10 amazing wheelchair-friendly things to do in Cape Town
Cape Town & The Western Cape – Discover one of the most beautiful regions in the world
We’ve recently been back to Cape Town. It’s been my third time, and I can only repeat how beautiful and stunning this wheelchair-accessible destination is! Whether you are a wheelchair user or not, Cape Town should definitely be on your travel bucket list! Here is a guide to 10 amazing wheelchair-friendly things to do in Cape Town and the Western Cape area!
1.) Visit Table Mountain
Not only is Table Mountain one of the 7 New Wonders of the World, but it is also fully wheelchair-accessible. From its top, you have a fantastic view of Cape Town’s City Bowl as well as of the Atlantic Seaboard.
There are several accessible parking spots at the Lower Cable Car Station if you come by car. You can also ride the wheelchair-accessible Cape Town City Sightseeing bus.
View of Cape Town’s City Bowl from the top of the wheelchair-accessible Table Mountain
I recommend buying your ticket online one or two days before your visit. Also, make sure to check the weather conditions before buying your ticket on Table Mountain Aerial Cableway’s website.
Wheelchair-accessible round course on Table Mountain
Wheelchair users can skip the line and can immediately approach the elevator. In general, the staff takes you to the cable car boarding platform and helps you to board. Once on top, you can stroll along the wheelchair-friendly round course. If you are hungry, you can enjoy a snack at the Table Mountain Café, where you will also find accessible restrooms.
2.) Enjoy the Views from the Top of Signal Hill
Signal Hill is the perfect place for taking pictures of Table Mountain as well as Lion’s Head and even Robben Island. It is also a trendy spot to watch Cape Town’s breathtaking sunsets. There are lots of parking spots, two accessible restrooms, and the paths are wheelchair-accessible in most parts. During the daytime, there are some great food, coffee, and ice cream trucks!
Lion’s Head seen from Signal Hill
Wheelchair-accessible Signal Hill
3.) Visit historical Groot Constantia Wine Estate
The wheelchair-friendly Groot Constantia Wine Estate is the oldest wine farm in South Africa. It was founded back in 1685 and is located in the beautiful Constantia Valley. You can visit it either on your own or you buy a ticket for Groot Constantia’s Visitors Route Experience. The Visitors Route Experience is a self-guided cellar and vineyard tour for true wine passionates. We didn’t do the tour; that’s why I stick to my own experience. You can do a wine tasting, enjoy some food in one of their restaurants or stroll along the beautiful walkways. Some areas are hilly, but with a bit of help, you will be fine. There are enough dedicated parking lots as well as wheelchair-accessible restrooms.
4.) Visit the Penguins at Boulders Beach
Boulders Beach, located in Simon’s Town, is home to a large colony of African Penguins. Wheelchair users can admire those cute little guys thanks to a perfectly wheelchair-accessible wooden walkway. I have already written a detailed accessibility review of Boulders Beach, where you will find more information about this highlight.
5.) Visit Slangkop Lighthouse in Kommetjie
Kommetjie is a tranquil village on the west coast of the Cape Peninsula. It is a famous surfing spot as well as a popular birding destination. Slangkop Lighthouse is located on the southern end of Kommetjie’s Long Beach. It was commissioned in 1919 and is about 33 m high. You can get a perfect glimpse of it by strolling along the wheelchair-friendly wooden path on the coast. However, the way could be inaccessible for power wheelchairs because it is pretty narrow in some spots, and I’m not too sure about the wood’s resistance.
Wheelchair-friendly walk to Slangkop Lighthouse in Kommetjie
6.) Visit Cape Point Nature Reserve
The wheelchair-friendly Cape Point Nature Reserve belongs to the Table Mountain National Park and is located about 60 km southwest of Cape Town. The famous Cape of Good Hope as well as the Cape Point Lighthouse are the park’s major attractions. In addition, you can see curious baboons, wild ostriches, African dassies, and, if you are lucky, even snakes.
The wheelchair-accessible Flying Dutchman Funicular takes you all the way up to the scenic viewing area from where you can see the Lighthouse, Cape Point as well as Dias Beach. Unfortunately, wheelchair users cannot visit the Cape Point Lighthouse itself, as it is only accessible by a massive set of stairs. I recommend spending one full day at Cape Point Nature Reserve to explore the entire area with all its magical hidden spots.
7.) Visit Muizenberg Beach
Muizenberg Beach is a popular spot for surfers and is very well known for its colorful beach houses. The village of Muizenberg, about 30 km south of Cape Town, is located on the False Bay Coast. Sharks are regularly sighted at Muizenberg Beach. Shark Spotters, a shark safety and research organization, does excellent work to reduce attacks. You can watch the surfers at Surfer’s Corner and stroll along the wheelchair-accessible beach walk. There are accessible parking spots on Beach Road as well as wheelchair-accessible restrooms.
8.) Visit Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, also called “Africa’s most beautiful garden,” is a stunning botanical garden located in Newlands, about 20 min. East of Cape Town. It is one of the great botanic gardens of the world. The Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden is wheelchair-accessible in most parts. There are dedicated handicap parking lots as well as spacious accessible restrooms. However, Kirstenbosch lies on the eastern foot of Table Mountain, which means that the entire area is pointing uphill. There are some very steep hills where wheelchair users definitely need help to push.
The newly constructed, 130 m long Centenary Tree Canopy Walkway is perfectly wheelchair-accessible and takes you from the forest floor to the top of the trees. The Tree Canopy Walkway, “The Boomslang” in Afrikaans (for tree snake), is a walkway made of steel and wood. It winds through the Arboretum like a snake and raises you up and above the trees. The unique panoramic view is stunning!
9.) Visit Blouberg Beach and Dolphin Beach
Blouberg Beach, Bloubergstrand (Afrikaans for “blue mountain beach”), is a suburb of Cape Town located on Table Bay. A short 15-min-drive to the North and the scenery changes completely. At the beachfront parking left of Otto du Plessis Drive, you find dedicated parking lots as well as wheelchair-accessible restrooms. From there, you can stroll along the beautiful beach walk and enjoy the impressive scenery. The views of Table Mountain are just magnificent.
Watching the sunset from Dolphin Beach
Watching the sunset from Dolphin Beach will surely give you goosebumps! You can park at Marine Drive parking, right across from the Milky Lane ice cream shop. The first 10 meters of the wooden path down the beach are accessible. But you can also enjoy the sunset while comfortably sitting in your car.
10.) Visit the V&A Waterfront
The Victoria & Albert Waterfront is not only a working harbor but also a vast shopping complex with more than 450 retail shops. One day is not enough to explore the entire area as there is so much to see and do. The entire V&A Waterfront complex is completely wheelchair-accessible. Wheelchair users can even ride the 40 meters high Cape Wheel. There are countless restaurants as well as the V&A Food Market offering all different kinds of local and international food. The Two Oceans Aquarium and the recently opened Zeitz MOCAA (Museum of Contemporary Art Africa) are both worth a visit, too.
Have you already been to Cape Town?
Tell me more about your stay by leaving a comment below!
10 wheelchair-friendly things to do in Cape Town
La 1ère photo m’a frappée par la beauté du banc, de la nana qui y est assise et du fauteuil roulant dans une belle harmonie de gris pour observer le paysage lumineux… Présage des autres photos pas à piquer des vers !
Toutes sont un enchantement: diversité des paysages somptueux , végétation luxuriante et faune attendrissante …
Belle description alléchante pas que pour les personnes avec handicap !!!
Bravo Méli
Merci beaucoup, Françoise ! Ça me fait plaisir de lire ton commentaire :-)!
Gros bisous de Paris,
Méli
An other great article ! Very helpful in organizing my trip to Cape Town earlier this year.
Keep up the good work Little Miss Turtle !
Many thanks for your article, my husband does not walk well, so needs a wheelchair. Your article gave me the confidence to visit many of the places. thank you
Just a quick note – I believe it is no longer possible to take one’s wheelchair inside the Cape Wheel at the Waterfront, although if you can walk a few metres to sit inside one of the carts you will be able to.
Thank you so much for this incredibly helpful article! We have family in Cape Town and have been wanting to take our children to see them. I’m new to needing a wheelchair so was worried about going back. I’ve been to all the places you’ve mentioned and it’s great to know I can share them with my children. It’s really put my mind at rest!