Top Ten Spots
Table Mountain Cape Town

Table Mountain is one of South Africa’s greatest landmarks and towers 1,086m above the City of Cape Town.

It is visible from as far as 200 km out to sea on clear days and is often covered with cloud called the tablecloth. A revolving cable car carries visitors up and down in about 5 minutes and numerous walking and hiking paths lead up and across Table Mountain. Spectacular views of the city, the Cape peninsula, the coastline and the ocean can be seen from 11 viewpoints on the summit. Table Mountain is more than a place of dramatic scenic beauty, it is also a place of richly diverse flora. Over 1,470 plant species occur on the mountain, more than in the British Isles. Complimenting this is the fauna such as the Table Mountain Ghost Frog that is found nowhere else in the world. Consider yourself the poorer if you did not see Cape Town from this majestic mountain.

V & A Waterfront

This is South Africa’s most visited destination.

Put against a backdrop of sea and mountain views, the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront (V&A), is home to designer label stores, national retailers, boutiques and services, along with a spread of restaurants, coffee shops and fast-food outlets. There are also two cinema complexes and craft markets, offering visitors the best of everything Cape Town and the Western Cape have to offer. The development of office locations and luxury apartments complements the vibrancy of the V&A. The V&A is a centuries old harbour that remains fully operational. Spend a day or five trawling the Waterfront and you’ll understand why it has been a favourite destination of Capetonians and visitors since its 1992 re-awakening.

Cape Point

Cape Point is a landmark at the end of the Cape Peninsula located in the Good Hope Section of the Table Mountain National Park.

In 1488 Bartolomeu Dias rounded the Cape during a dreadful storm. He subsequently named it the Cape of Storms. On a second voyage, the weather was much kinder to him and he renamed it the Cape of Good Hope. A few years later, Dias died while trying to round the Cape. A monument in the form of a navigational beacon has been erected in the Park in his honour. The Park offers a rich diversity of plant species as well as a marine reserve and animals such as baboons and Cape Zebra. The peak is 249m above sea level and can be reached by foot or the funicular railway. The lighthouse at the tip of the Peninsula is the most powerful in the Southern Hemisphere.

Robben Island

One of the most significant and symbolically charged pieces of land in South Africa, Robben Island guards the entrance to Table Bay.

The name hails from the Dutch word for seals, “robbe”. The island was home to Nelson Mandela who was imprisoned there along with other political prisoners. Now a living museum, the island and its ghosts are visited voluntarily. As a place of history, education and insight into South Africa’s past, this is an essential excursion. The return boat trip (half an hour each way) to this World Heritage Site and a guided tour around the museum by an ex-inmate is an experience never to miss.
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens

The Kirstenbosch Estate covers 528 hectares, 36 hectares make up the central landscaped garden on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain, it is home to more than 8 500 indigenous plant species, and is known as one of the Seven Magnificent Botanical Gardens of the world.

Established in 1913, it only grows indigenous South African plants. Kirstenbosch is best known for its proteas (best in winter and spring) and summer sunset concerts and picnics. There are hiking trails through the fynbos as well as guided tours, including twilight nature walks. Kirstenbosch is a birdwatchers delight. Pack a picnic basket or have a meal at the restaurant. Don’t forget to visit the Kirstenbosch shop or the Botanical Society Bookshop.

Boulders Beach Penguin Colony

They are comical, clumsy and very eye-catching in their black and white dress.

In 1982 two breeding pairs of African penguins (once known as Jackass penguins thanks to the braying sound they make) moved into prime beachfront estate at Boulders beach between Simonstown and Cape Point. Today there are over 3 000 of these birds living here and the area is now a National Park. Penguins can be viewed up close as they frolic in the water and waddle on land. Sometimes it’s hard to tell who is watching who. You’re likely to see penguin pairs strolling along the boardwalks and in the park. This is the one place in the world you will be able to swim and sunbathe with penguins. In a survey done by the BBC, Boulders Beach was rated one of the five best beaches to visit before you die. All in all, a great place to meet the locals.

Chapmans Peak

Chapmans Peak drive is surely one of the most scenic drives in South Africa

You will have no better view of Hout Bay and the Sentinel, and if you are lucky, you might even see whales playing in the ocean below. Designed and built by Thomas Bain(an engineer who is responsible for the construction of a number of mountain passes in the Western Cape – including Bainskloof Pass), it cuts into the mountain walls and winds along near vertical cliffs. There are plenty of viewpoints so ensure you have your camera. The views are majestic and ever changing. Reopened in December 2003, the drive has been made even better with more lookout points, and safer. This is truly a Cape Town icon not to miss.

View from Bloubergstrand

Table Mountain is one of the most photographed icons in South Africa

The long, open beaches of Bloubergstrand offer probably the most picturesque views of the complete Table Mountain massif, perfectly flanked by Devil’s Peak and Lion’s Head, making it a favoured daytime and twilight destination. If you wish to see this awesome sight, take a trip to Bloubergstrand, only a 15 minute drive from the Cape Town city center. Make sure you have your camera as this is a sight to behold. While you are there, also take a look to the west. You will see Robben Island only 18 km away.

Township Life

You cannot visit Cape Town and the Western Cape and not experience the heartwarming community vibe and the cultural experience that is abundant in our townships

Experience the warm communal ambience known as ubuntu (togetherness), in which residents welcome visitors to the township way of life. This is a tenacious, vibrant, unified and welcoming community. Here traditional healers, traders, markets, shebeens and the Church play an important role in the community. Stop at one of the many spaza shops or introduce yourself at the local shebeen (bar). It is impossible not to get caught up in the energy that is township life. Visitors should book with a tour operator to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience

Pick & Pay Argus Cycle Tour

Cape Town comes alive every March as cyclists from around the world descend upon the Mother City for the biggest one-day timed cycling event in the world

The Cape Town Pick & Pay Argus Cycle Tour is an event for all to enjoy, amateur and professional alike. The route starts in Cape Town and winds along the Cape Town False Bay coast towards Cape Point before moving along the Atlantic coast over Chapmans Peak. The race is limited to 35 000 entries and the winner will finish in about 2h30. Some enter to challenge the clock while others just want to be part of the camaraderie and great atmosphere. Come enjoy the scenery of Chapmans Peak before you pit yourself against Suikerbossie Hill. Part of the festivities include an expo at the Good Hope Centre, a kiddies race and a Junior Tour at the V&A Waterfront.

Adverture, Sport and Beaches

The combination of mountains, sea, rivers, wind and wonderful climate is the complete recipe for a wide variety of spectacular, affordable activities. There is something for everyone, from a relaxing one day Wine Route Canoe Adventure for all ages, to a hair-raising abseil off Table Mountain. Choose your activity according to the "shriek-in-sheer-delight" factor!
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