What to do and see in Cape Town, Western Cape: The Best Nature & Wildlife Areas

March 29, 2022 Franklyn Hardiman

From flat-topped Table Mountain down to the blue waters of Table Bay, Cape Town is simply stunning, but the city doesn't thrive by its looks alone. Proudly multicultural, its flourishing arts, dining, and nightlife scenes are proof of this modern metropolis' creativity and innovative spirit.
Restaurants in Cape Town

1. Baboon Matters

Kommetjie South Africa +27 21 785 7493
Excellent
75%
Good
25%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 4 reviews

Baboon Matters

2. Constantia Valley

Constantia 7806 South Africa +27 76 742 5366 [email protected] http://www.constantiavalley.com
Excellent
84%
Good
16%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 129 reviews

Constantia Valley

The Constantia Valley has an appeal that offers something of interest to everyone, from award winning restaurants offering, luxurious boutique hotel accommodation with spa’s as well as quant B&B’s. There are beautiful greenbelts to walk on, shops to explore, a brilliant zip lining adventure, mountain biking, horse riding, unique shops and a wine farms.

Reviewed By atholc142 - Cape Town, South Africa

We recommend you take a trip to some of the wine estates great wine tasting great service & the best wines in South Africa

3. Platteklip Gorge

Table Mountain National Park, Tafelberg Rd, Gardens, Cape Town, 8001, Table Mountain National Park 8001 South Africa +27 81 762 5551 [email protected] http://www.hikecapetown.net/tours/platteklip-gorge
Excellent
81%
Good
16%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 235 reviews

Platteklip Gorge

Platteklip Gorge is a national park trail of Table Mountain. The route that takes you the most directly up to the Cableway. Learn more about the various routes of Platteklip Gorge hike which takes place on Table Mountain tours and visit our website.

Reviewed By kt577 - Brooklyn, United States

This hike is awesome, but is sold as the ‘easiest’ hike on Table Mountain, and maybe that’s true but it’s definitely not easy. Start early, sunrise or shortly after - if it’s a sunny / hot day you are in direct sun the entire hike without really any shade coverage. Bring 1 liter of water / person then fill up your bottle or buy more at the top. Eat before or bring snacks .... there’s also food at the top. This is a strenuous hike, a constant uphill and not suitable for children or the elderly. This took us about 4 hours including an hour spent at the top; and we are two people in our 30s who are very active.

4. Cecilia Forest

Rhodes Drive, Constantia 7824 South Africa http://www.sa-venues.com/attractionswc/cecilia-forest.php
Excellent
80%
Good
20%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 5 reviews

Cecilia Forest

Reviewed By BrendaJB - Constantia, South Africa

Great place to hike with friends and dogs. Quite busy over weekends. Plenty of parking available. Highly recommended - magical views at top of track.

5. Helderberg Nature Reserve

Verster Avenue, Somerset West 7130 South Africa +27 21 444 9744 [email protected] http://www.capetown.gov.za/naturereserves
Excellent
59%
Good
32%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 336 reviews

Helderberg Nature Reserve

Hiking, camping and bird watching are the top attractions in this majestic wildlife sanctuary nestled on the lower slopes of Helderberg Mountain. O

Reviewed By trevawalsh - Rustenburg, South Africa

I did a trail run/hike up to the top of West Peak. The bottom trails of Helderberg are well marked and utilized, however the upper trails are not as well maintained and require you to be very careful. It is well worth it for the view at the top of the mountain though! It felt safe in terms of security and the facilites at the entrance were good.

6. Signal Hill

Cape Town Central 8001 South Africa +27 80 000 4424 http://www.sanparks.org/parks/table_mountain/tourism/attractions.php#signalhill
Excellent
59%
Good
33%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 3,856 reviews

Signal Hill

Signal Hill is so named because it was a site for flying flags to communicate weather conditions, thus providing opportune vistas of spectacular views.

Reviewed By craiglS6762DT

Staying in Cape Town, there are a few hikes and signal hill is a must, it's not hard at all. I started the hike at the Noon Gun, from there walk up to Signal Hill and watch the paraguilding, there are a few shops that sell water and ice creams as well. From there you have two choices hike back to Noon Gun or hike towards Lions Head and Table Mountain, just depends where you have your car parked. I took the bus so I continued on towards Lions Head and got the bus from there.

7. Boulders Beach Penguin Colony

Simon's Town 7995 South Africa +27 21 786 2329 [email protected] http://www.capepointroute.co.za/moreinfoOther.php?aID=110
Excellent
59%
Good
30%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
2%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 8,291 reviews

Boulders Beach Penguin Colony

The sheltered inlet of Boulders Beach is located in the Cape peninsula near Simon's Town. Here exists a protected colony of African penguins which can be viewed in their natural habitat via wooden walkways. There is also an excellent beach for swimming nearby.

Reviewed By NazleeM_13 - Haverhill, United Kingdom

This protected beach is one of the main tourist attraction in Cape Town. A few minutes walk from the main Simon’s Town, you can watch and take photo of these cute creatures in their natural habitat. In a windy day, the beach sands can be very uncomfortable to your eyes and hair though!

8. Cape of Good Hope

Cape Point Rd, Table Mountain National Park 8001 South Africa +27 21 780 9526 [email protected] https://www.sanparks.org/parks/table_mountain/tourism/attractions.php#goodhope
Excellent
72%
Good
23%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 6,894 reviews

Cape of Good Hope

Reviewed By GillM434 - Poole, United Kingdom

We hired a car to drive down to Cape Point ourselves, so that we could stop off whenever we saw something interesting. This was a good move but the exorbitant price of entry into the Cape National Park as a tourist came as a shock. Not sure it's a good message to send to visitors -you have to pay three times what a South African pays to visit this natural site of beauty. Anyway, Cape of Good Hope is awesome. The road is not particularly well signposted so watch out for it, on the right. It leads along the most spectacular bay called Dias Bay with white white sand and crashing surf and then there is the craggy Cape, the most south westerly point of the African continent. Breath taking. If you go back to the main road and continue to Cape Point it's much more touristy but still worth the views and the baboons which frequent the car park.

9. Intaka Island

Cape Town Central South Africa +27 21 552 6889 http://www.intaka.co.za/
Excellent
54%
Good
29%
Satisfactory
10%
Poor
4%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 68 reviews

Intaka Island

Reviewed By JanineG37 - Cape Town Central, South Africa

A relaxing outing experience so up-close and personal with nature. One is able to appreciate the value that this gorgeous little island adds to the preserving the life of its inhabitants! Superb photo opportunities, a wealth of knowledge shared by the guides, a gentle walk around the island as well as a little boat ride make for a wonderful family outing!

10. SANCCOB Seabird Rehabilitation Centre

22 Pentz Drive, Table View 7441 South Africa +27 21 557 6155 http://www.sanccob.co.za
Excellent
78%
Good
16%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
2%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 49 reviews

SANCCOB Seabird Rehabilitation Centre

Reviewed By AndiCoetzee

We visited SANCCOB yesterday and had the most fantastic tour with Alex. We adopted two African Penguins for Christmas and got to see them swimming and feeding amongst all the other penguins ... we even got to see a little chick being hand fed. What a memorable experience! We will definitely visit again and support SANCCOB - they truly do amazing work! Thank you again Alex and the Team!

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