Platboom Beach

Drive from Cape Town CBD via the M3 south toward Cape Point — the journey takes around 70 minutes. You'll pass through the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve gate, where an entry fee applies (adult international visitor rates are set by SANParks for the 2025–2026 season — check current pricing before you go). A small free parking area sits at Platboom itself. The reserve opens at 07:00 and closes at sunset, which varies by season — note the gate closing time and do not get locked in.

A short walk of under 2 kilometres brings you to the Diaz Cross, a replica of the navigational marker planted by Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias — a genuinely striking landmark in an already dramatic landscape. Buffels Bay, just 2.4 kilometres away, offers a sheltered False Bay cove with a tidal pool and braai facilities if you want calmer water nearby. Cape Point Lighthouse, roughly 4 kilometres from the beach, sits at the tip of the Cape Peninsula with funicular access and sweeping Atlantic panoramas. Diaz Beach, also around 4 kilometres away, is another wild Atlantic shore accessible via a steep staircase below the lighthouse.

There are no food or drink facilities at Platboom — pack everything before you leave Cape Town. The nearest option is The Hatchery, about 9.5 kilometres away, and Black Marlin, a seafood restaurant roughly 12 kilometres from the beach, is a solid post-visit stop on the drive back toward Simon's Town.

The closest places to stay are the Erica Overnight Hut and the Protea & Restio Overnight Huts, both inside the reserve within 2 kilometres of the beach and rated 4.6/5 by guests — booking through SANParks in advance is essential. Further out, Olifantsbos Cottage (4.6/5, 10 kilometres) and Cape Point Mountain Getaway (4.8/5, 10 kilometres) offer more comfort while keeping you inside the reserve atmosphere.

Arrive early morning when the low Atlantic light rakes across the white sand and the fynbos glows gold — the absence of any development means a completely clean horizon in every direction. The Diaz Cross at 1.8 kilometres makes a powerful foreground subject against the open blue ocean, and any encounter with ostriches or baboons on the sand is a frame worth waiting for.

Do not swim here under any circumstances — extreme rip currents and powerful waves make the water genuinely dangerous, and there are no lifeguards on site. Baboons are bold and can be aggressive; never bring food in visible bags and never feed them, as heavy fines apply. No dogs are permitted anywhere inside the Table Mountain National Park and Cape of Good Hope reserve. Carry every piece of rubbish out with you — there are no bins, and leave-no-trace is the rule, not a suggestion.