Cape Town Tourist-Attractions

Cape Town Tourist-Attractions information

Table Mountain

Cape Town's internationally recognised symbol, the flat-topped mountain does indeed resemble a table, and the afternoon cloud rolls over the sides like a pristine white tablecloth. The viewing platforms on top provide wonderful vistas, and the restaurants and bars help to ensure the perfect sunset encounter. Weather permitting, it is a good idea to visit the top when you first arrive, as the view allows you to orientate yourself for the remainder of your visit - just about every key attraction is visible from the viewing area around the cable car station. Beyond the official viewing areas, paths flare out over the magical, lunar plateau, leading downwards on the many walking and climbing routes that make the mountain a unique wilderness only 10 minutes from the city centre. You can access the 3km-wide summit plateau via the rotating cable car, which takes five minutes and costs ZAR115 return, or do it properly and climb one of the many trails to the top, which should take you around three hours. The safest and most popular route is Platteklip Gorge which begins 600m left of the cable car along the tarred road; ask the parking attendants for directions. Other trails vary in difficulty and you should gauge your fitness carefully before attempting any route.

Robben Island

Nelson Mandela was jailed in this political prison for 27 years, emerging to lead his country into an inclusive democracy. The institutional brutality of the prison environment is in striking counterpoint to the manifest humanity and compassion fostered in Mandela during his incarceration. Recently declared a UNESCO World Heritage site, the island was first used as a prison in the 15th century and later as a 19th-century leper colony and mental asylum. Today a tour of the island takes in Mandela's cell and the labour mines, and is lead by original inmates who share their stories and answer questions. Ferries depart daily from the V&A Waterfront on the hour between 09h00-15h00, depending on weather conditions. Tours take 3.5 hours and cost ZAR150, adults; ZAR75, children, including the 30-minute ferry ride. You must book ahead.

Camps Bay and the Clifton beaches

It's a sunny day and you're on holiday, so head for the beach. Camps Bay is the most picturesque and fashionable of the lot, with hip restaurants and bars lining the concourse, against the backdrop of Table Mountain's Twelve Apostles. This is where the beautiful people get their tans and sip their sundowner cocktails. The palm trees lining the sand create a deceptive tropical air to this area. To the left facing the mountain you will find Clifton Beaches I through IV; these are good when the wind picks up as giant boulders offer protection and enclaves of privacy for families, lovers or pale tourists. The only cloud on your horizon might be the water temperature: it seldom gets above 12°C even on the hottest days.

The Victoria and Alfred Waterfront

Cape Town's most popular tourist attraction is a fusion of history and modern conveniences that offers visitors a plethora of hotels, shops, cinemas, restaurants and bars with great views of mountain and sea. The harbour, around which the attractions are arranged, is still working and is the departure point for trips to Robben Island, as well as the highly recommended sunset cruises across Table Bay (dress warmly). The Two Oceans Aquarium is a superbly designed marine extravaganza and the perfect precursor to a cracking seafood meal at one of the nearby restaurants. In the evenings there are numerous bars and cafés to hang out at, although it can be difficult to shake the mall-like atmosphere. The recently expanded Red Shed Craft Workshop near the aquarium has an enormous range of crafty stalls, indigenous arts and idiosyncratic shops such as the makers of Nelson Mandela's lurid shirts.

Boulders Beach

On the other side (the east) of Cape Town, near historic Simonstown, Boulders Beach is a truly unique experience. You share the beach and water with a protected colony of Jackass penguins, and the enormous boulders - as if strewn by a casual giant - provide good protection from the wind. Perfect for families, the water here is much warmer than at most Cape beaches, and the swimming area free of treacherous currents or waves. Get there by driving south on the M3, turning left 500m after passing through Simonstown. Boulders is an ideal stopover en route to Cape Point or when on a scenic drive around the peninsula. Visitors now require a WILD card to access Boulders Beach. The permit is valid for one year for all parks, reserves and resorts, and can be bought at the entrance, costing ZAR195 for one person, or ZAR440 for a family. For international visitors the card costs ZAR795 for one person, or ZAR1795 for a family. An upgraded card, allowing access to all Cape Nature Conservation Reserves (including Cape Point), costs ZAR120 per person; ZAR245 family.

Hout Bay

Hout Bay enjoys a majestic setting, nestling between the far end of the Table Mountain range and the deep blue Atlantic Ocean. Whales are frequently sighted here, even from the shore, and there are some excellent seafood restaurants and takeaways to the right of the main beach by the harbour. Good news for visitors is that Chapman's Peak Drive - the most picturesque access route - opened to vehicles once more in late-2003, after a long time spent closed following rock falls. The first stretch of the road has some great viewing bays and picnic areas - these are some of the best places in Cape Town to catch the sunset. Nearby World of Birds is one of the world's largest walk-in aviaries and houses thousands of bird species. Open: daily 09h00-17h00 (Tuesday open 09h00-17h30).

Adventure sports

There is no better place in the world to indulge your addiction to adrenaline. Below is just a selection of the adventure sports that are commercially available in and around Cape Town. Bungee Jumping A few hours' drive outside of Cape Town, the Bloukrans bungee jump, is one of the world's highest commercial bungee jumps at 160m/500 ft. Kiwi Extreme operates the experience. Abseiling Abseil Africa offers a 200ft abseil departing from the observatory platform at the top of Table Mountain. Although very safe, the experience is exhilarating and guaranteed to impress onlookers. Rock climbing An ideal venue for rock climbers ranging from aspirant to expert, there are several thousand high quality routes on perfect granite within sight of the city centre. Julian Fisher's "Cape Rock" is the definitive guide. Great White Shark Cage Diving Nearby Seal Island, in False Bay off Cape Town, is one of the few places in the world where experienced scuba divers are able to cage dive with the fearsome Great White Shark, the number one predator in the ocean. Paragliding Cape Town is blessed with great thermals and predictable wind making this a good venue for learning paragliding. For those who know their stuff, head up to Lion's Head and take a sunset flight, landing on Camp's Bay beach for a sundowner or two.

The Winelands

Against a backdrop of snow-brushed mountains, the rolling vineyards of South Africa's wine producing heartland welcome visitors for summer picnics, wine tasting and gourmet food. Some of the most popular estates are Spier (which hosts concerts on summer evenings), Boschendal and Simonsberg (which both feature five-star restaurants). Most estates are clustered around the historic towns of Franschoek, Paarl and Stellenbosch, each full of charm and well worth a visit en route to your wine tasting. These are some of the oldest settlements in South Africa, founded by French Huguenots in the 17th century. Fleeing religious persecution these settlers brought with them live vines and vintner skills from France. As the wine estates are at least an hour's drive from Cape Town, you will need to either rent a car or take an organised tour from the city - the latter option preferred by those wishing to engage in extensive tasting. Wine can be bought tax-free at good prices and then shipped to your home address from most vineyards.

Groot Constantia

Groot Constantia is a building of considerable historical and architectural interest and the main highlight of the Constantia wine route (the closest wine route to the city). Built by Governor Simon van der Stel in 1685, the stately Cape Dutch mansion sits at the heart of one of the oldest wine estates in the region. The wine cellar houses the Wine Museum and a fine collection of associated paraphernalia, while the Manor House exhibits the AA de Pass collection of period furniture. On the M3 towards Muizenburg, turn left at the sign to Groot Constantia. Open: daily 10h00-17h00. Admission: ZAR8, adults; ZAR2, children.

Cape Point

The Cape Point Nature Reserve is a magnificent floral kingdom and marine park; certainly a key attraction even without its erroneous attribution as the tip of Africa (that distinction belongs to Cape Agulhas, 200km to the south). A more enduring mythical association is that Cape Point is the precise meeting place for the Indian and Atlantic oceans. Although the "Two Oceans theory" is blatantly absurd, locals can get quite upset defending it. One thing is certain though and that is the miles of unspoiled and unoccupied beach to explore as well as numerous roads to drive down while viewing the flowers and herds of buck. At low tide look for the various shipwrecks that lie off-shore, and at night keep an eye out for the portentous ghostship, the Flying Dutchman which is said to haunt these waters. Be warned though, this is a heavily touristed location, but make the effort to escape the masses and you can still experience a surprising sense of peace and solitude. Visitors now require a WILD card to access Cape Point. The permit is valid for one year for all parks, reserves and resorts, and can be bought at the entrance, costing ZAR195 for one person, or ZAR440 for a family. For international visitors the card costs ZAR795 for one person, or ZAR1795 for a family. An upgraded card allowing access to all Cape Nature Conservation Reserves (including Boulders Beach) costs ZAR120 per person; ZAR245 family. Kirstenbosch Yet another superb natural attraction, these premier botanical gardens put on a glorious show in wonderful natural surroundings. Founded in 1895 by Cecil John Rhodes, the gardens highlight the extraordinary floral diversity of the Cape with over 6,000 species, most of which are unique to the region. The flora is punctuated by Zimbabwean stone sculptures and on Sunday afternoons in the summer (Dec-Mar) there are sundowner concerts by top local musicians (arrive early to avoid disappointment). The herb garden was designed for blind visitors and has braille labels to accompany the wonderfully aromatic plants. The newly built conservatory is a superb addition to the gardens and is a definite must-see. For walkers, Kirstenbosch is contiguous with Table Mountain and thus makes an ideal starting or finishing point for a hike up the mountain. Rhodes Drive (13km from the city centre). Open: 08h00-18h00 (Apr-Aug); 08h00-19h00 (Sep-Mar). Admission: ZAR22.

Kalk Bay

With its fishermen, historic buildings and relaxing ambience, Kalk Bay still feels like the small village it once was. Every day at around 13h00, the local fishermen offload their catch and sell it right there on the beach. Facing onto the sea are numerous trendy eateries and antique shops, and near the station is the legendary Brass Bell (Tel: +27 (0)21-788-5456), celebrated for its seafood. Perched above and alongside the crashing waves the Bell is always an evocative venue whether on a baking summer's day or when a squall sends the breakers smashing ever higher against the shore. Kalk Bay has in recent years become the centre of the city's arts and crafts scene. The art galleries, textile stores and ceramics workshops are perfect for finding that unique South African gift or souvenir. The best part is that you can get here on the train, leaving every 20 minutes from the central train station (cost ZAR10) and winding a scenic, relaxing route overland to the sea. There are intermittent security concerns to train travel so get an update at your departing station before travelling and always go first class, as there is a carriage guard.

District Six

In the 1960s, the area known locally as District Six was a thriving community of Cape Malay people in the heart of city. The apartheid government, threatened by this spontaneous cultural flowering, moved in with bulldozers, flattened the place and forcibly relocated 66,000 residents to outlying townships. Today, the area is being reclaimed and tours can be taken reliving the history of this very South African tragedy. The District Six Museum houses documentary photographs and other exhibits that articulate the cultural loss suffered by this community. 25A Buitenkant St. Open: Mon-Sat 09h00-16h00.

Bo-Kaap

Slaves brought from India and the East Indies by the Dutch originally founded the Bo-Kaap area (also known as the Malay Quarter) in the 17th and 18th centuries. Today the narrow streets of pastel coloured houses are still paved with the original cobblestones. Interjecting between these distinctive homesteads are mosques and restaurants that cater to the community's 10,000 residents. The local cuisine is distinctive and flavoursome, featuring fruit, spices, vegetables and meat. The fascinating Bo-Kaap museum is on Wale Street. Walk south for a block and you'll see Auwal, the country's oldest mosque - founded by dissident Muslims in 1795. Bo-Kaap Museum. 71 Wale St. Open: Mon-Sat 09h30-16h30. Admission: ZAR5, adults; ZAR2, children.