Named the ‘best place in the world to visit’ by the New York Times, Cape Town offers spectacular adventures in nature and culture. I experienced my 2-day Cape Town itinerary highlights as life-changing at Table Mountain, Boulders Penguin Colony, Cape Point and Chapman’s Peak Drive. So, read on to discover this itinerary and why you should visit Cape Town.
Like many places, the shoulder season is the best time to visit for milder weather and less crowds. South Africa’s spring and fall months are October to December and April to June. I was in South Africa during the end of November and found it perfect.
About Cape Town
Located on Table Bay, Cape Town is the legislative capital of South Africa. The city is known for its harbor and dramatic landmarks, that encircle the urban city bowl. For instance, looking at Table Mountain from left to right, you see Devil’s Peak, Table Mountain, Lion’s Head and Signal Hill. Much of the suburbs lie in the Cape Flats. To the south is the Cape Peninsula, a scenic mountain range that spreads 40 km ending at Cape Point. The Table Mountain National Park lies within the metropolitan area with more than 4 million people. Cape Town’s climate is Mediterranean with dry, warm summers and mild, moderately wet winters.
Cape Town was established in 1652 as a supply station for the Dutch ships sailing to East Africa. Later, in the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1814, the Dutch ceded Cape Town to United Kingdom. In 1910 Great Britain established the Union of South Africa, that later became the Republic of South Africa. Many leaders of the anti-Apartheid movement are from Cape Town. In Table Bay the prison on Robben Island is where famous political leaders served, such as, Nelson Mandela for 18 of his 27 years. After released, Mandela made his first speech from Cape Town City Hall.
Cape Floral Kingdom
Ok, plant geeks, you will love this! South Africa is the only country with its own plant kingdom. The Cape Floral Kingdom is the smallest of the 6 recognized in the world, but the richest. In a relatively small area, researchers identified 8,500 species. Cape Peninsula National Park beautifully showcases this diversity. Moreover, it’s been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The national flower is the yellow King Protea.
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Two-Day Cape Town Itinerary Highlights
Table Mountain, Penguins, Cape Point & Chapman’s Peak Drive
My first day I went to the iconic Table Mountain during the morning and early afternoon. Then, I spent the late afternoon and evening in Cape Town’s V & A Waterfront.
Day 1: Table Mountain
You need a minimum half-day to experience this landmark. Standing over 1,000 m high with a flat top, Table Mountain is unique. It is a symbol of Cape Town, overlooking the city and Table Bay. Table Mountain recently was named 1 of the 7 World’s New Wonders of Nature. There are hiking trails to the top of Table Mountain. The aerial cableway offers panoramic views rotating 360-degrees to the table top. The queue is usually long, especially on weekends and high season. So, it’s best to purchase tickets online. I purchased an onsite express ticket for $50 to skip the line.
Once you are at the top, there are numerous trails with stunning views of the city, Table Bay and Cape Peninsula. The views are breath-taking, plus you can safely stand somewhat close to the edge. Also, on the top is a restaurant/bar and souvenir shop. A trail goes to the highest point, Maclear’s Beacon, taking about 45-minutes each way.
V & A Waterfront
I spent my later afternoon and evening at the V & A Waterfront on my own improvised walking tour. I enjoyed the shopping and dinner. Grand Africa Café is a nice restaurant, especially if you crave good food along with refreshing ocean views. On the waterfront, there are numerous activities to choose from:
Two Oceans Aquarium
Historic Walking Tour
V & A Food Market
Harbor Cruise to Robben Island
Helicopter Tour
Day 2: Cape Peninsula Drive
From Cape Town, my driver headed southeast toward the False Bay coast. We stopped first at Muizenberg and then St. James. Continuing south, we stopped at Boulders Penguin Colony. Then, we continued to Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve. This drive is very picturesque with a wide diversity of flora and fauna. Finally, we reached the dramatic Cape Point and Cape of Good Hope. Lastly, we headed back north along the western coast of the cape for the incredible Chapman’s Peak Drive.
Muizenberg Beach
Cape Town Itinerary Highlights
Heading southeast along the False Bay, Muizenberg Beach was our first stop. This is a gorgeous beach also called “Surfer’s Corner,” as a popular surfing spot near Cape Town. Also, it’s known for the brightly colored huts on the beach.
St. Johns Beaches
A littler further south than Muizenberg is the Port of St. Johns. This area is also known for its vibrantly painted huts on the beach. I observed incredible sheltered tide pools that are fun to explore. The shallow area around the tide pools is safe. However, be aware that First and Second Beaches at St. Johns have the most shark attack fatalities in the world.
Boulders Penguin Colony
Between Simon’s Town and Cape Point, the amazing Boulders Penguin Colony thrives on the gorgeous Boulders Beach. The area is sheltered by large boulders more than 540 million years old on the teal waters of False Bay. There are about 2,200 South African Penguins in this colony. The entrance fee is $10. I took the boardwalk to Boulders Beach, observing the penguins from the boardwalk. Afterwards, I realized that Foxy Beach is another great location for viewing penguins.
Learn from my mistake, I suggest going to both Boulders and Foxy Beaches. The boardwalk to Foxy Beach leads visitors to the birds off the boardwalk.
The best time to see the penguins is in the late afternoon, because they feed in the morning. Furthermore, the best time of year to see them is November to August. The penguin breeding season is February to August, and they molt in December.
Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point Lighthouse
This area is one of my favorite places on the planet. After reaching the parking lot, the famous Cape Point sign greets you, showing the latitude and longitude. Continuing on, the views showcase 3 promontories: Cape Point, Cape of Good Hope and Cape Maclear. At the Cape of Good Hope, 2 major ocean currents converge: the cold Benguela along the west coast and the warm Agulhas on the East Coast.
Getting to them takes either a hike up a steep hill and stairs or riding a funicular. There are numerous scenic trails and viewpoints as you get closer to the southernmost Cape Point Lighthouse. At one viewpoint, you can see all three of the capes at once, steeply looming up to 200 m over the massive vortexes of blue-green waters crashing against the rocks. Getting to the Cape Point Lighthouse is well worth the climb.
Visitors need a minimum of half-day here, but a full day is more ideal. There is a visitor center, curio shop and even the Two Oceans Restaurant with awesome views. Also, this area is wonderful for whale-viewing, especially the southern right whale and humpback from June to November.
Chapman’s Peak Drive
Cape Town Itinerary Highlights
Heading back north toward Cape Town, we headed for Chapman’s Peak Drive. This precipitous drive follows the west side of the Cape Peninsula between Noordhoek and Hout Bay. The road hugs the vertiginous cliffs falling sharply into the Atlantic Ocean. There are many great places to pull over safely with viewpoints. However, this road is unpredictable. It’s smart to check ahead to be sure it’s open beforehand. At times the road closes from falling rocks from the vertical cliffs above. Also, there is a toll bridge that is slow in getting cars through.
Enjoy Cape Town!
South Africa is one of my favorite countries in the world. Cape Town is such an incredible way to experience the culture and nature of this unique part of the world. Overall, I’m thrilled with my itinerary and would do it all over again with only 2 days. So, I can’t recommend it enough. If you have suggestions or tips on how best to enjoy Cape Town, please leave comments below.
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