September in the Southern Hemisphere heralds spring time.  It is a gorgeous time of year in Cape Town and with the spring blossoms and warmer days, it's a great time to get fit for summer and enjoy the natural spectacle that is Cape Town.

We recommend taking a hike, and getting out there and what better place to hike, than Chapman's Peak itself. It is a moderate hike that should take an easy 3 hours including a picnic and photo stop at the summit. Obviously timings depend on your fitness levels and the number and duration of your rest stops or photo stops on the way up or down! This hike is suitable for children.

About Chapman's Peak

This is the mountain peak around which the famous scenic road, Chapman's Peak Drive is built. It was named after a certain John Chapman, a British sailor sent ashore to check for fresh water in what is now Hout Bay.

Getting there from the Hout Bay Side

Drive through Hout Bay and onto Chapman's Peak Drive  Park your car at the last checkpoint before the main viewpoint. (Note: Day Pass is applicable from the Hout Bay Side See Fixed Hours For Chappies Day Pass)

It is a large parking area, and the path to the peak is in the lower end of the parking area. You will see a green SANParks signpost at the start.

Chapman's Peak Hike

The path leads steeply uphill for about half an hour- following the left side of the stream bed before crossing to the right-hand bank to climb the ravine via a series of rock steps. It's a well maintained path and leads you to a plateau and cross roads with the route to Noordhoek.  

Turn right at this junction and follow the path as it winds itself around the lower peak.  It's a gorgeous section filled with proteas and a gentler gradient than the start of the hike, providing some welcome respite from the ascent.  There are stunning views of Hout Bay from here.  This section should also take about 30 minutes, and then you reach the saddle that separates the lower and main Chapman Peak. 

The final scramble to the top, should take another 20 -30 minutes. It's fairly steep with a short rock scramble near the top.  (Note that it is easier to go left just before the top and approach the beacon from the SE side). 

At the top there are plenty of large flat areas to rest and enjoy the views - through to Fish Hoek and across the entire Noordhoek Valley in addition to the Hout Bay views. The downhill route is generally faster, descending by the same route.

Highlights

This is one of the most rewarding hikes in the Cape Peninsula with outstanding views, beautiful fynbos and the sound of the adjacent surf and horizons to hang your dreams onto.  The summit has magnificent 360° views to experience the Peninsula in all its glory!  Look out for the proteas and ericas and indigenous trees. There are usually lizards and if you are lucky you may spot a black eagle or a fish eagle.

Note  Since the great fire of March 2015, there is a regeneration of plant species

Height  593 metres but elevation gain is about 450m

Distance Just over 5km for the return journey.

Cost Free (with a Day Pass or R42 for a light motor vehicle on Chapman's Peak toll road)

Best time to go

All year round,  but we particularly like spring! We also prefer the afternoon hike, it's not too hot and the shadows and sunset are spectacular in the late afternoon light.  There is plenty of time to get down before dark. Please note the day pass hours if you are using the Day Pass from the Hout Bay side.

What to take

• Sunglasses & hat & sunscreen
• Good walking shoes
• A warm top, in the event of sudden weather change
• Refreshments and water or a picnic. (please take your litter with you)
• Camera
• Binoculars

Our conclusion   A maximum reward hike.

10 Rules of Mountain Safety:  (Rules & information supplied courtesy of Table Mountain National Park)

• Don’t hike alone; four is the ideal number.
• Choose your route carefully and stick to it. Allow yourself enough time - start early. Inform someone of your route and what time you’re expected back.
• Choose a hike leader and walk at the pace of the slowest member.
• If lost - don’t split up. Rather try to retrace your steps. Remember that climbing down is more difficult than climbing up.
• Always take waterproof clothing, even in mid-summer, and wear walking shoes or hiking boots. Wear a hat or cap and sun block in summer. Weather changes rapidly.
• If lost or forced to stop because of bad weather, stay together and remain in one place. Find the closest shelter from wind and rain.
• In case of injury, take time to assess the situation. Then send two people for help and let the third remain with the injured person. If possible, mark the position on a map and send it with those going for help.
• Stick to well-used paths, which will be indicated on the Park's hiking map and read the warnings on this map. Don’t take shortcuts and especially don’t wander into ravines.
• Always take enough water, especially in summer, and food in case of a delay. Watch the weather and time, and turn back before you start running late or if bad weather threatens.
• Take a fully-charged cellphone. Some parts of the Park do not have cell phone reception, but you will always be able to reach a place where you can use a cell phone more quickly than you’ll get to a landline.

Three Rules for Personal Security

• As Table Mountain is an urban park, please exercise the same common sense and security precautions that you would anywhere else in the world.
• Do not attract unwanted attention by openly displaying cash, cameras or other valuables.
• If you are confronted by a criminal, don't resist. Handover your goods as resistance might incite a mugger to violence.
• Program emergency numbers in your cellphone before your hike.

Emergency Numbers

• Main emergency number: 086 110 6417
• Emergency SAPS (South African Police Service): 10111 (02110111 on cell)
• Emergency CT Emergency Services: (021) 480 7700
• Emergency CT Central OPS Centre: (021) 467 8002

All of these call centres are primed to respond to incidents on TMNP and investigate suspicious activities.

Chapman’s Peak Drive Toll Plaza Office Hours:

The Toll Plaza is open Monday - Friday from 08h00 - 16h30 for registration as a Frequent User.
Address: Toll Plaza, Chapman’s Peak Drive, Hout Bay, Cape Town
Plaza Tel: 021 791 8220

#Chappies as we are fondly known as, is more often than not in the list of Top 10 Reasons to Visit Cape Town or Top 10 Things to Do in Cape Town and even in the Top 10 Drives in South Africa. Mostly #Chappies is described as a spectacular scenic route and a must do activity in Cape Town.  There is more to Chapman's Peak Drive than meets the eye!  

For some people driving on Chapman's Peak Drive is a once in a lifetime experience, but if you are lucky enough to live in Cape Town or visit regularly, you could experience this piece of paradise on a regular basis. (Hint: Register as a Frequent User for savings - the  more you drive the cheaper it gets) 

Here are our top 10 reasons to use #Chappies

1. Views, views and views

   It's pretty much all about the views on, arguably one of the world's best coastal drives. There are very few more spectacular drives in the world, particularly on a late afternoon cruise.  Views of the sea, the mountains, the beaches and the coastal towns of the Cape.  Samuel Johnson once said "If you are tired of London, you are tired of life". We think the quite should read: "If you are tired of #Chappies, you are tired of life"

2. Photography

   This is photographic heaven!  The route with its numerous vantage points and pull-over sections offers vistas and views, horizons, clouds, colours & light, sunsets, wildlife, flora, fauna, birds, rock formations,  people, romantics, families, cars and motorbikes.  Whatever your photographic niche, you are almost guaranteed to get a good photo!  (See Cape Town's Top 10 Selfie spots)

3. Picnics

   #Chappies has some 60 picnic tables on the 9km route, each with a mountain and sea view.  Stop at a local deli and stock up on picnic items - you may want to stick around for awhile with uninterrupted views and surrounded by nature.  (See Perfect Picnics on Chapman's Peak Drive)

4. Sunsets

   We do sunsets and we do them well - admittedly with some help from Mother Nature.  We do have the added benefit of completely uninterrupted views across the oceans where the African sun sets in the west.  You'll probably have the sunset and the view to yourself!  (See Join us for a sunset cruise)

5. Whale Watching

   Whales migrate to Cape Town's shores between May - November with the peak period being mid-August to end-September. #Chappies is one of the best land based viewing sites in Cape Town for whale watching.

6. Fitness

   Whether you walk, hike, run or cycle,  #Chappies is extremely popular with outdoor enthusiasts who train for major events like the Cape Town Cycle Tour and Two Oceans Marathon which take place on #Chappies every year. Some people just love getting some exercise in the fresh air with incredible views and Chapmans Peak Drive fits the bill for your outdoor exercise routine.

7. Access route:  Commuters and Tourism

   Not only is this drive one of the most spectacular scenic drives, it is also a commuter route, providing access between the south peninsula of Cape Town (Noordhoek & Kommetjie and Hout Bay to the city centre.  Many  Frequent users can register with the concessionaire to received progressive discounts with monthly usage.  It is also one of the major routes from the city centre to access the Cape of Good Hope Section of Table Mountain National Park - one of Cape Town's most visited attractions.

8. Table Mountain National Park

   Due to it's location on the slopes of the Table Mountain Chain, #Chappies is intricately linked with Table Mountain National Park, which is a global biodiversity hotspot - with particular emphasis on the floral kingdom and the unique fynbos.  Take a hike up Chapman's Peak.

9. Day Pass

   You can use it for free!  As in life, a few terms and conditions apply but the Chapman's Peak Day Pass enables any visitor to access the drive from the Hout Bay side to the Day Pass Control Point for free during daylight hours.  Get your Day Pass aka #ChappiesforFree (See Fixed Hours for Chappies Day Pass)

10. Fascinating engineering

    Take a moment to appreciate the original engineering to carve the road out of the mountain and the subsequent facelift to prevent dangerous rock falls, using cantilevered bridges, catchment fences and half-tunnels.  

#DriveTime #Top10ReasonsToUseChapmansPeakDrive

Have you got anything to add to our list! We'd love to hear from you and your suggestions or tag us

Chapman’s Peak Drive Toll Plaza Office Hours:

The Toll Plaza is open Monday - Friday from 08h00 - 16h30 for registration as a Frequent User.
Address: Toll Plaza, Chapman’s Peak Drive, Hout Bay, Cape Town
Plaza Tel: 021 791 8220

You can get a cup of coffee pretty much anywhere in the world, but Cape Town is a special place and there are some truly notable spots where you can opt to caffeinate.  Some people can't start their day without it, some people drink it for a pick me up in the middle of the day and some people just drink it - often. 

Coffee and Coffee shops mean different things to different people . Coffee guru’s may know the language of coffee but everyone has a favourite coffee cafe to suit their needs AND get their coffee fix. It may be related to the convenience, it may be the vibe, it may just be the coffee - but if you are dedicated to the bean, then we invite you to enjoy and sample from our list of #DriveTimeCoffee places that we happen to like in terms of good atmosphere and good coffee. We think they are definitely worth a #DriveTimeCoffee stop especially when travelling over Chapman's Peak Drive.

Bakoven

Baked Bistro

This unpretentious warm and friendly Bistro in trendy Bakoven (Translation: baked oven) has a strong reputation for freshly baked goods, breakfast and excellent coffee.  They are proud purveyors of Origin Artisan Coffee Roasters and they say they hope you enjoy #gettingBAKEDinBAKOVEN.  An absolutely delightful coffee shop.

Tel: 021 437 0297
Address: 38, Victoria Road, Bakoven, Camps Bay.
Website:  http://www.bakedbistro.co.za/

Hout Bay

La Cuccina

They call themselves the "artisan roasters of Africa" and are situated in the Victoria Mall in Hout Bay.  It's friendly and warm and a popular meeting spot for Hout Bay locals.  There is a full page on their website dedicated to coffee and coffee crafting - but the proof is in the proverbial pudding... taste it! It's GREAT!  And La Cuccina is not just a coffee shop - it offers a deli supplying fresh free range and organic produce too and the literally make everything right from scratch.  Stop - because you can.

Tel: 021 790 8008
Address:  Victoria Mall, Corner of Victoria & Empire Roads, Hout Bay
Website: http://www.lacuccina.co.za/

Bay Harbour Market: ZA Cafe

This very popular weekend market has a host of excellent traders with almost any form of food and drink available to refresh your sustenance needs.  Freshly roasted beans make up ZA Cafe's portfolio so it's the best guarantee to get your favourite cuppa with a fresh, well roasted, perfectly ground cup of coffee, just the way you like it! 

ZA Cafe At Bay Harbour Market Tel:  084 568 7120
Address: Bay Harbour Market, 31 Harbour Road, Hout Bay
Website: https://www.facebook.com/ZACAFE |  http://www.bayharbour.co.za/Food-and-Drink.aspx

Dario's Cafe

All rituals have their place of worship and coffee is no different. Its temple is the café or ‘Bar’ as it is called in Italy. Dario’s Café offers an authentic Italian ‘bar’ experience where the daily buzz of activity, closely placed tables and intoxicating aroma of coffee invites all who enter to feel part of his coffee shop family. For the pleasure of Italian coffee - stop at Dario's, you may even become part of the family!

Tel: 021 791 0021
Address:  Victoria Avenue, Hout Bay
Website: http://www.darioscafe.co.za/

Hout Bay Coffee

A coffee roastery tucked behind the Woodcutters Arms near Mainstream shopping mall in Hout Bay. It's hidden and quirky, and not your regular franchise coffee joint. It's a tiny place that roast beans in small batches with passion and dedication. Excellent coffee (and cake), but be prepared to wait for a true artisan craft coffee experience.

Tel: 082 516 5838
Address:  Mainstream Centre, Princess Street, Hout Bay
Website: https://www.facebook.com/HoutbayCoffee

Noordhoek

The Village Roast

Conveniently located at the entrance to Noordhoek Farm Village, their webpage states simply: roasting the best coffee beans in the south. Guy has been roasting his Village Roast House Blend for over a year with phenomenal support and feedback. It's quaint, small and extremely popular with a great reputation among local commuters as well as visitors to the Farm Village.

Tel: 021 789 1390
Address:  Noordhoek Farm Village, corner of Village Lane & Main Rd, Noordhoek
Website: http://villageroast.co.za/

Cafe Roux 

Adored & revered for its acclaimed live music gigs at Cafe Roux Sessions, we are inclined to forget that Cafe Roux is exactly that - a cafe that serves up fabulous coffee amongst other delights- with a selection of baked goods baked in-house daily!  Beat the queues at the Village roast and dodge the browsers at the Foodbarn deli and settle in for that perfect cuppa - indoors by the fire in winter or under the oak trees in summer - it's easy with friends or with kids, it's perfect for business meetings or catch ups with colleagues. 

Tel: 021 789 2538
Address:  Noordhoek Farm Village, corner of Village Lane & Main Rd, Noordhoek
Website: http://www.thefarmvillage.co.za/cafe-roux.php

The Foodbarn Deli 

The aromas of fresh bread and great coffee will tantalize you as you enter this bustling deli at Noordhoek Farm Village.  The atmosphere, deli goods and the convenience make it a popular stop for more than just coffee. A prized feature that just works with that awesome steaming beverage is Barn Books - fabulous well loved books, lining the walls and asking to be

Tel: 021 789 1966
Address:  Noordhoek Farm Village, corner of Village Lane & Main Rd, Noordhoek
Website: http://www.thefarmvillage.co.za/the-foodbarn-deli-and-tapas.php

The Daily Coffee Cafe/Noordhoek

Located on the outer perimeter of the Sun Valley Mall, the natural light adds to the ambience and their "New York meets Karoo flair" design interior theme. But here ambience is not everything, although their CEO Adriann de Bruyn says "We do not only sell coffee, we afford a warm emotion" . The Daily Coffee Café is renowned for its marvellous five-senses coffee manually prepared by the baristas who have had special training! 

Tel: 021 785 1469
Address:  Sun Valley Mall,  Noordhoek
Website: http://www.thedailycoffeecafe.co.za/noordhoek/

KOMMETJIE: 

Free Range Coffee Shop, Imhoff Farm

There's a wonderful farm atmosphere here. It's a quaint, small, old fashioned and charming in a good homely way, coffee shop.  With indoor seating like grandma's kitchen, and an outdoor seating area and really good cappucino's, it's a great stop after Chapman's Peak Drive if you are heading south.  Imhoff Farm its self is worth a visit. Plenty for the kids to do (camel rides, reptile park, chocolate shops etc ) and lots for the parents too (coffee shops, cheese factory, sushi kitchen and others).

Tel: 021 783 4545
Address: Imhoff Farm, Kommetjie Main Road, Kommetjie.
Website: http://imhofffarm.co.za/restaurants/free-range-coffee-shop/

SCARBOROUGH 

The Hub Cafe: The Village Hub

The Village Hub has become more than a community gathering point for the locals who live in the seaside town of Scarborough.  They have a simple menu with simple, authentic food and coffee, always coffee, always good coffee. In fact excellent coffee!  The Hub Cafe uses Bean There Coffee which is Fair Trade & organic - a perfect pit stop on the way to Cape Point.

Tel: 071 342 5210
Address: Watsonia Road, Scarborough.
Website: https://www.facebook.com/thehubcafescarborough/

#DriveTime

Suggestions and recommendations are always welcome for #DriveTime.  This is not a comprehensive list of all coffee shops in the south peninsula and it's not a Top Ten List or Best of Coffee List either! This is just a selection of good coffee at good spots near Chapman's Peak Drive or on the way to Chapman's Peak Drive. With thanks to Noordhoek Farm Village for the image. 

Chapman’s Peak Drive Toll Plaza Office Hours:

The Toll Plaza is open Monday – Friday from 08h00 – 17h00 for registration as a Frequent User.
Address: Toll Plaza, Chapman’s Peak Drive, Hout Bay, Cape Town
Plaza Tel: 021 791 8220