Cape Town

Resting at the confluence of the Indian and Atlantic oceans, situated between the slopes of the iconic Table Mountain and the glistening sapphire waters of Table Bay, the exceptionally scenic city of Cape Town is in a class of its own. Some cities boast rich culture, vibrant nightlife, a cosmopolitan atmosphere and extraordinary architecture, while others boast breathtaking landscapes and extraordinary natural wonders. Cape Town is fortunate to be blessed with all of these attractions and so much more. With its bustling harbour, world-class beaches, top-notch vineyards, and its mountainous surroundings brimming with diverse flora and fauna, Cape Town consistently captivates the hearts of all who visit.

Some of the key sights in the city include the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Table Mountain National Park, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, the Cape of Good Hope, the Cape Winelands, Robben island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for several years, Bo-Kaap and its colorful, historical houses, Boulder’s Beach, where one can see penguins, and Muizenberg Beach, home of the iconic multi-colored beach huts.

Destinations

Key sights to see

V&A Waterfront

Cape Town is known for its breathtaking landscape, fascinating history and cutting edge culture, and nowhere are these elements more apparent than at the V&A Waterfront. This is where tourists gather to eat, drink, shop, socialize, admire breathtaking views of Table Mountain, and embark on activities like boat cruises and helicopter tours.

Table Mountain

A flat plateau approximately three kilometers from side to side edged with steep cliffs, and flanked by Devil's Peak to the east and Lion's head to the West, Table Mountain towers over Cape Town and offers commanding views of the entire region. There is a cable car which takes visitors up to the top of the mountain, where visitors can go hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing or even abseiling.

Robben Island

Robben Island is the location where Nobel Laureate and former President of South Africa Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years. Other famous prisoners at Robben Island include Robert Sobukwe, one of the leading anti-apartheid leaders, and two other former Presidents of South Africa, Kgalema Motlanthe and Jacob Zuma. Tours to Robben Island depart three times a day from the Gateway at the V&A Waterfront.

Boulders Beach Penguin Colony

An hour south of Cape town, near Simon’s town on the Cape Peninsula, lies Boulder Beach – a sanctuary for rare African penguins that are about 45 cms tall and weigh around 3-5 kg. These penguins are an endangered species, that can only be found on the coast of South Africa and Namibia. The beach has a series of boardwalks from which visitors can observe the penguins at close range.

Muizenberg Beach

Muizenberg Beach is a popular beach that is best known for an iconic row of colorful Victorian-style beach huts that line the shore. Visitors can learn surfing and enjoy a variety of other watersports, such as kayaking, stand-up paddle-boarding, and kite-boarding, or walk along the scenic promenade and savor local and international cuisine at the various cafes and restaurants along the waterfront.

Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden

Nestled on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain, Kirstenbosch is one of ten national botanical gardens covering five of South Africa's six different biomes. Internationally acclaimed, the 528 hectares estate includes a cultivated garden and a nature reserve, and displays collections of indigenous South African plants including many rare and endangered species.

Stellenbosch

Stellenbosch is one of South Africa's wine and food capitals, a lively university town, and a historical hub. The region has a mediterranean climate and highly favorable soil for viticulture, making it one of the premier wine growing regions in the world. Stellenbosch University, dating back to 1863, is one of the finest universities in South Africa.

Franschhoek

Franschhoek, or "French corner" in Afrikaans, is a small town in the Cape Winelands that is popularly known as the "Food & Wine capital" of South Africa due to the large number of fine restaurants and wineries in the area. One of the most popular attractions in the town is the Franschhoek Wine Tram, which stops at several of the popular vineyards in the region.

Bo-Kaap

The Bo-Kaap, with its brightly colored homes, is one of Cape Town's most distinct, and historical neighborhoods. Its origins date back to the 1760s when several houses were leased to slaves, most of whom came from Malaysia and Indonesia. Hence, the area was formerly known as the Malay Quarter. When the slaves were allowed to buy the properties, they painted the houses in bright colors to express their freedom.

Castle of Good Hope

The Castle of Good Hope is a fort built by the Dutch East India Company between 1666 and 1679. It is the oldest existing colonial building in South Africa. During the second Boer War (1899-1902), a part of the Castle was used as a prison. The former cells can be visited even today. More recently, the Castle acted as local headquarters for the South African Army in the Western Cape, and today houses a military museum.

City Hall

On Cape Town's Grand Parade stands City Hall, an imposing Italian Renaissance-style Edwardian building constructed from honey limestone imported from Bath in England. The building took five years to complete, after the laying of its cornerstone in 1900. On the balcony is a statue of Nelson Mandela, on the same spot where he gave a speech after being released from prison on February 11, 1990.

Activities

Exciting and memorable things to do

Cape Peninsula Tour

Visit the breathtaking Cape Peninsula, on this day tour. Drive through Chapman’s Peak on to Hout Bay, and take a boat ride to Seal Island. Then continue further to Cape Point, the Cape of Good Hope, Boulder’s Beach Penguin Colony to see a colony of African Penguins, and finally, end the day with a leisurely stroll through the ecological wonderland that is Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden.

Cape Winelands Tour

Spend a day exploring the Cape Winelands, one of the most famous wine growing regions in the world. Visit the beautiful and historical towns of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, popularly known as the “Food & Wine” capital of South Africa. Take the Franschhoek Wine Tram and stop at some of the famous wineries in the region for wine tasting. On the way back, see the spot where Nelson Mandela was finally released from prison at Drakenstein.

Table Mountain Aerial Cableway

Enjoy a five minute cable car ride up to the top of Table Mountain on the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway. The Cableway has a unique design with each car rotating 360 degrees while moving, enabling each passenger to get spectacular views from all sides. Once you arrive at the top, soak up the commanding 360-degree views of Cape Town, Table Bay, the nearby peaks of the surrounding mountains and the rest of the Table Mountain National Park.

Table Mountain Abseil

Get your pulse racing with the Table Mountain Abseil! Step off the top, at 1000 meters above sea level, and rappel into pure vertical space, then descend down the sheer cliffs of Table Mountain, with Camps Bay, the Atlantic seaboard and the deep blue ocean at your feet. After the experience, which lasts about an hour, take a short hike back up to the top of Table Mountain.

Cape Town Harbor Cruise

Set sail on the Atlantic ocean and enjoy spectacular views of Table Mountain, the V&A waterfront and the city of Cape Town, while enjoying a chilled glass of sparkling wine. Choose from multiple types of cruises including lunch or dinner cruises, sunset cruises, and private charters on different kinds of vessels. Cruises are offered by several companies, and typically depart from the V&A waterfront.

Cape Town Helicopter Tour

View Cape Town’s spectacular scenery from the sky with a helicopter tour departing from the V&A waterfront. Choose from a variety of tours including flights over Cape Town, the Cape Peninsula, Robben Island and other locations to get aerial views of the city bowl, Table Mountain, Signal Hill, Lion’s head, and the gorgeous beaches on the Atlantic coast.

Shark Cage Diving, Gansbaai

Depart early in the morning from Cape Town for Gansbaai, and enjoy a sumptuous breakfast on arrivale. Then, experience the thrill of getting up close and personal with Great White Sharks by going Shark Cage diving in the area popularly known as Shark Alley, which is frequented by a large number of Great White and other types of sharks. After the adrenaline rush, return to Gansbaai harbor, for your drive back to Cape Town.

Whale Watching, Hermanus

Drive about 2 hours south east of Cape Town to Hermanus, and watch Southern Right Whales as they migrate from their feeding grounds in the Antarctic to the warmer waters of South Africa to mate and give birth. Hermanus, particularly Walker Bay, has been recognized as one of the 12 best whale watching destinations in the world. Visitors can watch whales either from the shore or take boat tours to get closer to the whales.

Cape Town

Destinations

Activities

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