doors actions. Incredible Stellenbosch wine farms are one of many most important causes that appeal to hundreds of vacationers. There are greater than 100 wine estates right here even when you spend months doing wine tasting you received’t be capable of go to all of them. 

Locations to remain in Stellenbosch

Franschhoek

The small charming city of Franschhoek is a superb place for a romantic getaway from Cape City. Positioned within the picturesque Franschhoek Valley the city boasts a number of the best eating places and the very best wine estates within the nation. It’s undoubtedly the place to return when you get pleasure from high quality eating and nice wines. You may drive across the valley stopping at totally different wine estates or take a break from driving and leap on the Franschhoek wine tram. It’s a good way of visiting a number of the wine estates on the route. Similar to in Stellenbosch there are numerous superb issues to do in Franschhoek moreover wine tasting. 

Locations to remain in Franschhoek

Constantia Valley journey

Driving route: Cape City metropolis middle – Kirstenbosch Botanical Backyard (Rhodes Avenue) – Rhodes Drive – Constantia Wine Valley – Cape City metropolis middle.

• Distance – 46 km return
• Time – 2 hours for the drive and images plus the time you’ll spend wine tasting, consuming, and so forth.
• Finest time for the drive – any season if it’s a pleasant sunny day. Mondays will not be nice as most wine farms are closed to guests. On weekends wine estates and eating places get very busy.

Go to Constantia with a tour

Highlights of the drive

• Kirstenbosch Botanical Backyard – the greenest place in Cape City
• Rhodes Drive – a shocking 7 km drive
• Beautiful wine estates in Constantia Valley

There are totally different excursions from Cape City that mix wine tasting in Constantia with different actions you’ll be able to be a part of considered one of them when you’re alone or don’t have a chosen driver (consuming and driving isn’t a good suggestion).

Issues to do

• Strolling/mountain climbing or picnicking in Kirstenbosch Botanical Backyard.
• Wine tasting within the Constantia Valley.
• Having fun with lunch with beautiful views over the vineyards at one of many wine farms.

That is the shortest out of the prompt scenic drives in Cape City but it surely’s a very spectacular space. The drive is ideal for a romantic day trip it has all you want; beautiful surroundings, nice wines, and scrumptious meals. You may mix this drive with a visit across the Cape Peninsula. 

Kirstenbosch Nationwide Botanical Backyard

Kirstenbosch is the greenest place in Cape City with a number of strolling and mountain climbing trails of various lengths and issue ranges. An ideal place to start out a day with a picnic on the grass or breakfast at one of many espresso retailers contained in the backyard. Don’t miss the Boomslang (tree snake) tree cover within the backyard. It winds amongst tree crowns providing nice views of Kirstenbosch and the encircling space. 

Constantia Wine route

One of the crucial spectacular wine areas round Cape City with a number of the oldest wine estates within the nation. There are 8 wine farms which are open to the general public for tasting. When you come right here on weekdays there is no such thing as a have to guide something upfront, on weekends and public holidays, it could be higher to make a reservation particularly when you’re planning to have lunch or dinner at one of many estates.

Each wine farm in Constantia is price visiting however there are two estates which are our favorites; Beau Constantia and Constantia Glen. Each have the very best views of the world and nice wines. Now we have an in depth publish on Constantia wine farms the place you’ll find extra details about every farm.

Locations to remain in Constantia

Two Mountain Passes Drive

Driving route; Cape City – Paarl – Du Toitskloof Cross (Rawsonville) – Slanghoek – Bain’s Kloof Cross – Wellington – Cape City.

• Distance – 248 km
• Time – from 4 hours
• Finest time for the drive – any season on a pleasant day, not beneficial to drive over the passes in heavy rain or if temperatures are under 0C. On Sundays a lot of the wine farms on the Breedekloof wine route are closed if you wish to do some tasting it’s higher to return on weekdays or Saturdays.

Highlights

• Du Toitskloof Cross
• The drive between the cross and Rawsonville
• Breedekloof Wine Route
• Bain’s Kloof Cross

Issues to do

• Driving over Du Toitskloof Cross and Bain’s Cross.
• Mountain climbing at Limietberg Nature Reserve, there are a number of mountain climbing trails close to the passes.
• Tasting wines at Breedekloof Wine Route.

A lovely drive over two implausible passes with a number of wine farms alongside the route, a few good eating places/espresso retailers, and farm stalls. This route might be probably the most off-the-beaten-track drives close to Cape City. It’s by no means very busy right here even wine farms will not be overcrowded on holidays and weekends like on the opposite wine routes. When you’re in search of a tranquil drive with beautiful surroundings the 2 passes are an ideal possibility.

Locations to remain in Paarl

Journey insurance coverage for Cape City journey

Touring usually entails totally different dangers from a flight delay or cancellation to medical emergencies and baggage loss. It’s at all times advisable to have journey insurance coverage that can cowl you in case one thing goes fallacious particularly when you enterprise to a faraway nation like South Africa. Theft or theft is one other vital cause to get journey insurance coverage in your South African journey whether or not you’re planning to go to solely Cape City or to enterprise on a protracted highway journey across the nation. 

It’s higher to decide on an insurance coverage firm that focuses on touring and has numerous expertise in protecting vacationers all around the world like World Nomads. Their journey insurance coverage may be very versatile, you should buy it on-line whereas touring, it takes solely a few minutes and it may well cowl the entire journey or solely part of it. Get an on the spot quote proper now!

Renting a automotive for Cape City scenic drives

All roads are tarred you’ll be able to drive in any automotive, it may be a pleasant journey on a motorcycle as nicely however provided that you’re a assured driver.

Renting a automotive is one of the best ways to discover the world and the best method to transfer round. All roads are tarred you don’t want a 4×4 for this journey. When renting a automotive be certain that it doesn’t have a mileage restrict or it’s greater than 600km per rental. When you drive the prompt route from Cape City Airport and again it’ll be simply over 600km.

*Worth for 3 days in US {dollars}, decide up and drop off at Cape City Airport.

Journey planning sources

Really helpful books and guidebooks

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The gorgeous half of Stingy Nomads, chargeable for all our land adventures (mountain climbing, climbing, strolling the Camino) and following them write-ups. Alya loves strolling since she was a toddler, she prefers to stroll 1000 km with a backpack somewhat than to do a ten 000 km highway journey (really any highway journey). Alya is a giant fan of Latin America, the Spanish language, and dancing. Each time we go away she desperately misses our canine Chile.