Review: Cape of Good Hope

Visiting the Cape of Good Hope is sort of an essential when you're in Cape Town, right?
No trip to Cape Town is complete without the half-day Cape Peninsula drive, heading to the southwesternmost point of the African continent. This is where European ships rounded Africa en route to the east, and thanks to the rocky shores and temperamental waters, many never made it past. It's now a nature reserve, where you can hike, climb up to the lighthouse at Cape Point, and pose with a sign at the Cape of Good Hope. Along the way, you'll likely spot some animals by the side of the road—it's not uncommon for lazily ambling ostriches to cause a bit of a traffic jam—but avoid the baboons at all costs (they'll lunge at you for an unattended bag of chips, so stay alert!). The terrain here is rugged and beautiful, and you can head off the beaten path down some of the hiking trails if you want to soak in the scenery without dealing with the busloads of tourists.

That sounds ideal. What are some of the highlights we can expect?
The main destinations within the reserve are the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point. But as with everything in life, the journey is as important as the destination: Leaving Cape Town and heading to the peninsula's east coast, you'll pass through the historic winelands of Constantia, the surfer hub of Muizenberg, and quaint towns like Kalk Bay, then stop to check out the penguin colony on Boulders Beach in Simon's Town en route to the reserve. After you've explored it properly, head back up the west coast, passing scenic stretches like Misty Cliffs, Kommetjie, and Noordhoek; round the stretch of cliffside road known as Chapman's Peak, one of the world's most beautiful drives (it's especially popular for car commercials); and cruise past popular beaches like Camps Bay and Clifton before returning to Cape Town.

We're sold. Is it easy to get around?
This is a super-popular route, so everything is easy to find and well marked. In the reserve, Cape Point has a climb up many steps, but there's also a funicular that takes you to the lighthouse.

That sounds cool. All said and done, what—and who—is this best for?
This is the ultimate Cape Town itinerary—what kind of person would want to miss penguins on a beach?