Cape Town has had a long and turbulent history. With Apartheid they still remain in the minds and hearts of their people. The transformation has led to the new ‘Rainbow Nation’, which can be experienced in the cosmopolitan city center of Cape Town.
Flower vendors, business executives, valet attendants, office workers, and shoppers all rub shoulders in a setting of historic and modern buildings, backed by the city’s most famous landmark, Table Mountain. The colorful Malay Quarter, the remains of District Six, St. George’s Cathedral, Government Avenue and the old Castle are historically significant, while world-class African and international restaurants tempt travelers with their culinary delights.
Although it is an African city, Cape Town has a European flavor, but the city has First World standard amenities.
Cape Town’s unique setting means it can be enjoyed from a number of vantage points: Table Mountain offers stunning views over the City Bowl and the Cape Peninsula.
You can find many scenic routes along magnificent stretches of coastline and inland terrain leading to special places like Cape Point.
The city has four distinct seasons.
Summer – White sandy beaches, Autumn – Crisp colours, Winter – Ferocity of stormy winter seas, Spring – Cape ‘fynbos’ flower show.
From culture, history and landscapes, to an unforgettable experience.
Cape Town is a special place with much to contribute to its growing reputation as a favorite tourist destination.
Excursions in Cape Town
** Robben Island and Table Mountain
South Africa’s best-known tourist attraction is probably Robben Island, 11 km (seven miles) from Cape Town, in the center of Table Bay.
For almost 400 years, this small rocky outcrop of the island was used as a place of banishment, exile, isolation and imprisonment for numerous categories of people ostracized by society, from political protesters to lepers.
During the Apartheid years, Robben Island became synonymous with institutional brutality, as numerous freedom fighters, including the island’s most famous resident, Nelson Mandela, were imprisoned here for more than a quarter of a century.
The island is now a museum, symbolizing the liberation and triumph of the human spirit. Regular tours of the island are carried out, lasting three and a half hours. The tours, which are led by ex-prisoners, include a visit to the island’s maximum-security prison where approximately 3,000 freedom fighters were imprisoned between 1962 and 1991.
** Capman’s Peak Drive Chapman’s Peak Lookout
Chapman’s Peak Drive is one of South Africa’s most spectacular coastal roads, linking the coastal community of Hout Bay to the Noordhoek Valley along the Atlantic coast, with stunning views from the narrow, winding road that cuts into the cliffs .
Built in 1915, the six-mile (9 km) route took around seven years to complete and was built as a shorter alternative route between central Cape Town and the Southern Peninsula. Many visitors use this scenic route to reach the Cape Point Nature Reserve, located at the tip of the Peninsula.
** Penguins at Boulders Beach
A recommended day trip from the city includes a drive through the southern suburbs and along the beautiful False Bay coastline via Muizenberg to Simonstown, South Africa’s main naval base.
Simonstown is about 25 miles (40 km) from the city and is a quaint town built around a naval dockyard, with well-preserved Victorian buildings, museums, sidewalk cafes and local legends to learn about. One such legend is about a dog named ‘Just Noisance’ who ‘joined’ the British army, becoming its mascot, when Simonstown was a British base.
A short drive from town is Boulder Beach, famous for its protected colony of African penguins (formerly Jackass penguins) that can be viewed from the boardwalks.
Transport: Metrorail suburban train from Cape Town Central Station; Admission: Boulders Beach Penguin Colony: R15 (adults), R5 (scholars)
** Camouflage point
Most visitors to Cape Town are eager to take a 40-mile (65 km) day trip from the city to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, not only to enjoy its floral diversity in terms of At first glance it looks like a bleak landscape, but also to stand on top of the imposing promontory at the southernmost point of the Cape Peninsula (not Africa, visitors need to go further to Cape Agulhus for this).
From the Cape Point Lookout and Lighthouse, reached via a cable car, it’s impressive to watch the thundering waves crashing at the base of the cliffs 686 feet (209 m) below. The reserve itself is worth exploring, especially on foot, for those interested in birds and botany. The Cape Point restaurant has a terrace offering spectacular views.
The resident baboons here enjoy the spoils of tourists’ snacks, particularly their ice cream; they can be quite aggressive. Since feeding baboons carries a stiff penalty, it’s worth making sure there are no free lunches for these hirsute scavengers!
** Municipality of Cape Town Excursions by Municipalities
The N2 highway connecting Cape Town International Airport to the city is lined with townships, consisting of a mix of shacks and solid buildings. During the apartheid days, people of color were not allowed to live in the white suburbs and were banished to areas far from the city. Township tours allow visitors to experience how most Capetonians live in the townships surrounding the town.
Guides, often residents, take visitors to meet the people, see community projects, have a drink in a ‘shebeen’ (village pub) and shop for local crafts. Each municipality has its own colorful character, and despite their difficult living conditions, the residents are generally hospitable and delighted to receive visitors.
The townships were once off-limits areas for many people, but today a visit is becoming a popular experience for Cape Town tourists.
Visit Langa, the oldest of South Africa’s black townships, established in 1923, or the country’s newest and second largest, Khayelitsha, dating from the 1980s. Guguletu and Nyanga were established in the 1950s.
Visitors are advised not to visit the townships alone; there are many tour companies that offer tours, including transportation to and from the township areas. Contact the Cape Town Visitor Tourist Information Center or its satellite, the Sivuyile Tourism Center in Guguletu, for information on tours, accommodation and entertainment in the townships.
** Bathrooms in Muizenberg Muizenberg
A historic beachside suburb on the False Bay coast, Muizenberg is popular with families for its long, gently sloping beach, warm water, beautiful views, and activities like miniature golf and supertubing. The beach is famous for its row of colorful changing rooms and is a favorite for photo ops from the mountain road high above. Muizenberg Beach has also long been a favorite for beginner surfers and several popular surf schools have been established at Surfers Corner, the side closest to the mountain. False Bay is known for its great white shark population, but there is a shark-watching service in operation to warn bathers and surfers. A scenic walk under the railway links Muizenberg to the nearby seaside town of St James with its tidal pool. The charming fishing village of Kalk Bay is just a few minutes’ drive away with its sheltered harbor and main street lined with fascinating art and antique shops, as well as cafes and restaurants.