There are a lot of nice day journeys from Cape City for any traveler be it an adventurous traveler, a household with youngsters, or a honeymoon couple. From unbelievable mountain climbing routes to breathtaking scenic drives, from famend wine routes to various wildlife, it should by no means disappoint you simply have to decide on the proper place for you. Cape City has many unbelievable issues to do a few of the advised day journeys are positively to incorporate in your bucket record.
There are a lot of improbable espresso outlets in Cape City the place you may cease for breakfast and occasional earlier than beginning your Cape City day journey.
Easy methods to do day journeys from Cape City?
Renting a automobile is the simplest approach of doing day journeys from Cape City. For those who’re multiple particular person renting a automobile will work out cheaper than doing day excursions. One of the best ways is to hire a automobile at Cape City airport on arrival then you may drop it off if you fly out. You don’t want an enormous 4×4 automobile to do day journeys round Cape City a small automobile might be tremendous.
For those who’re alone becoming a member of a day tour to go to some points of interest exterior Cape City is likely to be a greater possibility than renting a automobile. On a tour, there might be somebody to speak to and take pictures of you. There are a lot of completely different day excursions to probably the most attention-grabbing sights close to Cape City.
A few of the hottest day excursions from Cape City
The 11 finest day journeys from Cape City
We lived in Cape City for a few years and extensively explored the town and its environment. Beneath yow will discover some day journey concepts and distinctive experiences that may enrich your South Africa vacation.
Stellenbosch
Distance from Cape City (a method) – 50 km/31 mi
Driving time (a method) – 45min – 1 hour
When to go to – in the summertime months (December and January) Monday to Friday if you wish to skip weekend crowds. Saturdays and Sundays if you wish to go to native meals markets.
Common price – ZAR 75/US$5 per tasting (3-5 wines)
May be mixed with a day journey to Franschhoek
Go to Stellenbosch with a tour
It’s one in all our favourite day journeys from Cape City. Western Cape and Stellenbosch specifically are generally known as the highest wine areas in South Africa. With greater than 150 farms, it’s troublesome to beat it by the quantity or by the standard of wines. If some wine route like Franschhoek, for my part, is extra of a romantic/special day factor, wine tasting in Stellenbosch is nice for anyone; households, a bunch of associates, or perhaps a single traveler. You simply have to search out the proper wine farms for you.
For those who don’t wish to drive your self you may be a part of one of many wine-tasting excursions from Cape City that embrace decide up and drop off at your resort/home. Another choice is to make use of hop-on-hop-off wine buses that depart from Stellenbosch. You may select one of many three routes: the Northern Route Wine route, the Southern Route Wine route, or the Japanese Route Wine route.
In addition to wine tasting, there are numerous different actions round Stellenbosch from mountain climbing in Jonkershoek Nature Reserve and mountain biking one of many trails to off-road driving, visiting the historic museum, and having fun with an exquisite sculpture backyard.
Jonkershoek Nature Reserve is a surprising place close to Stellenbosch even the drive there may be stunning. Mountain climbing right here is one in all our favourite issues to do in Stellenbosch. There are a number of mountain climbing routes contained in the reserve from brief and simple walks appropriate for the entire household to lengthy and difficult trails for comparatively match individuals.
Franschhoek
Distance from Cape City (a method) – 80 km/50 mi
Driving time (a method) – 1h10min.
Finest time to go to – Monday to Saturday, some wine farms and eating places are closed on Sundays. For those who come on Saturday you may go to the native meals market within the city.
Common price – ZAR 75/US$5 per tasting (3-5 wines).
May be mixed with a day journey to Stellenbosch
Go to Franschhoek with a tour
Franschhoek Valley is my favourite place to come back for wine tasting. Because the first time my husband introduced me right here, I fell in love with this charming city and its picturesque environment. Franschhoek is a superb place to come back for a romantic weekend getaway from Cape City. Right here yow will discover all you want for an ideal weekend – nice wine, scrumptious meals, and gorgeous surroundings. We at all times have a good time our wedding ceremony anniversary and Valentine’s Day right here.
You may drive to Franschhoek your self, be a part of a wine tour from Cape City, or discover the realm using a hop-on-hop-off wine tram. A giant benefit of the final two choices is that you simply don’t have to fret about consuming and driving you may check as many wines as you need. Franschhoek wine tram is a singular approach of doing wine tasting. The tram route begins within the city. There are 8 completely different routes every goes to 5-7 wine farms the place you may get off the tram, style wine, and have lunch.
You may drive to Franschhoek your self and get on the tram there or take a tour from Cape City that features a return shuttle to your resort and a tram ticket.
Wine tasting is just not the one exercise there are numerous different issues to do in Franschhoek that might be attention-grabbing for the entire household. You may drive over the Franschhoek Cross, go on a brief hike in Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve, go to the Motor Museum with an incredible assortment of previous automobiles, discover ways to make chocolate, and plenty of different attention-grabbing issues.
Boulders Seaside, Simon’s City
Distance from Cape City (a method) – 40 km/24 mi
Finest time to come back – between December and February there are numerous vacationers at Boulders, particularly over the weekends, make certain to come back right here early.
Opening hours – winter (April – September) from 8am to 5pm, summer season (October – November and February – March) from 8am to six.30pm, the height season (December and January) from 8am to 7.30pm.
Admission payment – foreigners ZAR 176/US$9 adults, ZAR 88/US$4 youngsters, South Africans ZAR 44/US$2 adults, ZAR 22/US$1 youngsters.
May be mixed with a day journey to Cape Level and Muizenberg
Go to Boulders Seaside with a tour
Boulders Seaside is without doubt one of the not-to-miss locations in Cape City. It’s an ideal day journey from Cape City. This stunning white sand seaside is surrounded by huge boulders with many cute African penguins strolling round. Boulders Seaside is a must-include in your Cape City itinerary in the event you journey with youngsters they’ll get pleasure from it rather a lot. You may go for a swim right here in the event you’re not afraid of chilly water. A go to to this seaside may be carried out as part of a day street journey from Cape City across the Cape Peninsula. For those who don’t really feel like driving your self you may be a part of a half-day tour from Cape City to Boulders Seaside.
Cape Peninsula
Distance from Cape City (a method, alongside the coast) – 79 km/49 mi
Driving time (a method) – 1h45min.
Finest time to go to – November to April, it will get very windy in summer season. In December and January on weekends the park may be very busy, you may need to attend on the gate for some time.
Opening hours (Cape of Good Hope) – April – September from 7am to 5pm, October – March from 6am to 6pm
Admission payment (Cape of Good Hope) – foreigners ZAR 376/US$20 adults, ZAR 188/US$10 youngsters, South Africans ZAR 94 adults, ZAR 47 youngsters.
May be mixed with a day journey to Boulders Seaside and Muizenberg
Go to Cape Peninsula with a tour
The drive across the Cape Peninsula is one in all our favourite drives in South Africa. It’s an incredible day journey from Cape City. The surroundings is superb and there are numerous stunning locations to cease alongside the route. Begin your day journey with the dawn at Camps Bay. This journey may be carried out with a tour from Cape City that may take you to the primary highlights of the route.
The well-known Chapman’s Peak Drive is probably the most stunning a part of the scenic drive. It’s a 9 km drive between Hout Bay and Noordhoek. There are a few viewpoints alongside the drive the place you may cease for pictures. It’s a toll street, so that you’ll must pay ZAR 61/US$3 per automobile. At Hout Bay harbour you may spot cape fur seals within the water looking for leftovers from fishermen’s boats.
Cape Level Nature Reserve is a spectacular place. It provides a few of the finest surroundings in Cape City, and it’s a bucket record place to incorporate in your Cape City itinerary. One can simply spend the entire day right here exploring the realm. There are a number of not-to-miss points of interest right here resembling Dias Seaside, a white-sand seaside surrounded by the cliffs, New Lighthouse, Cape of Good Hope, Flying Dutch funicular, and several other tide swimming pools and viewpoints.
Mountain climbing round Cape Level you will have possibilities to see some wild animals resembling mongooses, zebras, ostriches, porcupines, tortoises, chameleons, and many others. My recommendation is you probably have time after visiting the primary a part of the park drive away to quieter areas your probabilities of seeing wildlife there are a lot increased.
There are a number of day excursions from Cape City to Cape Level. For those who’re into pictures you would possibly get pleasure from the Cape Level Instagram tour. For out of doors lovers, there’s a nice various to sitting within the automobile – discover Cape Level on an electrical bike tour.
Muizenberg
Distance from Cape City (a method) – 25 km/15,5 mi
Driving time (a method) – 30-40 minutes relying on the visitors
Finest time to go to – November to April, it will get very windy within the peak summer season. In December and January on weekends the park may be very busy, you may need to attend on the gate for some time.
May be mixed with a day journey to Boulders Seaside, Cape Level, and Constantia
Muizenberg actions
Muizenberg is a well-liked browsing spot in Cape City. In the course of the season you may see a whole bunch of surfers within the water. There are a few surf faculties and board rental locations within the city. It’s an incredible spot for a browsing day journey from the town. Muizenberg Seaside is an exquisite white-sand seaside good for tanning. Colourful wood huts on the seaside are one of the common picture spots in Cape City.
Constantia
Distance from Cape City (a method) – 18 km/11 mi
Driving time – 20-30 min. relying on the visitors
Finest time to go to – Monday to Thursday if you wish to skip the crowds
Common price – ZAR 75-100/US$5 for tasting as much as 5 wines
May be mixed with a day journey to Muizenberg
Go to Constantia with a tour
Constantia wine route is the closest to Cape City place for wine tasting. It’s an incredible possibility to come back and take a look at a few of the finest wine inside a brief drive from Cape City. The Constantia Valley is a surprising place with stunning surroundings and a few of the oldest wine estates within the nation. There are 9 wine farms in Constantia, which means you may simply go to half of them in at some point. You may drive your self or be a part of a non-public wine tour that features resort pick-up and drop-off. For those who’re up for an journey you are able to do a biking wine tour by way of the valley.
Groot Constantia is the one to not miss right here. It’s the oldest wine farm in South Africa and one of many oldest within the Southern Hemisphere. Klein Constantia and Constantia Glen are two extra farms I’d suggest together with in your record. Most farms within the valley do wine tasting with out prior association. You may mix tasting with lunch at one of many estates, most of them have nice eating places on their premises.
You may mix wine tasting in Constantia with driving round Cape Peninsula or browsing in Muizenberg. For those who journey with youngsters earlier than or after the tasting take them to Boulder’s Seaside to see cute African penguins or do a ship tour from Hout Bay to see playful seals.
Robben Island
Distance from Cape City (a method) – 10 km/5 mi offshore
Tour period – 3h30min. together with a return ferry journey
Departure instances from V&A Waterfront – day by day 9 am, 11 am, 1 pm, and three pm (solely between 1st September and thirtieth April)
Finest time to go to – October to April
Ferry value (together with an island tour) – from ZAR 400/US$21 (South Africans), ZAR 600/US$31 (foreigners) per particular person
Go to Robben Island with a tour
Robben Island is without doubt one of the most necessary historic locations in Cape City. The island may be visited solely with a tour that features a return ferry experience and an tour. A ship tour to the island is an ideal day journey from Cape City the place you may study concerning the current historical past of the nation, get pleasure from spectacular views of the Cape Peninsula, and observe the varied marine lifetime of the area. The primary attraction of Robben Island is an ex-prison that was was a museum. Former South African president Nelson Mandela was probably the most well-known prisoner on Robben Island. He spent there 18 years.
The title of the island comes from the Dutch phrase for seals. You continue to can see them within the waters across the island. The historical past of Robben Island dates again to the sixteenth century when it was used as a stopping level for ships. after it grew to become a Dutch after which British penal colony. Within the nineteenth – the start of the twentieth century century it was was a leper colony. From the second half of the twentieth century until 1991 it was used as a most safety jail the place many political prisoners together with Nelson Mandela have been held.
Hermanus
Distance from Cape City (a method) – 120 km/74,5 mi
Driving time (a method) – 1h30min. – 2 hours relying on the visitors
Finest time to go to – July to October when Southern proper whales come right here for mating and calving.
Boat tour costs – from ZAR 1000/US$55 per particular person (together with switch from Cape City).
May be mixed with a day journey to Cape Agulhas
Go to Hermanus with a tour
It’s an ideal day journey from Cape City to see the varied marine lifetime of the area. Hermanus and Gansbaai are the very best locations in South Africa to see Southern Proper whales. Your probabilities of seeing them within the peak season are very excessive. It’s potential to see them from the shore however for an in depth encounter go on a whale-watching boat tour. If you wish to see calf whales, August and September are the very best months for whale watching in Hermanus. On a pleasant day, you may see a number of mother-calf pairs.
Exterior the Southern Proper whale season, you may see seals, nice white sharks, dolphins, penguins, and occasional Bridal whales. If you wish to see one of the well-known water predators on the planet, the good white shark you may mix a whale-watching tour with shark cage diving in Gansbaai.
There are different issues to do in Hermanus moreover whale watching. It’s an exquisite city well-known for its nice eating places the place you may strive contemporary seafood and fish and tremendous wine estates. On a day journey from Cape City to Hermanus, you may see marine animals, get pleasure from scrumptious meals, and style native wines.
On the way in which to Hermanus, you may cease at Stony Level Nature Reserve in Betty’s Bay. It’s a good spot to see African penguins. The seaside right here is just not as picturesque as Boulders Seaside in Cape City nevertheless it’s far much less touristy. Wood boardwalks take guests alongside the coast. Rocks and boulders are lined with a whole bunch of penguins. You may see them swimming, strolling throughout boardwalks, and nesting.
Aquila Sport Reserve, Worcester
Distance from Cape City (a method) – 175 km/108 mi
Driving time (a method) – 2 hours
Finest time to go to – early morning or night (after sundown) when it’s not too sizzling.
Safari costs – from ZAR 2000/US$110 per particular person together with a return switch from Cape City, a 3-hour safari drive and lunch.
May be mixed with a day journey to Stellenbosch or Franschhoek
Go to Aquila with a tour
Aquila Non-public Sport Reserve is barely a 2-hour drive from Cape City, it’s an ideal place for a safari day journey. Aquila is the closest to the Mom Metropolis safari park the place you may see the well-known African Large 5 (elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion, and leopard). In addition to the massive 5, there are numerous different animals to see right here resembling hippos, zebras, giraffes, completely different African antelopes, and extra. The reserve is very large and occupies 10,000 hectares. Safari drives listed here are 100% wild experiences with a contact of luxurious. You may mix a safari drive with stress-free at a neighborhood spa.
There are a number of methods to discover the reserve from self-drive to quad bike/horseback safaris and a helicopter fly-in. Another choice is to hitch a day tour from Cape City that features transportation out of your resort, entrance tickets, a sport drive, and lunch.
West Coast
Distance from Cape City (a method) – 124 km/77 mi
Driving time (a method) – 1h30min.
Finest time to go to is the flower season between August and September when fields alongside the route are lined in spring flowers.
Go to the West Coast with a tour
It’s one of the stunning Cape City day journeys throughout the spring. The West Coast (Namaqualand) utterly transforms in spring, often naked and dry after winter rains, the area seems to be like one huge colourful carpet. 1000’s of flowers cowl the fields alongside the coast. West Coast Nationwide Park close to Langebaan is the very best place to come back for a day journey from Cape City to see the well-known Namaqualand blossom. There are a number of brief mountain climbing trails contained in the reserve. You may spend a few hours exploring the park and taking pictures.
Admiring flowers is just not the one exercise on the West Coast. The realm is known for its contemporary seafood. The small city of Paternoster, 40 km from Langebaan is the very best place to strive it.
Cape Agulhas
Distance from Cape City (a method, alongside the coast) – 266 km/165 mi
Driving time (a method) – 3h30min.
Finest time to go to – the summer season months between November and March
May be mixed with a day journey to Hermanus
Go to Cape Agulhas with a tour
It’s one in all our favourite street journeys in Cape City. Cape Agulhas is the southernmost level of the African continent and the assembly level of the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean. Many vacationers assume it’s Cape of Good Hope close to Cape City nevertheless it’s not. A drive from the town alongside the coast to Cape Agulhas is without doubt one of the most scenic drives in Cape City with many stunning locations to cease in between.
Clearance Drive, a stretch of the coastal street between Gordons Bay and Rooiels is probably the most stunning a part of the journey. From the lookout factors alongside the street, you typically see seals, dolphins, and in the proper season even whales. There are some superb locations to eat contemporary seafood in Hermanus in addition to a few wine-tasting estates with good eating places e.g. Black Oystercatcher Wines.
On this present day journey from Cape City, you may go to Harold Porter Botanical Backyard or the penguin colony at Stony Level, do a whale-watching tour in Hermanus, or do shark-cage diving in Gansbaai. For those who determine to do a few of the talked about actions it’s important to begin driving early within the morning.
You may drive again the identical approach alongside the coast or flip inland and drive by way of Caledon and over Sir. Lowry’s Cross, the view from the highest of the move is kind of spectacular.
Locations to remain in Cape City
Cape City has many resorts, hostels, and guesthouses for any finances. My important recommendation right here is to remain at a spot close to the town heart (Lengthy Road, Bree Road), V&A Waterfront, or Inexperienced Level these are the very best areas to remain for exploring the town.
Cape City books and guidebooks
Disclosure: Stingy Nomads participate within the Amazon Companies LLC Associates Program. Whenever you purchase one thing really useful on this publish, we could get an affiliate fee — nevertheless it by no means impacts your value or what we decide.
Please observe and like us:
The beautiful half of Stingy Nomads, answerable 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 reasonably than to do a ten 000 km street journey (really any street journey). Alya is an enormous fan of Latin America, the Spanish language, and dancing. Each time we go away she desperately misses our canine Chile.