It is a 3-hour drive from Cape Town to Cape Agulhas, the southern tip of Africa where the two oceans meet. This makes it a terrible rush to drive there and back in a day, repeating the same route, and missing many other treasures along the way.

This tour follows a loop, taking in a fantastic variety of scenery and nature, showing you some of the best of the countryside beyond a day-trip distance of Cape Town, most of it not covered by any other tours on this website.

Depart Cape Town and travel east on the N1, leading to the tunnel through (or the mountain pass over) the towering Du Toit’s Kloof Mountains, to Worcester in the heart of the Breede River wine region. Continue through the Robertson wine valley along the beautiful Breede River. In summer this road is lined with flowering jacaranda trees, cannas and bougainvillaea. Some of the greatest wine estates beyond the well-known Stellenbosch / Franschhoek / Paarl triangle (easily visited in a day trip from Cape Town) are found here, each offering something special – if not for a wine tasting, they are perfect for a tea or coffee break. The Langeberg Mountains lead us to South Africa’s 3rd oldest town, Swellendam, at the foot of its slopes, with several good lunch options in picturesque settings.

South of Swellendam, enter the rolling wheat fields of the Overberg region en route to the beautiful De Hoop Nature Reserve famous for its magnificent sand dunes. Abundant wildlife such as Cape mountain zebra, bontebok, eland, ostrich, baboons and other species can easily be seen as we make our way to our accommodation in the reserve.

Spend the morning exploring De Hoop Nature Reserve by taking a leisurely drive to view the wildlife and then heading down to the sand dunes. Adjacent to the dunes is an extensive limestone shelf where rock pools abound with colourful marine life. In summer, a swim in the Indian Ocean is a treat, while in spring, De Hoop is known as a whale nursery where mother and calf pairs of southern right whales spend time nursing.

Depart De Hoop and drive through pretty farm land with wheat and other grains, sheep, cows and ostriches, and through the town of Bredasdorp which has a shipwreck museum displaying stories and artefacts from these sometimes wild seas.

Continue to the fishing village of Arniston, also known locally by its Afrikaan name, Waenhuiskrans (the cliffs of the wagon house!) Besides its hotel and many other holiday accommodation options, it is known for its untouched white beaches, turquoise waters, historic fishermen’s cottages in the vernacular style, and cave.

Take a short drive from the village and then a walk to reach Arniston Cave, open in front to the powerful waves washing over a rocky ledge.

It’s just a short drive from Arniston to Cape Agulhas, but shortly before arriving, stop at Struisbaai (Ostrich Bay) to have a stroll along the pier at the colourful fishing harbour, and perhaps a walk or a swim at the beach whose fine white sand stretches as far as the eye can see.

Cape Agulhas marks the southern tip of Africa and the meeting point of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans. Explore the lighthouse which rises from these bleak coastal plains and rocks, surveying this remote end of the world. It houses exhibits about lighthouses of the world, as well as the local region, and you can climb the steps to the top to enjoy the wonderful view. If you are there at the right time, the southernmost fish and chips shop in Africa serves a mean lunch! Then of course you have to do the tourist thing and have your photo taken at the monument marking the southernmost tip, with one foot in each ocean!

Continue west, choosing one of several routes back to Cape Town. The most direct way leads from Bredasdorp, through the pretty village of Napier and the rolling wheat fields of the Overberg, to Caledon. Here it joins the N2 highway which traverses a plateau stretched between two mountain passes, with orchards, vineyards and forest along the way. The road then drops down steeply to the Cape Flats on its way back to Cape Town.

Alternatively, visit the quaint village of Elim, or head straight to Stanford en route to the whale watching centre of Hermanus, from where there are once again two options to return to Cape Town, the longer way following the Whale Coast with several other optional attractions if time allows, and the other returning via the two mountain passes mentioned above.

Price: R5 600 (South African Rand) for up to 3 passengers, and R6 150 for 4 to 7 passengers, per day, for guiding services, vehicle and fuel, excluding accommodation, activities and meals.

If you are interested in doing this tour, let me know, we can then discuss your accommodation and activity preferences, and I will work out the full price.

To inquire about or book this or any other tours, please click here.