One of the excursions we were most looking forward to in Cape Town was a full-day trip we had planned with African Lynx to visit the penguins at Boulder’s Bay, go to the iconic Cape Point, picnic at a reserve and see the neighboring towns down the coast and all they have to offer.
Now, you could ostensibly rent a car and do the drive yourself to tick these items off your list without the full context of their significance. But, we were drawn to African Lynx for a number of reasons. Their guides are incredibly well informed, they offer a luxury service that allows you to just soak in the surroundings without having to bother yourself with logistics, and the idea of renting and then driving a car in South Africa totally didn’t appeal to me. Friends of ours who are travelers with very high standards used African Lynx and raved about the experience, so we decided to follow suit.
We started our day at 9:00am in the lobby of our hotel where our guide, Roger, picked us up very punctually. Roger has been in the industry for decades, so was incredibly knowledgeable about nature, animals, South Africa and was super open to answering all of our questions as well, which was appreciated. We packed into his vehicle (which was spacious and has wifi – a plus!) and went on our way. The drive itself from Cape Town is just extraordinary, taking windy Cliffside roads with views of the mountains and water. It’s a journey I wouldn’t want to drive myself, so I was grateful to not have to.
Our first stop of the trip was Kalk Bay, a quaint fishing village with colorful boats, fishermen hanging their catch and a small fish market where sellers sold snoek, a local fish, to patrons. The place had such a quaint and local vibe and we even encountered a seal sunning itself on the dock. We snapped some great photos of the fishing boats against the background of the pastel homes dotting the hill and then made our way down the coast.
Next, we headed to Boulder’s Bay, where a big colony of African penguins resides. Luckily, because we were with a guide who knows how to avoid tourist traps, we skipped the touristy boardwalk where you can see penguins from afar and opted to climb boulders in the park.
The first part of the park only had a few penguins, so Roger went ahead of us to explore further down, climbing boulders and getting in the water to seek out penguins. He came back and instructed us to do the same, which is something we wouldn’t have known to do ourselves, so after some wading through the waters and climbing around boulders, we were rewarded in our getting just inches away from dozens of penguins, watching them swim and play with one another. This was a total highlight of the trip.
From here, we went to the Cape of Good Hope nature preserve for a picnic. Driving through here was astounding, and we even came across a pack of baboons and baby baboons that we got to hang out with and photograph. While the loads of tour buses and self-guided tourists pack into one tiny area of the park and miss the broader views and nature, we headed to a more secluded part of the park to picnic.
African Lynx had asked us our dietary restrictions ahead of time and catered to what we could eat. Roger set up a great spread with a delicious cheese and charcuterie board, grilled chicken, cous cous and other great nibbles then mixed us a gin & tonic to take in the views with.
Another pro of working with African Lynx is that we had personalized attention and were able to go at a pace that suited us. For instance, we had our drone with us, and Roger allowed us to take our time putting it up to get some great footage throughout the day. Same goes for when we were awestruck by the baboons – he indulged our fascination with them and we never felt rushed.
We took a road back that brought us to Chapman’s Peak, which is considered one of the most beautiful drives in the world. We snapped loads of photos of the beauty of the area. We had planned on hiking Lion’s Head mountain after our tour and Roger graciously agreed to drop us off there instead of our hotel, which was a nice touch.
In addition to the tour we did, African Lynx does loads of other itineraries, many of them days long and involving helicopters and the do custom itineraries as well, to cater to what guests want to see. We encourage you to take a look at their site to see their options or get a quote on a custom experience. Their professionalism and knowledge is unparalleled and we are thrilled we partnered with them on this epic day!
Read More Of Our Africa Travel Guides:
The Ultimate Cape Town Travel Guide
Where To Eat & Drink in Cape Town
How To Get A Reservation At Test Kitchen In Cape Town
Where To Say In Cape Town: The Twelve Apostles Hotel
Safari Fashion: How To Look Chic on Safari
Where To Stay In Hermanus: One Marine Drive Hotel
Hermanus, South Africa Travel Guide
Franschhoek & Stellenbosch Travel Guide
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