7 Incredible Day Trips from Cape Town

By Ellen – (Updated Mar 2023)

⏱ 3 min

The last post we did on Cape Town was about what to do in and around Cape Town. This post will focus on some incredible day trips from Cape Town, which you don’t want to miss! If it’s going to be your first time visiting Cape Town and the surrounding region, I suggest you first read our other post as it also contains helpful information on things to know before you visit.

Without further ado, let’s jump into some of the best day trips from Cape Town!

World Heritage Site Robben Island – a MUST day trip from Cape Town

Robben Island is one of the most impactful places I have visited. It is at the top of my list for recommendations in Cape Town. The island has a long history, but it is most famous for the imprisoning of thousands of political prisoners who were considered the most dangerous and feared, during the apartheid era.

Nelson Mandela spent 18 years in prison on Robben Island, living out his days in a 2×2 meter cell and carrying out harsh labor. Visiting is an eye-opening experience and provides insight into the dark times that have shaped South Africa to be the country it is today.

For more information, like how to get there, read the full post on visiting Robben Island:

Wild Penguins 🐧 at the Boulders Beach Penguin Colony in Simon’s Town

I had a fascination with penguins ever since I was young. I was thrilled to be able to see them in the wild for my first time ever, at the Boulders Beach Penguin Colony. It’s a not-miss place to visit and worth the conservation fee of R65!

Boulders Beach is home to a colony of African penguins, and it is the only place in the world where you can get this close to them. There is a wheelchair-friendly boardwalk along the beach, where you can get close-up views of these adorable penguins. Boulders Beach is now a part of the Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area, offering the endangered penguins a bit of protection. People also come to swim at Boulders Beach, and you may encounter a penguin in the water! Due to the conservation fee, the beach doesn’t get crowded.

How to Get There

• If you are staying in Cape Town and have a car, it’s just about 50 minutes by car
• You can also use an Uber (I did this once)
• Via Train from Cape Town Station to Simon’s Town. Once in Simon’s Town you can either walk through town (about 30 min), or catch a taxi
• The City Sightseeing’s Cape Point Explorer stops at Boulders on its way to Cape Point
• Some hotels and tour operators offer round-trip transfers from the Cape Town CBD

Things to Remember

• Please don’t feed, touch, or get to close to the penguins. They’re still wild animals!
• Alcohol and smoking prohibited
• No vessels allowed – includes kayaks
• It is no-take zone – do not take anything from the land/water

Learn History through Local Experiences with Indigenous People

When you travel do you enjoy learning about the history of the place from locals? We certainly do.

I was lucky to be traveling with a group of people who had organised a special curated experience. We spent the day in the Western Cape with a local who was from the Khoisan, the first inhabitants of southern Africa. The Khoisan were hunger-gatherers, and nomadic farmers who lived off the land. Archaeologists estimate that they were living in southern Africa for more than 2,000 years, long before settlers arrived on their shores. Even though they were the country’s first people, they are often neglected and forgotten by modern-day South Africa. Their culture and ways of life are disappearing.

We had a lovely afternoon scavenging the shallow waters of Pringle Bay for periwinkle snails. Afterward, we prepared them into burgers and had ourselves a braai (South Africa’s version of a BBQ). Turns out, our local guide was also a Braai Master! Braai culture is big for locals – it’s a social gathering, and it’s only a legit braai when the food is cooked over coals (not a gas grill). The snail burger reminded me of a shrimp burger and it was delicious!

I believe in the importance of learning about the history and people of the country you’re visiting. I challenge you to go deeper while you travel and seek out unique experiences.

Go Wine Tasting in the Cape Winelands 🍷

For wine lovers, one of the day trips from Cape Town you don’t want to miss is a trip to the Cape Winelands for tastings! The Cape Winelands consist of some of the most famous South African wine valleys, including Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. There are plenty of wine tour operators or if you have a car you can go on your own, as long as you have a designated driver of course! We visited 4 wine farms, all unique but equally set in a stunning location.

• Babylonstoren: one of the oldest Cape Duth farms with logely grounds where they produce wine, olive oil, and tea. Hydrate with the refreshing iced tea and try the savory fresh biscuits!
• Vrede en Lust: family-owned wine farm dating back to 1688 offering award-winning boutique wines. Panoramic views of the Simonsberg Paarl mountains
• Boschendal: unique for its offering of picnics on their beautiful grounds – grab a bottle of wine and a basket with a delicious array of seasonal an ethnically sourced ingredients and artisanal goods!
• Tokara: sat on the southern slopes of the Simonsberg mountain, the floor to ceiling windows offer fantastic views while you taste the fabulous wines. In addition to award-winning wines, it offers brandy, olive oils, an art gallery, and a restaurant.

Get Close to Cheetahs at the Ashia Cheetah Conservation

This was one of the most unique animal encounters I have ever had. About 45 minutes outside of Cape Town is the Ashia Cheetah Conservation.

Founded in 2016 to help to prevent the further decline of the species, Ashia is successfully reintroducing carefully chosen cheetah to game reserves and national parks in southern Africa. 

https://www.ashia.co.za/

They offer day visits and also have an onsite café and boutique. You can spend time with the volunteers who will take you through the grounds and share information about their conservation efforts, and about the cheetahs 🐆 themselves. Afterward, you can reflect and relax on your encounter with these majestic wild animals with a cool beverage or coffee at the café.

✨See Day Tours at Ashia Cheetah Conservation

Visit the Market and Seals in Hout Bay

Hout Bay is just over 20 minutes outside of Cape Town and is visited by locals and tourists alike. One of the biggest attractions are the seals in the bay. You probably will see some hanging around the bay, but you can also take a boat out to Duiker Island, which is home to a large seal colony. If you are adventurous, there are even tours that you can go on and snorkel with the seals! Other reasons people visit Hout Bay are the beach, and the famous vibrant artisanal market.

Adrenaline Rush with Shark Cage Diving 🦈

If you’re looking for an adrenaline rush and have always wanted to see Great White Sharks up close, then look no further. Estimates have ranged from 500-900 Great White Sharks on South Africa’s coast, but the populations have been declining over the years. Nevertheless, Shark Cage Diving is still a big tourist attraction. I purchased tickets for a tour, but unfortunately fell ill the day before and wasn’t able to go. There’s a number of tour operators you can research and choose from.

Hopefully, this list gave you some ideas of day trips to take from Cape Town. South Africa is a beautiful and history-rich country. If you’re visiting, you definitely want to be sure to explore and not just stay in one place!