Introduction
Nestled below the iconic Table Mountain in front of the Atlantic Ocean, Cape Town is an exciting destination for travellers.
Known to locals as “The Mother City” it is the largest city in the Western Cape province of South Africa. It is consistently voted as one of the best cities in the world.
Cape Town is the legislative capital of South Africa. It is the country’s oldest city and seat of the Parliament.
The vibrant and thriving port city has its own cruise ship terminal, heliport and international airport. It is the perfect arrival port for Europeans visiting South Africa in search of wildlife safaris and vineyard stays.
With golf courses, vineyards and great shopping there is a lot to do and see here.
Charming local lodgings and luxurious hotels offer a wide choice of accommodations. There is a wide variety of eateries. They offer a fusion of international food, from al fresco fish and chips to the ultimate in fine dining cuisine.
Combining business with pleasure in Cape Town is very easy.
Getting There
The international airport at Matroosfontein is well served by 29 international and national carriers. These include Air France, KLM, Lufthansa, British Airways and South African Airways. The airport handles 3,800,000 departing passengers and 45,654 incoming air traffic movements each year. And those numbers are rising. It is the city’s primary international airport serving the city of Cape Town and is the second-busiest airport in South Africa and fifth busiest in Africa.
The port of Cape Town has always been important in terms of world shipping. Never more so than now with the safety issues concerning the Red Sea and Suez Canal Route to Europe. Its cruise terminal on the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront handles a constant flow of ships coming and going. It hosts some ships in transit and acts as a terminal or starting port for others.
Staying Overnight
For visits lasting just one night it makes sense to stay centrally in the downtown area. Consider the Cullinan or the Waterfront sister hotels side by side run by Southern Sun.
Prior to our joining the Swan Hellenic cruise ship Diana we stayed at the Cullinan and were well looked after. Helpful staff made our stay pleasant and efficiently moved us and our baggage safely through their system. Rooms were clean, tidy and well laid out and breakfast was plentiful and tasty.
If you are lucky enough to stay in the area for longer, we have no hesitation in recommending a stay at one of the wine estates. Top of our list in this regard would be the delightfully compact but luxurious Jordan Wine Estate in Stellenbosch. Equally lavish, is the somewhat larger, Babylonstoren Wine Estate. It offers rooms a plenty with an extensive list of activities to keep you busy and entertained.
Shopping
Situated at the foot of Table Mountain, in the heart of Cape Town’s working harbour, the V&A Waterfront offers visitors an abundance of shopping venues selling locally made souvenirs and curios. Long Street located in the City Bowl section of the city is famous as a bohemian hang out. The street is lined with many bookstores, along with a selection of ethnic restaurants and bars.
Sightseeing
Table Mountain
Table Mountain is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. The 240-million-year-old mountain is a timeless icon with a rich history and floral biodiversity and is home to over 8200 species of plant. A hike up this natural spectacle is an absolute must for those with an African adventure bucket list. For those with less time, a cable car transports visitors to the distinctive flat top with its jaw-dropping scenic views from the top. Nothing encompasses the Mother City more than the view overlooking both the Atlantic and Indian Oceans as well as the city and surrounding region.
Boulders Beach
Take a drive to the naval base town of Simonstown and visit Boulder’s Beach. Part of the Table Mountain National Park it derives its name from the inlets of giant granite boulders sheltering the landscape. The beach is also home to a colony of African penguins.
Cape Point Nature Reserve
Named the ‘Cape of Storms’ in 1488, the ‘Point’ was treated with respect by sailors for centuries. By day, it was a navigational landmark and by night, in the fog, it was a menace beset by violent storms and dangerous rocks that littered shipwrecks around the coastline. The famous Cape Point is located in the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, forming part of the Cape Floral Region which is a World Heritage Site. It includes the majestic Table Mountain chain, which stretches from Signal Hill to Cape Point, and the coastlines of the Cape Peninsula. This narrow stretch of land, dotted with beautiful valleys, bays and beaches, contains a mix of extraordinarily diverse and unique fauna and flora.
Robben Island
Declared a World Heritage Site in 1999, Robben Island is now one of Cape Town’s top attractions. During the apartheid years the island was used as a prison isolating freedom fighters and those opposed to the apartheid regime. The island’s most famous resident was Nelson Mandela. He spent most of his 27-year prison sentence there. Robben Island is now an important museum, and a conservation reserve. It is home to the world’s second largest colony of breeding pairs of vulnerable African penguins. You can easily reach it by boat. Trips leave from the V&A Waterfront
Kirstenbosch Gardens
Located on Table Mountain’s eastern slope, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden has reputation as the most beautiful garden in Africa. It is one of the great botanic gardens of the world. Kirstenbosch places a strong emphasis on the cultivation of indigenous plants. It was the first botanical garden in the world to adopt this ethos. The garden includes a large conservatory (The Botanical Society Conservatory). It exhibits plants from several different regions, including savanna, fynbos, karoo and others. Outdoors, the focus is on plants native to the Cape region, such as the Protea South Africa’s national flower.
Cape Winelands
Situated towards the northeast of Cape Town, the Cape Winelands are a haven of rich history, elegant heritage, and some of the most magnificent scenery in the country. Nestled within lush, fertile valleys, rolling hills of vineyards and rugged mountain ranges, this famed region plays host to some of the finest wines and cuisine on Earth. Franschhoek, Stellenbosch, Paarl, Wellington and Tulbagh form the backbone of the Winelands, with famous wine routes showcasing hundreds of wine producers, and grape cultivation that dates from the 1600s – making it one of the largest, and oldest winemaking regions in the world.
Eating
For a high-end dining experience, you cannot beat La Colombe at the Silvermist Wine Estate. Voted the Best Restaurant in Africa and 49th in the world for a good reason, it is one of Cape Town’s best-known restaurants. It serves a contemporary French-meets-Asian fine dining menu created by chef James Gaag.
Using the freshest seasonal produce, the tasting menu offers excellent value, exceptional wine pairings and attentive service. Diners can look forward to menu options such as the signature tuna ‘La Colombe.’ This miniature tin creation of yellowfin tuna features micro herbs, avocado puree and an umami broth.
Elsewhere in the city The Test Kitchen is renowned for its trend-setting innovative dishes and exceptional service. The Pot Luck Club offers creative tapas-style dishes in a relaxed atmosphere at the Old Biscuit Mill. While Nobu Cape Town at the One&Only delivers its usual sophisticated blend of Japanese-Peruvian cuisine.
Credit
Our trip to Cape Town was facilitated by Ker & Downey Africa the award-winning luxury travel company fuelled by a deep passion for the African continent. With a team of explorers and mindful travelers based in Cape Town, the USA, the UK, and Tanzania, they craft bespoke journeys across Africa. Their LuxVenture® trips go beyond the ordinary, designed to challenge, inspire, and leave a lasting impact while prioritising responsible travel.