Cape Town has been voted as one of the most beautiful cities in the world and is a must-see destination on any tourists list of places to visit in South Africa - let us show you this beautiful city on your next South African holiday.

 

Popular attractions in Cape Town include Table Mountain, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Camps Bay, Robben Island.

Cape Town, fondly called, 'The Mother City', is in the Western Cape Province and is in the south-west tip of Africa and where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet. It is approximately 1600km's from Johannesburg.

Cape Town has a Mediterranean climate which means it experiences pleasantly warm summers while winters are cool and wet although hardly ever falling below 10 degrees Celsius.

The city of Cape Town is dominated by the flat-topped bulk of Table Mountain. Catch the revolving cable car up the 1086m summit or for the more energetic, walk up or down, to get a fantastic view of this beautiful city. The 'Cape doctor' is a southeasterly wind that causes clouds to sit on top of Table Mountain like a table cloth, hence the name.

The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront is one of the most visited attractions in Cape Town and offers an assortment of shopping, eating, entertainment and sightseeing facilities, all set within a working harbor. The Cape Town/Two Oceans Aquarium is also on the V&A Waterfront and is home to over 3000 living sea animals including sharks, fish, turtles and penguins. Diving with ragged-tooth sharks (sand tigers), shoals of large predators, rays and a turtle is also available (Open Water One or Discover Scuba qualification is required). Robben Island tours also depart from The V&A Waterfront. Robben Island is the former prison where Nelson Mandela and many other anti-apartheid activists spent so many of their adult years. This is a short boat/ferry ride from The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront.

Cape Point is the most southern point of the Cape Peninsula. Some 26 shipwrecks have been recorded at Cape Point; some of them present good diving spots. A funicular takes visitors on a scenic trip to an old lighthouse and this is a bird watching paradise.

Cape Town's beaches are also what make it such a popular holiday destination. The picture perfect Camps Bay and Clifton are the trendy beaches on the Atlantic side of Cape Town. The Atlantic Ocean beaches have beautiful clear blue waters and white sandy beaches. A must-do in Cape Town is to drive along Chapman's Peak Drive, which is one of the world's most spectacular scenic drives. The road is regularly closed for maintenance so check with your hotel if it is open when you are in Cape Town.

There is a lot more to Cape Town than the beauty of this city. It is rich in history and is South Africa's oldest city. There are a number of museums in the city which are worth a visit. The Bo-Kaap is a historic part of Cape Town which was developed in the 1700's to house predominantly Muslim workers after slavery was abolished. This multicultural area, tucked safely into the fold of Signal Hill has cobble-stoned, steep and narrow streets and brightly painted Cape Dutch and Edwardian houses.

Every year, starting on the New Years Day, the residents of Bo-Kaap, District 6 and other areas hold the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival or Tweede Nuwejaar which means second New Year (previously called the 'Coon Carnival'). Over 10 000 costumed, banjo-picking musicians and dancers’ parade and march through the streets of Cape Town city. Compared to the Rio Carnival, it is a celebration of life and the New Year and the more garish the costume or loud the banjo tunes, the better.

If you are looking for a 'Big 5' safari near Cape Town, unfortunately, there are a few within a 4 hour driving distance but please be aware, they are not like the real Kruger National Park safari experience.

If you are looking for a Big 5 safari experience, we would recommend Addo National Park which is some 800km's away, near Port Elizabeth. There are regular flights to Port Elizabeth (approximately 1 hour's flight) or combine Cape Town with a self drive holiday along the Garden Route to really see South Africa and the beauty to has to offer.

Gondwana Game Reserve also has the Big 5 and is near George on the Garden Route, about 4 hours drive from Cape Town.

If your time in Cape Town/South Africa is limited, there are a few private game reserves near Cape Town that we can recommend.

Aquila Game Reserve is the smallest of the private game reserves and about 90 minutes from Cape Town, making it the closest.

They offer a shuttle service that picks you up from your Cape Town hotel for day safaris. They also cater for overnight and fly-in safaris from Cape Town.

Another option for a day safari from Cape Town is Inverdoorn Game Reserve, which is about 2½ hours from Cape Town.

Cape Town has something to offer all types of visitors so This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. now to get more information on your trip to this remarkable city.