Cape Peninsula Sidecar Tour: Cape Town to Cape of Good Hope

On our first trip to Cape Town, South Africa back in 2015, Sam and I explored the Cape Peninsula on a bike tour. While it was a nice outing thanks to our upbeat guide, the weather did not cooperate and the scenery was marred by fog, rain and grey skies; so when we were planning our most recent visit to Cape Town, we knew we wanted to do a Cape Peninsula tour again.

For this day trip, we teamed up with TripAdvisor who invited us to experience their offerings. We’ve been using TripAdvisor for years, mostly on our quest for delicious food (their app is great for finding the best restaurants in the area!), but this time around, we wanted to do something a little different.

With our hearts set on experiencing the Cape Peninsula, we started browsing the options. There were private tours, bus tours, biking tours and hiking tours, but then something a bit more unusual caught our attention: a sidecar tour!

Having gotten a quick taste of the riding life on our visit to Stellenbosch earlier that week, we jumped at the idea of spending the whole day cruising the Cape Peninsula in style and hit book right away.

We booked our tour with a day’s notice, and the following morning our guide Bradley was waiting for us ready to ride. The first thing he did was ask us if there were any places we really wanted to hit up on our Cape Peninsula tour so that he could personalize the itinerary accordingly.

We chose to skip Hout Bay since we had already been there and done a boat tour to Seal Island, but we wanted to see all the highlights. With that in mind, we got into our new biker outfits, and let Bradley take the lead.

The Route

Our first stop of the day was a lookout point over Muizenberg. This is a beach-side suburb of Cape Town, best known for its colourful beach huts. While a trip to the beach was not on the itinerary, we enjoyed the views over False Bay.

From there it was just a short drive over to the Shark Spotter’s, which is another popular lookout point, named aptly so for the shark spotter who sits in a booth, carefully scanning the waters below. The spotter operates on a 4-flag system: green means spotting conditions are good, black means spotting conditions are poor, red means there is a high shark alert, and white means a shark has been spotted and everyone needs to get out of the water immediately. Talk about a stressful job!

We then continued straight towards Cape Point Nature Reserve to try and beat the crowds. This turned out to be a good move because by the time we left the reserve in the afternoon, there was a lineup of vehicles waiting to get in, all the way down to the main road!

We paid our admission fee to the park (135 Rand per person) and made a beeline straight for the Cape of Good Hope – the southwesternmost point on the African continent. It still feels a bit crazy to have made it to the ends of the Earth not once, but twice!

Sam then had a failed attempt at befriending an ostrich (much to our guide’s delight!) and after grabbing a quick lunch while scanning that no baboons snatched food off our plate (this almost sounds like a safari!), we hiked up to the lighthouse for views of Cape Point. This outcrop of land caused sailors such great torment and even gave rise to the legend of the Flying Dutchman, a ghost ship that can never make port and is doomed to sail the oceans for all eternity.

We then hopped back in the sidecar and made our way towards Simon’s Town. This little harbour town sits on the shores of False Bay and is a popular weekend destination with lots of little restaurants serving up seafood. We were there on Mother’s Day, so everything was packed!

With Boulders Beach being so close by, we couldn’t resist the opportunity to go visit the penguins again, so we did! This place gets its name from the giant granite boulders dotting the beach, but the main attraction are the curious penguins who make their home on the pristine stretch of sand.

And now for what may be my favourite part of the whole drive: Chapman’s Peak. This is a winding drive that hugs the near-vertical mountains along Hout Bay. With bright blue skies above us, turquoise waters glistening under the sun, and a wall of rock rising to our right, the setting was nothing short of idyllic.

Our last stop on the way back to town was Camps Bay, one of the most iconic neighbourhoods in all of Cape Town. Camps Bay is framed by the Twelve Apostles mountain range, and like most places along the peninsula, it’s about as postcard-perfect as it gets. We rode down Victoria Road which is lined with palm trees, seaside cafes, and on this particular day, merry crowds.

I think back to our rainy Cape Peninsula tour two years ago, and we seriously could not have asked for a better do over!

Our tour booking experience

We’ve done tours with TripAdvisor before and one of the things we most value is the quality of their product. Our guides have always been outstanding, the experiences personalized, and you either go on a private tour or with a small group. That is what keeps us coming back.

I did a lot of budget tours in my early twenties often ending up disappointed with what I paid for. However, if there’s one lesson I’ve learned in this past decade of travel, it’s that you get exactly what you paid for, and these days, I’m willing to pay a little extra for an experience I’ll truly enjoy.

When booking this activity, we made sure to read through the reviews to see what fellow travellers had to say. This particular tour company had 89 reviews on TripAdvisor and nothing but 5-star ratings, so we felt very confident in terms of what we were getting.

So would I recommend the Cape Peninsula sidecar tour?

Absolutely!

As you can probably tell from the cheesy grins on our photos, riding a sidecar was a blast. Just be prepared to wave at passersby – this ride is going to make you popular!

Have you ever ridden in a sidecar?
Would you do a Cape Peninsula sidecar tour?

This article was written in partnership with TripAdvisor, but all opinions expressed are mine alone.

Cape Peninsula Sidecar Tour Planner: Routes, Stops, Costs, and Travel Tips

Why Choose a Sidecar (Over Bus/Car/Bike)?

A sidecar tour hits the sweet spot between comfort and adventure. You still feel the elements (hello, ocean breeze!), you can stop spontaneously for viewpoints and penguins, and you don’t have to watch the road. Also, the ride-along banter with your driver-guide is half the fun.

Two Smart Route Options (And Who They’re For)

You can loop the Cape Peninsula clockwise or counterclockwise from Cape Town. Both are gorgeous; pick based on your priorities.

Option A: Sunrise East → Cape Point → Sunset West (Counterclockwise)

Best for: Beating Cape Point queues, softer morning light over False Bay, golden-hour glow on Chapman’s Peak/Camps Bay.
Route highlights: Muizenberg (colourful huts) → Kalk Bay/Simon’s Town → Boulders Beach (penguins) → Cape Point & Cape of Good Hope → Scarborough → Chapman’s Peak Drive → Hout Bay → Camps Bay → Sea Point.

Option B: West-First Wow-Factor (Clockwise)

Best for: Immediate drama on the Atlantic side and long brunches in Kalk Bay on the way back.
Route highlights: Sea Point → Camps Bay → Chapman’s Peak Drive → Noordhoek → Scarborough → Cape Point & Cape of Good Hope → Simon’s Town → Boulders Beach → Muizenberg.

Sample One-Day Itinerary (Customizable With Your Guide)

07:30–08:30 | Pickup & Gear-Up
Helmet, goggles, jacket, and the obligatory cheesy grin. Coffee stop if required by law (our law).

08:45 | Muizenberg Lookouts
Wave at the iconic beach huts and pop up to the Shark Spotter’s for sweeping views over False Bay.

09:30 | Stroll in Kalk Bay or Simon’s Town
Quick browse of antique shops in Kalk Bay or a harbor ramble in Simon’s Town. If you’re ravenous early, Olympia Café in Kalk Bay does excellent pastries.

10:15 | Boulders Beach Boardwalks (Penguins!)
Follow the boardwalks and remember the 1-meter rule. The boulders + turquoise water + flappy little tuxedos = heart explosion.

11:30–13:30 | Cape Point Nature Reserve

• Snap the classic Cape of Good Hope sign.
• Watch for ostrich, baboons, and bontebok.
• Choose your own adventure at Cape Point: hike the cliff path or take the funicular to the lighthouse.
• Picnic or quick café lunch—guard your food from baboons.

14:30 | Scarborough → Misty Cliffs
Short coastal run with wild, windswept beaches.

15:00 | Chapman’s Peak Drive
Pullouts galore. Ask your driver for their favorite photo lay-bys.

16:00 | Hout Bay (Optional)
Harbor ice-cream or a quick amble if you didn’t stop here earlier in your trip.

16:45–17:30 | Camps Bay Sundowners
Palms, cafés, ocean glitter. If timing allows, park up for a cold drink with a view.

17:45–18:15 | Drop-Off
Cue the “did that really just happen?” happy-tired face.

Two-Day Add-On Ideas (If You Want to Linger)

• Kalk Bay Slow Day: Galleries, tidal pools, bakery-hopping, vintage shopping.
• Noordhoek & Kommetjie: Horse rides on the beach, long café lunches, lighthouse strolls.
• Seal Island from Hout Bay: Short boat ride to watch the resident colony.
• Wine + Sidecar: Pair the peninsula with a Stellenbosch or Constantia wine spin on day two.

What to Wear (So You’re Comfy in the Breeze)

Layers are your best friend—even on bluebird days.

• Base: T-shirt or light long sleeve (UV-friendly if you burn easily)
• Mid: Fleece or sweater
• Outer: Windproof shell (operators often provide jackets, but a lightweight layer underneath keeps you cosy)
• Bottoms: Jeans or travel pants (avoid flimsy fabrics that flap)
• Footwear: Closed-toe shoes or sturdy sneakers
• Accessories: Sunglasses, buff/scarf for the neck, small daypack, sunscreen, lip balm

Wildlife Etiquette & Safety (Penguins, Ostriches, Baboons)

• Penguins: Keep 1 meter away; no feeding, no flash. They bite when stressed—those beaks mean business.
• Ostriches: Admire from a distance. They can kick up to 70 km/h worth of regret.
• Baboons: Never carry visible food in the reserve. Keep bags zipped. If one approaches, drop food and step back slowly—don’t fight a baboon for your sandwich.
• Shark Spotters: Green = good visibility; black = poor; red = high alert; white = shark sighted. Always follow local guidance.

Where to Eat (Tried-and-True Spots Along the Loop)

• Coffee & Pastries:
  • Olympia Café (Kalk Bay) – pastries and strong coffee
  • Bootlegger (Muizenberg/various) – consistent espresso
• Seafood & Views:
  • Harbour House (Kalk Bay) – oceanfront fish
  • Salty Sea Dog (Simon’s Town) – classic fish & chips
  • Mariner’s Wharf (Hout Bay) – casual harbor atmosphere
• Snack Stops:
  • Noordhoek Farm Village – bakeries, deli, gelato
  • Camps Bay strip – sundowners and beachy bites

Local Flavours to Try

Snoek (local fish), biltong (jerky-style), milk tart (custard pie), rooibos tea, and a koeksister (sticky syrupy pastry).

Cost & Experience Comparison

Quick-Grab Checklists

Pre-Booking Checklist

• ☐ Decide clockwise vs counterclockwise route
• ☐ Flag your “musts” (penguins, Cape Point hike, Chapmans)
• ☐ Share dietary needs with your guide (gluten-free, veg, etc.)
• ☐ Confirm what gear the operator provides (helmets, jackets, gloves)
• ☐ Ask about pickup time, duration, entrance fees/tolls
• ☐ Check weather/wind forecast and dress accordingly

Day-Of Checklist

• ☐ Photo ID & payment method
• ☐ Sunscreen + sunglasses
• ☐ Layers (base/mid/shell)
• ☐ Closed-toe shoes
• ☐ Reusable water bottle & snacks
• ☐ Camera/phone with wrist strap
• ☐ Small cash for coffee/ice-cream/tips
• ☐ Respect-for-wildlife mode ON

Photo Stop Shortlist (Save for Your Driver)

• Muizenberg Huts – candy-coloured nostalgia
• Shark Spotter’s Lookout – False Bay pano
• Boulders Beach Boardwalk – penguin portraits
• Diaz Beach Lookout (inside the reserve) – dramatic surf and cliffs
• Cape of Good Hope sign – the iconic “we made it” snap
• Cape Point Lighthouse – choose the cliff path for cinematic frames
• Misty Cliffs – moody long exposures on overcast days
• Chapman’s Peak Pullouts – every single one is a banger
• Camps Bay Tidal Pool – glassy reflections at sunset

Weather & Wind 101 (Because Cape Doctor = Drama)

• Summer (Dec–Mar): Blue skies, strong afternoon Southeaster (“Cape Doctor”). Bring windbreakers; go early.
• Autumn (Apr–May): Calmer winds, warm water in False Bay, softer light. Chef’s kiss.
• Winter (Jun–Aug): Green hills, moody clouds, occasional rain—fantastic for photos; layer up.
• Spring (Sep–Nov): Wildflowers inland, variable winds, pleasantly cool.

Cape Peninsula Sidecar Tour: 12-Question FAQ

How long does a typical sidecar tour of the Cape Peninsula take?

Most full-loop sidecar tours run 8–10 hours with plenty of scenic stops. Because it’s private/small-group, your guide can speed up or slow down depending on weather, queues, and how long you want to linger with penguins.

Do I need a motorcycle license or prior experience?

Nope. You’ll ride as a passenger in the sidecar or on the pillion behind the guide (operators brief you on seating and safety). A standard driver’s license is not required for passengers.

What happens if the wind is howling or Chapman’s Peak is closed?

Operators monitor conditions daily. If Chapman’s Peak closes, guides reroute via Ou Kaapse Weg or along the False Bay side. Strong wind days still run—dress in layers, use the provided jackets, and request extra sheltered stops.

Is the tour suitable for kids?

Yes—older children who can sit securely and keep a helmet on generally love it. Always confirm minimum age/size policies with your operator, and request a smaller helmet in advance if needed.

Can we skip crowded spots and focus on nature?

Absolutely. Tell your guide you prefer wild coastal viewpoints, cliff paths, and quieter bays. They’ll time the penguins/Cape Point to avoid peak hours and add lesser-known lookouts like Diaz Beach and Misty Cliffs.

What should I budget beyond the tour price?

Have extra for park entrance fees, Boulders Beach boardwalk tickets, Chapman’s Peak toll, food, coffee, and tips. Some operators include fees; others don’t—check your booking and carry small cash just in case.

Will I be warm enough in the sidecar?

With a base layer + mid layer + windproof and the operator’s jacket, you’ll be fine most of the year. Hands run cold first—bring light gloves in winter and a buff for your neck.

Can I bring a DSLR and change lenses safely?

Yes—at stops. While moving, keep gear zipped in a bag or wear a wrist/neck strap for your phone/camera. Coastal breezes can be sandy/salty; a UV filter on your lens is wise.

Is Boulders Beach worth paying for if I’ve seen penguins elsewhere?

Yes. The boardwalks glide you past nests, nurseries, and shoreline waddles with minimal disturbance, and the boulders themselves are eye-popping. It’s one of the most photogenic penguin habitats you’ll ever visit.

Can we swim during the tour?

If timing and tides cooperate, your guide can stop at a tidal pool (Kalk Bay/St James) or a calm False Bay beach. Bring a swimsuit and towel if you’re a “dip anywhere” person.

How customizable is the food side of the day?

Very. From no-frills fish & chips to harbour-view seafood and farm-village cafés, your guide can tailor to dietary needs and vibes (quick snacks vs long lunches). Let them know if you’re gluten-free/veg/halal.

What’s the one thing you’d do differently next time?

We’d add one more hour inside Cape Point Nature Reserve to hike a cliff path between the lighthouse and Diaz Beach, then time Chapman’s Peak for late-afternoon light. The stops are so good you’ll always wish for just a smidge more time!