Cape Town - where Atlantic Ocean embraces the Indian Ocean !
Home to the iconic Table Mountains, the city of Cape Town is commonly known as the 'Gateway of Africa'. Spectacular natural scenic beauty, charming fishing villages, gushing waterfalls, splendid wildlife, exotic wine land tours, and a wide variety of water sports; make Cape Town a must visit tourist destination for every travel enthusiast.
An endless array of activities in Cape Town is sure to make you feel short of time. Here is a list of 'Must Do Things' in Cape Town.
Take a Sneak Peak into South Africa's period of Apartheid at Robben Island
Robben Island is the most famous tourist attraction in Cape Town. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, this place is a must visit for history buffs. With its heart rendering past, Robben Island is home to the prison where former president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, spent 18 years during the period of apartheid. The prison was also a home to many other political leaders of South Africa during those years. The ex-political prisoners now work here as guides and take the tourists through a guided tour of the prison. The Nelson Mandela cell is the major highlight of the tour and is worth a visit. The cell is kept in its original condition with one desk, few books and a hard bed.
When on Robben Island, do not forget to take a bus tour which takes you to the lime quarry where Mandela and his fellow prisoners did hard labor.
Visit the Home of African Penguins at the Boulder's Beach
Wide stretches of white sand, massive boulders of granite and thousands of African Penguins; is what aptly describes the Boulder's Beach. Located on the Indian Ocean side of the Cape Peninsula with comparatively warmer waters, Boulder's Beach is frequented by lots of travelers especially the Penguin lovers. Watching the playful activities of these penguins from the wooden boardwalks is surely a great fun especially for kids. As they waddle on the land, you are ought to give a hearty giggle. Most of the times, the penguins ignore the fences and can get very close to you. Make sure that you do not touch or feed them as they can bite you with their razor sharp beaks.
Swim with the White Sharks
Get the thrilling experience of swimming with white sharks at the picturesque fishing village of Gansbaai. Also known as the 'Shark Capital of the World', Gansbaai has abundance of white sharks which makes it an ideal place to get indulged into this heart-pounding experience. You will be put inside the steel cage which will be immersed around 1m. below the water in the sea. Before diving in to the sea, the expert diver or the guide will brief you about the safety tips. Once inside the sea, the guides will lure the sharks near the cage and the boat by pulling the bait lines. The smell of the bait will draw these enormous creatures near to the cage. This is the time when you will get an eye-to-eye contact with the most feared marine predators of the world. Do not forget to take back home some lifetime memories in the form of pictures and videos.
Get a Bird's Eye View of the Mother City from the Table Mountain
The iconic symbol and the most prominent landmark of Cape Town is its Table Mountain, also known as the flattest mountain in the world. The spectacular views of the city below, the Atlantic coastline and the far off Robben Island, is sure to make you fall in love with this place. Most of the people get to the table top through 5 minutes cable car ride but if you are an adventure buff, you can also hike up to the top.
The table mountain is a home to varied variety of flora and fauna. The sight of a unique species of animal called dassie which resembles a rabbit, is very common on the top of the mountain. You will find them lazing around on the rocks getting some warmth from the sun. Do not forget to take some memorable pictures of these cute little species.
Take a Walk up to the Lion's Head
Lion's head is a mountain near the Table Mountain. As its name indicates, the shape of this mountain resembles a crouching lion and hence the name. The sternous hike up to the top of the mountain is not easy and is recommended for only experienced hikers and trekkers. A hike on a full moon night is what gives you stunning views of the well lit city.
Take a Drive up to the Signal Hill
Adjacent to the Lion's Head is the Signal Hill which resembles the crouching Lion's tail. As its name indicates, the hill is used to communicate with nearby ships through flag signals. Signal hill is a hiker's paradise as lot of hikers and trekkers trek up to the top of this hill. Also, this hill is famous as a great picnic spot and lot of families visit here to enjoy some wonderful picnics. Watching the sun setting over the Atlantic Ocean from the hill top is a treat to your eyes. You can also enjoy activities like paragliding and parasailing from the Signal Hill.
Indulge into Whale Watching Experience at Hermanus
Hermanus, a beautiful seaside town outside Cape Town, is considered to be the best whale watching viewing point in the world. Season between July and September is ideal for getting the awe-inspiring sight of the mighty Southern Side (as they are called) and Humpback Whales which come here from Antarctica to the warmer waters of Southern Atlantic to calve and breed. You can take a cliff top walk along the Hermanus coast to get panoramic views of these whales playing and nursing their new born calves.
If you want to get even more closer to these mighty predators, you can go for some boat tours which are organized by various tour operators in Cape Town. If you are in Cape Town during September timeframe, do not miss the whale watching festival where apart from the whale watching, you can indulge yourslef in various other activities like enjoying some great live musical performances and gorging on delicious food .
See the Cape Point
It is a well known fact that Cape of Good Hope, the southernmost tip of Africa, was discovered by Vasco de Gama while on his discovery of sea route to India. Which tourist of Cape Town would not want to see this iconic place? It is a magical experience to actually see the chilled waters of Atlantic Ocean blending together with the warmer waters of the Indian Ocean. This point where the two waters meet, is termed as the 'Cape Point'. To reach the Cape Point, you need to drive through the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve while getting the sights of Baboons and Ostrich on your way. The serenity of the Cape Point will surely make you feel close to God.
If time permits, take a guided tour of the Ostrich Farm nearby and get some hand painted Ostrich eggs as souvenirs.
Explore the Cape Winelands
Your trip to Cape Town is incomplete without taking a scenic trip through historic villages, streets lined up with oak trees and dutch & georgian buildings; finally leading you to some of the best wine producing regions of South Africa. The Stellenbosch wine estate is famous for its fortified wine and locally produced chocolate. Take an opportunity to taste some of the finest white wines and cheeses at the Fairview Wine Estate in the Paarl wine region. Learn about slow ripening of grapes at the Franschhoek vineyard located in the Helderberg mountain range. Set amidst beautiful mountains, this winery gives incredible views of vast stretches of vineyards all around. The air filled with sweet scent of grapes and the view of softly swaying oak trees will surely fill your heart with joy.
Take a Big 5 African Game Safari
South Africa is famous for its 5 wild beasts namely Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Buffallo and Rhino. Aquila Wildlife Reserve near Cape Town is where you can go for an African Wildlife Safari and get face to face with these legendary wild beasts. Taking the luxurious Big 5 Game Safari is the best thing which you can indulge into when you are in Cape Town. Apart from the Big 5, you can also spot animals like Giraffe and Zebra in the reserve. Aquila Wildlife Reserve is also a heavne for the bird watchers. After the safari, you can also visit thousands of years old Bushman Rock Art sites.
Take a Walk through Bo-Kaap
Narrow cobble stoned streets and brightly colored houses is what describes Bo-Kaap, the spiritual home of the Muslim community living in Cape Town. During the 16th and 17th centuries, Dutch rulers imported slaves from various muslim countries like Malaysia and Indonesia. These slaves were named as 'Cape Malays' and that is the reason why Bo-Kaap is also known as Cape Malay Quarter. At the Bo-Kaap, you must visit the Cape Malay Museum, which is the oldest building of the slave era. If you get a chance, do try the Cape Malay Cuisine easily available at any restaurant in Bo-Kaap.
Shop at V&A Waterfront
Situated between the Table Mountain and the Robben Island, V&A Waterfront is a historic harbour and is one of the most visited tourist spots in Cape Town. It is most famous for its luxury shopping and fine dining options. You will find here all the luxury fashion brands such as Mango, Guess, Ed Hardy and Ana Sousa. If you are interested in buying a superior quality hand crafted stuff ranging from wooden furniture to home furnishing and decorative items, then V&A Craft Market is the best place to hang out.
Dig into Cape Town's History at the Castle of Good Hope
Do not forget to visit the oldest colonial building of South Africa, 'The Castle of Good Hope', when you are in Cape Town. Located in the heart of the city, it is one of the top tourist attractions in Cape Town. This is a must visit place if you are curious in knowing the history of Cape Town. If time permits, do take a guided tour which takes you through bastions and prison cells in the castle. The 'Change of Guards Ceremony' which is held at 12 o'clock every day is worth watching.
Go Shopping for Curios at the Green Market Square
You cannot miss the bustling life of the oldest flea market of Cape Town which is held everyday from Monday to Saturday at the Greenmarket Square. This is the best place to shop for authentic South African curios. The Greenmarket Square is always full of life with jugglers, musicians, mime artists, and acrobats giving live performances. Sit at a sidewalk table and enjoy the hustle -bustle of this market while enjoying every sip of coffee.
Indulge in Sandboarding Experience at Atlantis Sand Dunes
Sandboarding at the Atlantis Sand Dunes is an adventure sport which none of the Adventure buffs should miss. Various tour operators organize the sand dune excursion for you. You can opt for a Land Rover experience or a Quad Biking adventure to explore these dunes.
Like it on Facebook, Tweet it or share this article on other bookmarking websites.