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Discover The Best Cape Town
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Top Tourist Attractions
Robben IslandKirstenbosch Botanical GardensWestern CapeWinelands The Cape PeninsulaCape Town CityCultural TourismShoppingFabulous Food & Nightlife Cape Town & Western Cape Province
South Africa's Western Cape province, home of Cape Town, Table Mountain, the Cape of Good Hope, Kirstenbosch Gardens and Robben Island, is one of the most magnificent destinations in South Africa and is a must-see for any tourist. Widely considered one of the most beautiful regions in the world, this historic meeting place of the East and the West combines awe-inspiring scenery, fascinating history and culture, exciting architecture, and unique dining and shopping experiences. Each area of the Cape is like discovering another world - from the smooth, white beaches of Cape Town to famous Table Mountain, to the tranquil Cape Winelands, to Cape of Good Hope where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet, to some of the world's best land based whale watching at Hermanus, to the floral splendor of Namaqualand.
Cape Town
Initially a Dutch settlement at Table Bay, Cape Town was founded in 1652 to supply fresh produce and meat to the fleets of the Dutch East India Company for their voyages between Europe and the spice islands of the East. Over the years, the indigenous people were either killed off or driven out and South Africa's oldest city came into being. In the early days, it was known among sailors from around the world as "The Tavern of the Seas", and to this day Cape Town is renowned for its hospitality, in addition to its beauty and cosmopolitan flair.
With its majestic Table Mountain backdrop, Cape Town is a harmonious blend of architectural styles reflective of the tastes and dictates of the past - and today's more functional requirements.
Between the high-rise office blocks, Edwardian and Victorian buildings have been meticulously preserved, and many outstanding examples of Cape Dutch architecture are found. Narrow, cobblestone streets and the strong Cape Malay character of the Bo-Kaap enhance the exotic ambience of the city.
Elegant malls, antique shops, craft markets, flea markets and art galleries abound. Specialist boutiques offer an enticing array of unusual items not readily obtainable elsewhere. Gourmets and lovers of fine wines have a treat in store as the city is alive with color and flavor - from trendy seaside cafes and Waterfront developments to an exciting city subculture complete with vibrant nightlife.
In addition to all of this, you'll find the beautiful people of South Africa right here - Cape Town has been heralded as South Africa's new base for filmmaking and modeling, with the cost of seaside real-estate reflecting its position as the place-to-be for people from all corners of the globe. From being the unofficial gay capital of Africa to the exhilarating atmosphere of the Cape Flats and Malay quarters to the jazz-filled vibe of the townships and the spectacular scenery and sunsets, Cape Town has more than enough to keep you occupied, no matter what kind of vacation you're after.
Cape Town is flanked on both sides by handsome bays and superb beaches of fine, dazzling white sand. The west coast is filled with rock pools that shelter a variety of sea anemones and shellfish, while on the eastern side, where the sea is calmer and clearer, there are submarine forests of marine growths with vividly colored sea urchins and numerous fish. The mountain range that runs the length of the peninsula is full of interesting caves, probing deep into the rocks.
Table Mountain
Of course, no visit to Cape Town is complete without going to the top of Table Mountain, South Africa's most famous landmark. Together with its companion mountains, Lion's Head and Devil's Peak, they form the backbone of the Cape Peninsula.
Table Mountain is called table mountain because it looks just like a table - complete with a tablecloth that is laid over the mountain during the summer months. The tablecloth is formed by clouds that are pushed over the mountain by the southeast winds, producing what is surely one of the great natural spectacles of the earth. The entire area is covered with flowering plants and aromatic shrubs that make this landmark all the more glorious to experience.
Robben Island
An increasingly famous landmark looms just off the coast, that of Robben Island, Mandela's prison home for most of his 26 years of imprisonment. It now stands as a monument to the triumph of human spirit. Ferries leave throughout the day to transport visitors to this prominent site. Go to the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront location from which the tours of Robben Island departs. This tour is done by former political prisoners and lasts 3-4 hours. Following your tour you can spend time shopping at the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. The V&A Waterfront is the premier shopping area in Cape Town.
Kirstenbosch
Situated on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain. It is one of the most beautiful gardens in the world, and is the third-most visited attraction in Cape Town; its shaded lawns and gurgling springs, the perfect antidote to the searing summer heat. With the cultivated sections seamlessly blending into the adjoining nature reserve, some 8000 of South Africa's 22 000 plant species grow here. Of historic interest are the remains fo the wild almond hedge that Jan Van Riebeeck planted in 1660 to demarcate the colony from the Khoi. The restaurant at the Gardens is open for breakfast, teas and lunches. For great views stop at the Rhodes Memorial Tea Garden.
Western Cape
Home of Cape Town, its capital; the Cape of Good Hope and the world's smallest yet most diverse floral kingdom, the Western Cape, is an eco-tourist's delight. Nature has constructed the perfect setting for a garden, creating not just a kingdom of wildflowers that has been protected from climate variations for the last 200 million years and with his area has a temperate, Mediterranean-type climate that nurtures more different species of flowering plants - than Europe and North America put together-- but also a succession of brilliantly colored mountain ranges separated by deep valleys present nature as a brightly painted canvas that stretches from the drab Karoo semi-desert, through to Hottentots Holland Mountains and on to the rocky outcrops, cliffs and streams of the Swartberg Mountains. The rock shelters in this area used to provide cozy homes for the early San people, who used the walls as galleries for their art.
Alongside the coast are charming hotels and inns and a profusion of superb restaurants, offering the freshest sea fare.
Cape Wine Lands
A short 50 miles to the northeast of Cape Town is one of the world's premiere wine producing regions -- the Cape Winelands. Consisting of 3 towns: Paarl, Stellenbosch and Franschoek (the French corner), the Cape Winelands date back to the 1600's when the Dutch East India Company was attracted to the fertile agricultural valleys inland from the sea. French Huguenot settlers, fleeing religious persecution in France, settled in the area, bringing with them their viticulture. This French culture, combined with the Dutch and English influence of 400 years, has helped to create a quaint and character-filled corner of the Cape that is unique to South Africa. The historic town of Stellenbosch, second oldest in South Africa, was founded in 1679. Gabled buildings and stately oaks line the streets and the University of Stellenbosch's student population adds an element of youth to this old city. Today, the area offers a superb wine route, complete with some of the grandest hotels and restaurants in the Cape, from which you can enjoy spectacular cuisine while viewing green mountains and valleys.
Cape Peninsula
The Cape Peninsula offers a lush variety of scenic vistas, from mountains and beaches to the famed Cape Point, where the frigid Atlantic meets the warmer Indian Ocean. You’ll enjoy the wonder of native flora that abounds on the Cape. The Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, for instance, is home to more than 9,000 species of indigenous plants, and a large nature reserve protects the windswept southern tip of the Cape. The Groot Constantia, which features some fine examples of Cape-Dutch architecture, is the oldest vineyard and homestead on the Cape.
Cultural Tourism
If you want to explore and understand South Africa's past, a tour of the Bo-Kaap or Malay Quarter and its Museum, District Six and the District Six Museum, Langa, Gugulethu and Khayehitsha can give you an excellent start. These sections of Cape Town and its surrounding townships are living lessons on the legacy of apartheid.
The other essential visit is a trip to Robben island, where former President Nelson Mandela had been imprisoned. This is a three-and-a-half hour tour that includes the ferry trip from the V&A Waterfront to Robben Island and a guided tour of the island by a former political prisoner.
Experience how the vast majority of Capetonians live by visiting one of the thriving township centers that surround the city. Every township has an individual character. What all in common is hospitality, vibrancy and determination to escape the cycle of deprivation. Special tours are offered to these disadvantaged areas providing an opportunity to interact with the communities and be immersed in a rich culture of traditional values. Experience unique culinary trends, or duck into a smoky shebeen (a traditional African bar) to enjoy the local brew and savor the sounds of township jazz. Visit a craft market or engage with local customs through the vibrant community centers or spaza shops that are an intrinsic element of township life.
Langa, which means 'The Sun', is South Africa's oldest township. It has a proud history in sport and entertainment - many of South Africa's finest have their roots in Langa, including international star Brenda Fassie, and legendary saxophonists like Ezra Ngcukana and his father Mra, not to mention the glorious voice of jazz singer Sylvia Mdunyelwa. A variety of tours are on offer in Langa, but the growth in sports tourism has been phenomenal, not only quenching the thirst of a national pastime, but creating employment and upliftment to the community.
One of the most well-known Langa community projects must surely be the Eziko Cooking and catering Centre. Born from a vision of former school teacher Victor Mguqulwa to explore a 'cooking for a career' idea Eziko was created using formal training in cooking to address unemployment, poverty, and the problem of youths roaming the streets. Funds were secured from the corporate community, and now Eziko not only offers training and assistance in the placement and after-care of graduates, but also is the home of a 70-seater restaurant offering authentic township cuisine.
Just across the street and around the corner from Eziko, Tiger's Tavern attracts visitors with tantalizing aromas of barbequed meat. Here Tiger owns the neighboring butcher shop where you are able to purchase the meat of your choice. A huge open fireplace, with coals at the ready, burns continuously, inviting you to cook your fare, then to relax in the shebeen and watch the game on television, vocally and vigorously.
Khayelitsha, meaning 'New Home', is the biggest township, with accommodation for visitors at nine different establishments. Vicky's B&B is the best known - Vicky and her family has opened their home and their hearts to tourists, so they may experience the true township lifestyle and cuisine. Guests are invited to go across the street to the vibrant V&A Waterfront shebeen for loads of fun, music and entertainment.
A visit to Khayelitsha would not be complete without seeing the Philani projects - Philani's main objective is the rehabilitation of underweight children, in order to limit the crippling effect of malnutrition on their health and development. The organization also cares for an increasing number of HIV positive children. From this commitment, the need grew to provide employment opportunities for the mothers, through weaving and printing projects, and to work for their empowerment by providing training opportunities leading to greater self-reliance and confidence. The women learn to weave mats, rugs and wall-hangings from waste fabrics, and receive skills training in silkscreen printing, design and layout, in addition to gaining business and marketing experience. The unique, colorful finished products are sold at the Philani Development Centre in Site C.
Philani's Educare program focuses on providing the stimulation children require for their normal intellectual development. The educare workers, drawn from mothers attending the centers, receive their training from an established pre-school agency - this qualifies the mothers to run a crèche and foster pre-school education.
Talent abounds in the townships, and none more so than in Guguletu, meaning 'Our Pride.' Sivuyile College is the creative outlet for beadwork, art, weaving and pottery. Not only can you watch the craftsmen and women at work, but you are able to browse and buy exciting pieces seldom available elsewhere. Here Mayford and Nontsintsi Dunywa have set up the Unicedo Pottery Project to serve the community in Guguletu, whereby unemployed young women and youths are trained at weekends. This thriving pottery workshop produces ranges of brightly colored domestic ware and large functional pieces
The Sivuyile Centre in Guguletu also provides information and reservations for tours, accommodation and entertainment in the townships of Cape Town. The Centre showcases artists at work and encourages the purchase of community-produced craft.
Shopping
The weakness of the South African rand in comparison to the US dollar has made South Africa a shopper's paradise. South Africa is already the biggest tourist and shopping destination for expatriate Americans and Europeans living in other African countries. And South Africa is gaining on Dubai and Europe as the favorite shopping destination for wealthy Africans from as far away as Egypt.
The undisputed shopping capital of South Africa is Johannesburg and its home province of Gauteng. Shopping in Gauteng is about sophistication and good value at world class shopping malls. Gautengers have perfected "Shoppertainment" and got "Retail Therapy" down to a fine art. Gauteng is among the world's largest producers of gold and diamonds, making jewellery and precious stones abundant and affordable. The myriad craft markets provide more informal settings when shopping for African art, crafts and beadwork. And we can get you to wholesalers for all of these goods.
Moreover, Johannesburg has many sprawling shopping complexes scattered throughout the city. They are very airy and modern. And we have shopping safaris that will take you to where you can get the best deals on a range of goods -- from luxury designer labeled clothing to household goods like refrigerators to computers to cell phones.
Victoria Wharf at the V&A Waterfront offers world-class shopping.
Cape Town is famous for its beautiful antiques - from art nouveau jewelry to rare books and precious objects - which can be discovered in the stalls along paved Church Street, or behind the shop fronts of the original Victorian buildings lining Long Street and its surrounds. A block or two further, the dazzling colors, textures, smells and sounds of Greenmarket Square, the city's favorite flea market, enthrall all who experience it.
Weekday or Saturday... Greenmarket Square is great for browsing.
The cosmopolitan city center is alive with informal markets and pavement traders, selling a vast array of bargain items, original curios and collectables, clothes and food. The sound of djembe drumming or children singing often fills the air, giving one the sense that this is, indeed, the heart and soul of Cape Town.
Don't forget to drop in at Heritage Square for a stylish rendezvous, or the Pan African Market and other specialist African art stores such as African Image for the best indigenous craftwork. After stopping for a breather or quick espresso at one of the many little coffee shops lining the streets, continue your hunt for collectable wines, jewelry or ostrich leather goods - all to be found in close proximity to most hotels. You may want to visit the Khayalitsha Craft Market - for a range of uniquely crafted items - or the Philani Flagship Project in Crossroads for hand-printed fabric.
Shopping in the city is essentially on foot, but, if you don't have a car at your disposal, getting to any of the malls or larger centers is as easy as hopping onto a taxi, bus or train.
Restaurants
Dining is one of South Africa’s biggest bargains, and Heritage Africa Safaris has its finger on the pulse of great food and dining experiences. Dinner entrees run about $8, and even at the best restaurants, are only about $13. Most restaurants book for single seatings; thus, service is leisurely. Reservations are essential, especially in high season.
For the latest info on the hottest places to eat contact us because for our customized trips we can even suggest favorite places to dine and make reservations for you.
Nightlife
When Cape Town dims her lights after dinner, the real fun begins. It’s your choice-- nightclubs, discotheques, wine-bars, music pubs, cocktail lounges and late-night restaurants. The Waterfront, Sea Point, Camps Bay, Observatory and lower Cape Town buzz until the early hours. LINK For more, check out www.clubbersguide.co.za. Intrigued? Contact us now to get personalized Cape Town travel advice for your South African safari & holiday.
