For any of trip to South Africa, Cape Town is a highlight of it. The Cape Town’s natural beauty makes it one of the most attractive cities in the world. As well as the impressive Table Mountain right in the heart of the city, Cape Town boasts its beautiful beaches. The restaurants are world class, and so are the wines. Cape Town has reputation for social tolerance and is also one of the most culturally diverse cities in Africa.
Cape Town’s top attractions
1. The Victoria and Alfred Waterfront
This place is for dining and shopping. Called the “waterfront” by locals, the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront is a entertainment and working harbour hub rolled into one. Some of Cape Town’s best restaurants you’ll find here along with a brew pubs, hopping nightlife and plenty of shops to spend your money in. It may not be the main reason you’re visiting South Africa while checking out malls, to stroll around in and feel safe, the waterfront is a nice area at day or night. There are lots of places to sit and watch the fisherman bring in their daily catch and the seals frolic in the harbor. Other attractions include an Aquarium with plenty of sharks, a Maritime museum, the Robben Island Exhibition and Information Centre.
From the Waterfront, you can also take boat and helicopter rides to get an even better view of Cape Town. This is where you can purchase tickets for a tour if you’re looking to visit Robben Island, and your boat ride out to the island. Justcheck out the official Victoria and Alfred Waterfront web site for more information. It includes the fascinating history of the harbor as well as details of tours offered and all the available attractions.
Near the Nelson Mandela Gateway, there’s a huge Tourist Information Bureau, where you can book any tour or safari you like the look of. You can also change your money, organize car rental, have a snack and get on the internet.
2. Robben Island
It’s the place where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years. Robben Island just off the coast of Cape Town, for most of its 400 year history has been a penal colony. Surrounded by a rough shark-infested sea, it’s a barren little island. Nelson Mandela spent 18 years on Robben Island in the cell pictured below. Many of the leading members of ANC and South African political parties members were incarcerated alongside him. But Robben Island was turned into a museum in 1997 and also declared as UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the new South Africa, Robben Island has become an extremely important symbol, reflecting the triumph of democracy over apartheid, of good over evil. The museum’s guides are former prisoners themselves and listening to their stories makes a visit to Robben Island a humbling and emotional experience.
Robben Island Tour’s should be booked in advance either directly at the Nelson Mandela Gateway or through a travel agent on the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront where the ferries depart from. Tours last around 4 hours and include the ferry ride to Robben Island, a tour of the prison buildings, and a bus tour of the island itself. You will get to see the lime quarry that the prisoners spent years of their lives hacking away at. You also get a very interesting historical perspective of the island’s history as a penal colony, leper colony and pantry for early settlers (penguins and their eggs are very nutritious).
3. The Townships
This place offer a good insight into how most of the population of South Africa still lives. It is highly recommended for a Township tour in Cape town. As living areas for non-whites under the old political system of Apartheid, Townships were created. Today these are still home to a large percentage of Cape Town’s population. Most of Cape Town’s townships are concentrated in the area known as the Cape Flats which lie to the East of Table Mountain. Township Tours also often include a visit to the District 6 Museum and Bo-Kaap (home to the Cape Malays).
Township tours are walking tours, they usually last half a day or so and include a visit to a school, shebeen (pub), community center, orphanage and a traditional healer. Having a bunch of wealthy tourists stare at orphans may seem a little odd but it may be the only opportunity you get to see how most of Cape Town’s workers live. In addition, it will offer a little more depth to your visit by spending the night in a Township.
4. The Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
Cape Town’s Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens are absolutely beautiful, showcasing indigenous South African plants. You can take several different walks through the 528 hectares and Over 9000 plants are grown here, that make up the gardens. During the summer (December – March) musical concerts are held on the lawns at sunset every Sunday (5.30pm), and there are some lovely picnic spots.
There are several cafe’s and restaurants as well as a Garden Center where you can purchase shrubs, bulbs, pots, cut flowers and even sculptures. The Gardens are open daily from 8am – 6pm (7pm in the summer). Going to the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens you can get by taxi, they are located on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain.
5. Cape Town’s beaches
The beaches are abundant and will suit surfers, posers, families and nature lovers. Around the city of Cape Town, there are many excellent beaches to enjoy especially during the summer months from December to February. Which beach you choose in Cape Town really depends on what activity you’re in the mood for.
The best beaches activity in Cape Town are:
- To see and be seen is Clifton Beach. Certainly the trendiest of all Cape Town’s beaches, filled to the brim with gorgeous young people showing off their bodies. Not a great place for swimming since the the Atlantic is absolutely freezing here.
- For families are the beaches in Muizenburg and Fish Hoek along the False Bay coast. It’s warmer than the Atlantic coast so the kids can actually swim and there’s a lifeguard on duty as well as plenty of entertainment at the Pavilion.
- For nudists is at Sandy Bay, Cape Town’s unofficial nudist beach. It’s a bit windy and there are no amenities nearby but it’s a beautiful quiet beach.
- To see penguins is Boulders Beach. It’s a good spot for kids and while the main population of penguins are now separated from the swimming beach, there are still plenty of penguins who will swim alongside you. A small fee is charged to visit this beach.
- To Watch whales from are those at False Bay in October and November.
- To take long walks on is Noordhoek Beach for 8km’s of fine sand with a shipwreck to explore midway.
- To surf at are Camps Bay and Noordhoek. But check with local surfers for their unbeatable knowledge of where to catch that perfect wave.
6. Table Mountain
It offers a cable car and incredible hikes for those looking to relax and enjoy the views. When you visit Cape Town you’ll see 1086m high and 3km long, a huge slab of sandstone that smack in the middle of town; that is Table Mountain. Table Mountain’s top is often shrouded in clouds commonly known as the mountain’s “tablecloth”. To more than 1400 unique species of plants, the mountain is home as well several mammals and over 100 invertebrates.
The views of Cape Town and its coastline from the top are spectacular (if the mountain doesn’t have it’s tablecloth). You can even see Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years. To get you to the top there are cable cars, but if you’re fit it’s worth attempting the 3 hour climb up one of the many trails. You can do also by paragliding if you are interested in down. At the top of Table Mountain, there’s a restaurant and a souvenir shop for your convenience.
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