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Cape Town Day Tours

Cape Town, the Mother City, is a historically, culturally and breathtakingly vibrant city that was recently named the best city in Africa and the second best city in the world by Condé Nast Traveller. From its beautiful natural landmarks to its colourful culture; from decadent wine farms to captivating history and architecture - it’s a tourist heaven. There’s no finer way to savor Cape Town's pleasures than a guided day tour with Thompsons Africa – from wonderful winelands and wine tastings, to riding the cable car to the top of Table Mountain, we’ll take you there in style.

Please note the scheduled tour prices below have additional drop off and pick up points and will have other guests on board. The private tour pricing offers a vehicle and driver just for your use and allows more flexibility – please note that the venues visited will have other guests, it is just the vehicle and driver that is on a private basis. Pricing for both is per person based on a minimum of two people.

Click here for day tour prices.

Cape Town City Tour - Half Day

Departs: Daily between 7:35 and 8:30am. Returns: Approx. 12:30pm.

This tour is designed to orientate and give you a full-color insight into the extraordinary magic of Cape Town. First enjoy a cable car ride to the summit of the legendary Table Mountain (weather permitting) for panoramic views, including the City and surrounding layout of this southernmost tip of Africa (tickets are for your own account). Next up is a visit of the country’s oldest colonial building, The Cape Castle and the Company Gardens. Then you’ll be driven past Parliament Buildings, City Hall which is where Nelson Mandela made his first public speech after his release from prison and the Slave Lodge. Next, it’s up the cobblestoned hills to the beautifully colorful homes of the Bo-Kaap in the Malay Quarter. The tour ends on a sparkling note, with a visit to a diamond works where you’ll watch a professional diamond cutter as he creates every girl’s dream stone. Perhaps you’ll be taking one home.

Cape Point Tour - Half Day

Departs: Daily between 7:40 and 8:45am. Returns: Approx. 12:30pm.

The Cape Peninsula and Cape Point is wild, rugged, and undoubtedly one of the most memorable coastlines you’ll have encountered. The trip begins with a drive along Millionaires Paradise, eyeing the glamorous homes of Clifton Beach and Camps Bay which leave you in no doubt as to how it earned its title. From there, it’s on towards the charming coastal town and working harbor of Hout Bay - translated from Dutch it literally means Wood Bay. Then, driving over the legendary Chapman’s Peak Drive with its breathtaking views you’ll arrive at the Cape of Good Hope Section of the Table Mountain National Park and its rugged, intriguing landscape. Next up is a visit to the delightful African penguin colony at Boulders beach (for your own account, approximately USD $5 per person), before moving on to the historical naval port of Simon’s Town. It’s a wonderful half-day spent on the wilder side of this exquisite Cape coastline.

Stellenbosch Winelands Tour - Half Day

Departs: Mon-Sat between 12:45 and 1:45pm. Returns: Approx. 5:30pm.

Stellenbosch, with its Cape Dutch architecture, is the warm and wonderful heart of the Cape Winelands and is surrounded by stunning wine estates. It’s truly the prettiest town, home to one of the country’s prestigious universities, and you’ll love exploring the fine art galleries, the architecture, the history, and the curious and quaint shops. You’ll be taken on a leisurely drive to become acquainted with the area, before being introduced to the wine-making process in a fascinating cellar tour. Of course you‘ll have a chance to taste the wine for which this area is renowned, and no doubt, you’ll leave with a favorite bottle or two under your arm. Stellenbosch is arguably one of the Province’s most beautiful towns.

Robben Island - Half Day

Board the Robben Island Ferry at the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront and take part in a half day Robben Island tour.

For nearly 400 years, Robben Island was a place of banishment, exile, isolation and imprisonment for political "troublemakers" and social outcasts. During the apartheid years Robben Island became internationally known for its institutional brutality. Some freedom fighters spent more than a quarter of a century in prison for their beliefs. Nelson Mandela was one of them.

Those imprisoned on the Island succeeded on a psychological and political level in turning a prison 'hell-hole' into a symbol of freedom and personal liberation. Robben Island came to symbolize, not only for South Africa and the African continent, but also for the entire world, the triumph of the human spirit over enormous hardship and adversity. You will be escorted around the island by an ex-political prisoner, and given insight into the past and how the human spirit triumphs.

Cape Malay Cooking Experience with Cass Abrahams

Departs: subject to chef's availability.

Today you will be picked up at 08h30 for your Cape Malay Cooking with Cass Abrahams Tour. Cass is the foremost authority on the cuisine in the Cape and is a local celebrity. The tour starts with a chat and a coffee with your guide so that you have some background on the people of the Cape, the history of their cuisine and on Cass. Cass realized that for a variety of reasons the cuisine was dying out in the Cape and made it her mission to rescue the recipes. She interviewed the grandmothers in the community and dug in the archives and then wrote a cookbook that became highly sort after by many South Africans. Today you have the opportunity to enjoy a hands-on class with her in her home in the Southern Suburbs. You will cook three to four dishes and then relax over lunch. Please note that no alcohol is served in respect for Cass's Muslim faith.

Sea Kayaking - Half Day

Departs: daily, subject to weather. Please note the tour excludes transport to and from Simon's Town — prices available upon request.

Visit one of the most unique places in the world — a penguin colony in suburban Cape Town. And the best way to see it is from the water. Leave from Simon's Town Waterfront and paddle past the civilian and Naval Harbor and out to Boulder's Beach. After visiting the penguins, stop on a lovely semi-private beach for refreshments, swimming and snorkeling (snorkels and bottled drinking water are provided). Your double kayak is very stable and perfect even if you have no paddling experience.

We can also arrange for you to go cycling, skydiving, sandboarding and abseiling among other activities — please let us know if you would like more information on these activities.

Cape Winelands Tour - Full Day

Departs: Mon-Sat between 8:00 and 9:00am. Returns: Approx. 5:30pm

This is a superb day exploring the exceptional Winelands region with its heavenly scenery. The area is rich with history, and you can’t help but feel it as you visit this region. Experience a wine cellar tour, where you’ll learn all about the process of winemaking, and have the chance to savor the wines. Visit the charming little town of Franschhoek, pass by the impressive Huguenot Monument, and enjoy lunch (your own account) – the town is known as the gourmet capital of South Africa. After lunch, the tour takes you over the Helshoogte Mountain Pass to the pretty university town of Stellenbosch. You will have time to stroll through this little town, absorbing the quaintness, and enjoying the shops! A trip to the Winelands isn’t complete without a wine tasting, so you'll visit two different wine estates. During your visit, you’ll be able to purchase your favourite wine to take back home!

Cape Peninsula Tour - Full Day

Departs: Daily between 7:45 and 8:45am. Returns: Approx. 6:00pm

On this tour you will see why the area earned the name of The Fairest Cape. Sit back and relax, as you’re driven along the exquisite stretch of coastline known as Millionaire’s Paradise – from Clifton to Camps Bay, to the exclusive beach hamlet of Llandudno – towards the charming working harbour of Hout Bay.

You then wind your way along the legendary Chapman’s Peak Drive, hugging the cliffs and relishing the breathtaking ocean views. After a stop for lunch (your own account), visit the wild and beautiful Cape of Good Hope Section of the Table Mountain National Park, an integral part of the world-renowned Cape Floral Kingdom.

After, you’ll head back along the coast towards the City, visiting the historic naval port of Simon’s Town and the endearing African penguin colony at Boulder’s Beach (own account – approximately $5 per person). Next, you’ll head inland to the last stop of the day. In the summer months this will be at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. With the sun setting over the tall peaks of Table Mountain, the last rays sparkle on the trees and flowers. In the winter months (May 1st to Aug 31st), the last stop is at Groot Constantia where you’ll stop for a wine tasting and cellar tour of South Africa’s oldest wine estate.

Sunset Champagne Cruise - Evening Tour

Departs: daily subject to weather conditions — times vary according to sunset.

Board a sail boat that will follow the wind for this cruise and allow you to experience sunset and the views of Cape Town at dusk from a different perspective! Typically in a SE Wind direction, you will head out of the Harbour and sail across Table Bay towards Milnerton lighthouse, then return to the protection of Granger Bay in the lee of Table Mountain to watch the sun set, and then motor back to the Waterfront.

Custom Day Tours

We can also tailor make tours to match your interests or simply arrange for you to have a vehicle and driver available with no plan in mind to take you wherever you feel like going. Cape Town has been chosen as the Design Capital for 2014, we can include Architecture, Art, local clothing designers. In addition to the beautiful Winelands, Cape Point and City tours, consider a family day out, to see seals, penguins, monkeys and butterflies; splash out on a hot shopping extravaganza; or indulge in a grand gourmet food and wine tour of golf or bicycle tours.

Half Day Private Tours

Half day private trips depart daily on request and run from either 8:30 am to 12:30pm or 1:30pm to 5:30pm and cover up to 150km’s.

Full Day Private Tours

The full day private vehicle and driver hire departs daily on request with a pick up time of 9:00am, dropping off at 5:30pm and covers up to 250km's.

Both half and full day options exclude all entrances, parking fees, toll fees and any other costs which you would need to settle directly at the venues visited and in the case of parking, with the driver. Touring is done in an air-conditioned 7-seater vehicle with a tour guide.