View of the beach and Twelve Apostles mountain in Camps Bay near Cape Town in South Africa.

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Twelve Apostles

Sea Point to Hout Bay


The name of the Twelve Apostles is said to have been coined by British governor Sir Rufane Donkin in 1820. There are actually well over 12 buttresses on the sea-facing side of Table Mountain, and none is individually named after an apostle. Called De Gevelbergen (Gable Mountains) by the Dutch, they’re best viewed around sunset from Camps Bay Drive.

Transportation

  • bus: Kloof Nek or Dal

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Sea Point to Hout Bay attractions

1. Royal View

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This pair of golden thrones, a sculpture by Greg Benetar, faces inland from Camps Bay Beach, providing a view of the Twelve Apostles. It's one of the…

2. Camps Bay Beach

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With soft white sand and a backdrop of the spectacular Twelve Apostles range (part of Table Mountain), this Blue Flag beach is one of the city’s most…

3. Glen Beach

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Escape the crowds on this sheltered stretch of sand, split off from Camps Bay's northern end by boulders. Swimming isn't advised, but if the surf's up…

4. Table Mountain

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5. Table Mountain National Park

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6. Maiden's Cove

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7. Clifton 3rd Beach

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The prettiest of four sheltered beaches strung along Victoria Rd at Clifton is popular with the Capetonian gay crowd, though plenty of straight folk…

8. Clifton 4th Beach

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