There are 53 million people that live in South Africa, 3.5 million live in Cape Town. They are the lucky ones because Cape Town is no ordinary city. From the oldest wine farms that have been winning international wine tasting awards for decades to warm and cold water beaches, mountain climbing and some of the best restaurants in the world, i.e "La Colombo" on Uitsig Wine Farm Constantia (amongst the 10 best in the world).
Sitting at the bottom of Africa, Cape Town has the warm Indian Ocean running all the way up its east coast, and the cold Atlantic Ocean that goes all the way up into the desert of Namaqualand, where the Bushmen once roamed. Cape Town has a deep political and scientific history which can be explored by walking the Museum Mile.
You would be able to see more than 1.5-million items of a very cultural and scientific significance. From fossils and Stone Age tools to a permanent dinosaur exhibit, or the Whale Well, where you will see giant whale bones and other real looking life-size casts of many marine creatures, kids love it.
The Museum Mile includes more serious subjects like the Slave Lodge and the Holocaust Center which is part of the South African Jewish Museum.
There are many reasons to visit Cape Town, but any significant visit to the ‘Mother City’ without a trip to Robben Island would be a missed opportunity. To experience first-hand and sit in the same prison cell those great leaders like Nelson Mandela, Ahmad Kathrada and Walter Sisulu sat in for nearly 30 years. A trip to this historic island that today is a symbol of freedom from any discrimination necessitates a beautiful and pleasurable ferry ride across those sparkling waters of the cold Atlantic Ocean.
Cape Town has a spectacular flower season if you plan your visit between August and the end of September you will see blankets of wildflowers spread across nature reserves of the Western Cape. There are 12 different locations that you can choose from to see this very rare and unusual display of living color proudly displayed, like natures' masterpiece.
The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront is situated right at the end of Africa between Table Mountain and Robben Island. This working harbor gets over 20 million tourists every year.
There is plenty to do at the V&A Waterfront, from site seeing to quality dining and shopping, plus many adventurous tours, fr
om deep sea cage diving to see a Great White Shark face to face, to helicopter rides to get a thrilling aerial view of Cape Town. Between June & October is the Whale Season when the Southern Right Whale visits the shores of a town Hermanus situated about 130km from CT along the southeast coast.
Other exciting offerings are Bungy jumping, Paragliding, Skydiving, Abseiling down a series of waterfalls, snorkeling with seals or penguins, Shark or Crocodile Cage diving to name but a few.
A visit to CT is not complete without visiting the top of Table Mountain National Park now one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World & a recognized World Heritage site or the very end of the African continent ka Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope & of course the Penguin Colony at Boulders Beach.
NB. The District 6 museum is situated in Buitenkant Street about 1 km from Museum Mile.
The Chavonnes Battery Museum is located at the Clock Tower Center at the Gateway to Robben Island which is an extension of the V&A Waterfront.
At the Museum extensive restoration of antique cannons are undertaken.
Big 5 Safari is also a very exciting option in CT without having to travel 1500 kms to the north to the Kruger National Park if time is of the essence.
A Cape Peninsula Sightseeing tour is an absolute must, you will learn why Table Mountain is the oldest mountain in the world and get to experience one of the world’s most spectacular scenic drives, namely Chapman’s Peak Drive.
Cape Town offers the option of a relatively cheap, safe and ideal getaway for the lazy or the adventure seeking tourist. Here you can fulfill most of your bucket list.
Coming from the north i.e. Europe, North Africa, British Isles etc leaves you to enjoy your holidays from day one as you will not suffer from jet lag.