A Day Trip to the Cape Peninsula: Follow the Light

An endangered African penguin shelters under one of the many boulders at Boulders Beach on the Cape Peninsula

When we travel, we often rent a car for the road trip portion, then turn it in once we reach a major city. From there, we usually stick to public transport—easy, cheap, and no need to worry about parking.

But after driving the Garden Route and rolling back into Cape Town, we decided to hang on to the rental. There was just too much to see in the surrounding areas, and Cape Town’s public transportation system isn’t exactly a shining example of urban mobility.

So we kept the car. And that meant we could head out on our own, free to wander, for a day trip down the Cape Peninsula.

The Cape Peninsula: Where Oceans Collide and Empires Once Dreamed

The Cape Peninsula juts out from the southern tip of Africa like a finger pointing toward legend. It’s a place where continents seem to fold into themselves—where two oceans churn and clash, and where nature and human history have left layer upon dramatic layer.

Geographically, the peninsula stretches from Cape Town down to Cape Point, forming a rugged spine of stone capped by the Table Mountain range, including Lion’s Head, Signal Hill, and the famous flat-topped icon itself. On either side, the Atlantic and Indian Oceans wage their endless, salty tug-of-war (technically, they mix east of the Cape, but Cape Point steals the dramatic credit).

The coastlines couldn’t be more different. On the western side, you get Chapman’s Peak Drive, a winding masterpiece of cliff-hugging asphalt with drop-offs that will make you involuntarily clench. This side is dramatic, wild, and often pounded by surf. The eastern side, by contrast, offers calm bays and soft beaches—places like Simon’s Town and Boulders Beach, where endangered African penguins shuffle between granite boulders and sunbathe like tiny, tuxedoed tourists.

Historically, the Cape Peninsula was both a dream and a deathtrap for early explorers. Portuguese navigators like Bartolomeu Dias and Vasco da Gama rounded this point in the late 15th century, hoping for a sea route to India. The Dutch East India Company later set up a refreshment station here in the 1600s, laying the groundwork for Cape Town and centuries of colonial intrigue, conflict, and cultural layering.

Today, it’s a feast of natural and human history. There’s Cape Point, with its iconic lighthouse and panoramic views. There’s Table Mountain, rising like a divine stage. There are botanical gardens at Kirstenbosch, shipwrecks off Kommetjie, and fish-and-chips joints in Hout Bay that’ll make you forget how cold the water is. (Spoiler: very.)

It’s the kind of place where you can hike along cliffs at sunrise, watch penguins nap by noon, and stand at the edge of the world by sunset. The Cape Peninsula doesn’t whisper. It declares—with every crashing wave and every perfect curve of road—that you’ve come somewhere unforgettable.

This sign at Boulders Beach says it all. Other signs in the area urge visitors to check for penguins under their vehicles before leaving

Do You Need a Car to Explore the Cape Peninsula?

The short answer: no, but really yes.

You don’t absolutely need your own wheels to experience the Cape Peninsula. Public transport like the scenic train to Simon’s Town, or the Cape Point Explorer bus can get you to (or at least close to) several highlights. And there are plenty of organized day tours that hit the big-ticket stops: Cape Point, Boulders Beach and the penguins, Chapman’s Peak Drive, and maybe even a colorful beach shack or two.

But here’s the thing: what makes a day on the Cape Peninsula special isn’t just the destinations—it’s the spaces in between. It’s pulling off at an empty overlook because the light is hitting the water just right. It’s stopping for a roadside snack, watching surfers at Muizenberg, or deciding that yes, you do want to take a random detour down a gravel road just to see where it leads.

Having a car means freedom. Freedom to start early and linger late. Freedom to skip the crowds or chase them, if that's your thing. Freedom to follow your whims in one of the most stunning coastal landscapes on Earth.

So no, you don’t need a car. But if you’re the kind of traveler who likes to wander a little, a rental might just turn a good day trip into a great one.

Planning Your Day on the Cape Peninsula

While there are oodles of little places to stop—the iconic beach huts of Muizenberg and St James Beach, the lunch cafés and souvenir shops of Kalk Bay and Simon’s Town—there are two undisputed superstars along the route: the penguins of Boulders Beach (R215 adult; R105 under 12), and the dramatic cliffs and crashing waves of the Cape of Good Hope at Cape Point (R455 adults; R225 under 12).

If you’re not too picky about light or angles, you can hit the peninsula’s sights in any order. Drive down one side and back up the other—either way, the views are beautiful. But if you’re chasing the best photography conditions, you’ll want to stretch your trip into a full day (a long day), carefully following the sun.

An African penguin scratching its own belly

Start early, driving down the cape-side (eastern) coast. Catch the morning light at Muizenberg, when the colorful beach shacks glow like candy boxes. Continue through the small towns of St. James, Kalk Bay, and Fish Hoek, and if you time it right, you’ll hit Boulders Beach while the penguins are still active and happily waddling through their morning routine.

Aim to get to Cape Point by midday, when the high sun—while harsh—is at least overhead, casting fewer shadows on the rocky terrain. You’ve got to be somewhere at midday, right? You don’t have to be super lucky to get a dramatic splash of clouds across the sky that can help make the most of the generally poor time of day for photography. Try shooting for black and white.

And the dramatic landscapes here still look impressive even in full sun, and the views from the lighthouse or down on the beaches are nothing short of cinematic. Sure, it you want something worthy of framing and hanging on your wall, you will need to be here at sunrise or sunset. But short of that, this is probably the best of the peninsula’s sights to shoot at midday.

When the lighting is harsh, sometimes a B&W conversion makes for a better image. Cape of Good Hope

Now, for the photographer’s age-old dilemma: what to do in the middle of the day when the light goes flat and contrasty?

This is your moment to slow down. Grab lunch—The Lighthouse Café in Simon’s Town and Kalky’s in Kalk Bay are local favorites. Take time to wander, browse a few art galleries, or stop for "gelato." The Slangkop Lighthouse in Kommetjie or a walk through Silvermine Nature Reserve offer fewer crowds and interesting angles for nature photography or macro work—even when the light isn’t ideal.

Then, by mid to late afternoon, make your way back up the Atlantic side of the peninsula. This is where the light show begins. The coast here faces west, and if you’re lucky, the late sun will ignite the cliffs, beaches, and sea spray along Chapman’s Peak Drive in golds and oranges.

Make sure to be careful and pay attention to the road. The scenery will do its best to distract you, but this road is no joke. Stay safe.

Wrap up the day with a sunset stop at Noordhoek Beach, or, if you’re still chasing light, signal your return to Cape Town with a dusk photo from Signal Hill.

The key to a perfect day on the Cape Peninsula? Let the light lead you. Because travel can mean “go towards the light” without being ominous.

Cape of Good Hope