Cape Town Tours and Day Trips

Whether you're looking for a horseback safari, a swim with sharks, a romantic wine tour, or a scenic tour around the Cape Peninsula, you're sure to find a variety of Cape Town tours and day trips that will fulfill the need for whatever adventure you're looking for. Although it's relatively easy to use public transportation around the city, public transportation around the rest of the cape practically doesn't exist. Consider renting a car or hiring a tour company for Cape Town day trips.

You'll have little difficulty renting a car or doing your own Cape Town tours because Cape Town has an easy navigable network of roads. And remember, if find yourself lost, simply look for a mountain; the direction opposite the mountain will be an ocean, 99% of the time. Pick up free maps and brochures at your rental car company for your excursion.

Keep in mind a few safety reminders while driving in and around Cape Town:

1. Drive on the left side of the road. It sounds simple enough, but don't forget, especially while on a windy road during one of your Cape Town day trips.

2. Don't leave any belongings in the car. If you must, hide your possessions in the boot (trunk). Thieves show no fear when it comes to smashing windows to get unattended belongings.

3. Lock all doors when driving through town or taking a Cape Town tour. There have been instances of robberies taken place while tourists sat in traffic. Take the precaution and keep your doors locked.

4. Avoid driving in remote areas after dark and always park in well-lit, designated parking spots.

5. Keep your tank full if you need to drive at night. Often, it's not only difficult, but dangerous as well, to look for gas stations at night.

If you elect to hire a tour company, you'll have many to choose from. Some good ones to go with are Legend Tourism, Day Trippers (for young individuals and adventure lovers), Hylton Ross (for Wine land Cape Town day trips and Whale Watching), African Eagle (for a variety of full and half-day Cape Town tours), and Waterfront Boat Company (for extreme adventures such as helicopter adventures, high-speed boat trips, and cruises).

Nature Tours

Cape Town tours would not be complete without a Safari. Take one of the Cape Town day trips to the Aquila Game Reserve and see all types of animals, from giraffes to lions to zebras to leopards and crocodiles. With over 140 species of birds, including the endangered black eagle, the Aquila Game Reserve is great for birdwatchers, too. The tours depart very early in the morning at 5:30 a.m. and return roughly around 4:30 p.m. Snap away with your camera and capture the wide variety of animals in a natural habitat.

A Cape Town day trip on the water is ideal for seeing whales. Consider taking a Hermanus Day Trip and whale watching tour. Prime season for whale watching tends to be from July to November, but if you're visiting out of season, you'll still enjoy a day on the water and seeing the charming town on Walker Bay. On a Hermanus tour, you'll also have the opportunity to hear a real whale crier, a man with a strange horn that lets people know of the whereabouts of the whales. Be sure to bring an extra layer and wind breakers because it can get crisp on the ocean.

Wine Tours

You'll find many Cape Town day trips and Cape Town tours of wineries. While touring the Cape land wine region, you'll tour many wine estates such as the major wine-producing areas of Paarl, Stellenbosch and Franschoek. You'll be impressed by the age of many of the old, Dutch homesteads you'll visit and the historic town of Stellenbosch, the second oldest town in South Africa and the home of the quintessential Cape Town wine region architecture. Enjoy the gorgeous scenery, the unique wines to taste, and the exquisite cuisine that this region has to offer.

Surrounding Region Tours

Considering taking one of the Cape Town tours of the Grand Cape Peninsula, the point where the Atlantic meets the pacific. This lovely day trip will surprise you with its peaceful, breathtaking scenery next to the harsh, rugged clash of the two oceans. Of the many Cape Town day trips, the Grand Cape Peninsula is one of the top must-see's! You'll also have the opportunity to see some of the surrounding attractions including the Clifton beaches, Hout Bay, Mariners Wharf, Chapman's Peak Drive, Cape Point & Nature Reserve, Penguin colony at the Boulders, Historic Simon's Town, Groot Constantia Wine Estate, and the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. At the Grand Cape Peninsula, you'll get a feel for what South Africa is all about.

There is also nothing as relaxing and beautiful as passing the time at Cape Point, a marvelous point that jets out into the ocean. On this tour, you'll have the opportunity to tour the Good Hope Nature reserve and see the penguins that frequent the area. On your return to Cape Town, see the famous small towns of Simon's Town, Fish Hoek, and the popular vacations resort of Muizenberg.

Tours within Cape Town and half-day trips

You'll enjoy the variety of Cape Town tours and half-day trips offered. The hardest part will be choosing which attractions you want to see. A favorite among many are the Cape Town tours up Table Mountain. Take in the scenic views from the rotating cable car and the magnificent bird's eye view of Cape Town from above. Some tour companies will take you on tours of Table Mountain, but you can easily do this trip without a guide.

Another great half-day tour is one to Robben Island, the famous island that housed the jail for political prisoners and freedom fighters, including Nelson Mandela. On the tour, your guide, a former political prisoner of the jail, will tell you the turbulent history of the jail that was once an asylum and women's sanctuary. Elect to take a bus tour around the island so that you can soak in the beautiful scenery around this prison. Of all of the Cape Town tours, Robben Island best exposes South Africa's tumultuous political history.