Diaz Beach

Drive from Cape Town CBD via the M3 south to the Cape Point reserve gate — allow around 70 minutes. Entry to the reserve is required and costs R515 per adult international visitor (2025–2026 SANParks tariff). Parking is available at the Cape Point main area and is included with your reserve entry fee — no separate parking ticket needed. From the parking area, the beach is reached only on foot via a steep cliff staircase; allow roughly 20 minutes for the descent.

The Cape Point Lighthouse, just 0.2 km away, is the obvious first stop — a historic structure with panoramic views over both the Atlantic and False Bay, reachable by funicular from the main area. From there, the Cape Point S.W. Lookout (0.5 km) and the Old Lighthouse (0.7 km) offer additional vantage points over the peninsula's raw cliff scenery. If you want the only swimmable water in the reserve, Buffels Bay — a sheltered False Bay cove with a tidal pool and braai facilities — is 4.5 km away. Platboom Beach, 4 km from Cape Point, is another wild Atlantic stretch where baboons and ostriches occasionally wander onto the sand.

There are no restaurants at Diaz Beach itself — pack your own food and water before you descend the stairs. The nearest sit-down options are The Hatchery (11.8 km) and Black Marlin, a seafood restaurant, at 13.9 km from the beach. Plan your meal for after you exit the reserve, and remember the gate closes at sunset.

The closest places to stay are the Protea & Restio Overnight Huts and the Erica Overnight Hut, both SANParks-managed options rated 4.6/5 and located 1.5–1.7 km from the beach — a rare chance to spend a night inside the reserve itself. Further out, Smitswinkel Bay (rated 4.3/5, 11 km) and Smits Beach Cottage, a two-bedroom house at 10.2 km, offer self-catering options on the southern peninsula.

The best shots are from the cliff staircase itself — looking back up at the lighthouse with the white sand and deep blue Atlantic below captures the full drama of the location. Shoot in the morning when the light hits the cliff face from the east; the Cape Point S.W. Lookout at 0.5 km adds a wider aerial perspective over the beach and open ocean.

Do NOT enter the water under any circumstances — extreme Atlantic rip currents and swell make swimming strictly prohibited and genuinely life-threatening. The cliff staircase is steep and can be slippery when wet, so wear proper closed-toe shoes with grip; sandals are a real risk. Dogs are not permitted anywhere inside the Table Mountain National Park / Cape of Good Hope reserve. Baboons are present throughout the reserve — do not feed them, do not approach them, and secure any food in your bag.