Cape Point and Cape of Good Hope

At the southern tip of the Cape Peninsula, the cliffs of Cape Point drop steeply into the Atlantic, and the Cape of Good Hope, rounded by Vasco da Gama on his voyage to India in 1497, lies just to the west. The area is part of Table Mountain National Park and is covered in fynbos, the region’s unique scrubland.

The Flying Dutchman funicular takes you most of the way up to the old lighthouse, from where the views along the coast are superb. Below, a short drive leads to the famous Cape of Good Hope sign for photographs, and you may spot ostriches, antelopes and baboons along the road.

Keep food out of sight, as the baboons are bold. A full Cape Peninsula day usually combines Cape Point with Chapman’s Peak Drive and the penguins at Boulders Beach.