Destinations : South Africa : Cape Town

About Cape Town

Cape Town is the second largest city in South Africa and is the capital of the Western Cape Province, as well as being the legislative capital of South Africa. It is located in the south-west corner of the country near the Cape of Good Hope, and is the most southern city in Africa.

It is a stone's throw from South Africa's world-famous Cape Winelands around Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek.

Best times to visit are:

October and November: The weather is getting good. Spring is in the air, but it is not as hot as mid-summer yet. These months can be windy months. The South-Easter is known as the Cape Doctor as it blows away a great deal of pollution!

December to March: These are the prime summer months of long hot days. The sun sets late in the evening (it stays light up until about 8:30PM in December) and there is generally a lot going on. February is the most reliable month for weather, with week after week of hot days.

April and May: This can change from year to year, but generally speaking although it starts raining, it is still warm. There are far fewer visitors around, and you can get excellent deals on accommodation, food and most tourism services.

Cape Town

For the last three decades the Winelands of Cape Town have attracted increasing numbers of visitors to sample and purchase wine and to enjoy the unique ambience and natural attractions of the area with the achieve of recognition of wine tourism. In the Province of Western Cape, in the surroundings of Cape Town you can visit the Wine Routes: Constantia, Helderberg, Durbanville, Olifants River, Swartland, Tulbagh, Paarl, Worcester, Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Overberg, Rawsonville, Wellington, Klein Karoo.

There are 11 official languages in South Africa and if it is true that one of them is English, South Africans use many local phrases. For example “Sharp” that means good or OK.

Cape Town has some of the best beaches in the world to offer, so if you're a sand-and-sea lover be sure to take some time out to relax and soak up the sun. From the family beaches on the False Bay coastline to the trendy Clifton beaches on the Atlantic Seaboard, you're sure to find a stretch of sand that suits your fancy. Some of these beaches are: Atlantic Seaboard Beaches (Clifton Beach, Camps Bay, Llandudno Beach), or False Bay Beaches (Muizemberg), Fish Hoek Beach, Boulders Beach – home to the African Penguins; Hout Bay; Noordhoek & Kommetjie; Bloubergstrand Beaches, Helderberg Beaches (Strand, Gordon’s Bay and Bikini Beach).

Sites to visit:

1. Peninsula tour and Boulders Penguin Colony,
2. Table Mountain for a birds eye view of the city and the harbour and Greenmarket Square for some African art, jewellery and clothing
3. Wine tasting in Stellenbosch and Franschhoek
4. Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens
5. Take the ferry to Robben Island and visit the prison that was home to Nelson Mandela as well as many other political prisoners.
6. V&A Waterfront
7. You could also visit The Two Oceans Aquarium.

The Western Cape, and particularly Cape Town and surrounds, offers excellent opportunities for bird watching and enthusiasts will find a varied number of reserves that make for excellent viewing. Remember also there are plenty of opportunities for walking and hiking in and around Cape Town from gentle strolls to more strenuous day-hikes. Go horseriding in Constantia or Noordhoek or take a scenic helicopter trip. . For golf enthusiasts, there'll be plenty of time to try out a few of Cape Town's excellent golf courses.

Shopping

Cape Town has a shopping experience for everyone. Cape Town is an affordable shopping destination with a wide variety of goods on offer. From hand-crafted jewellery, intricate beadwork and traditional African art to designer labels, diamonds and precious stones, Visit one of the trendy shopping malls or scour the local flea markets and streetside stalls for gifts, souveniers and a piece of Cape Town to take home.

The major shopping malls are: V&A Waterfront, Cavendish Square, Constantia Village, Bayside Centre, Canal Walk, Tygervalley, Somerset Mall.

A visit to one of Cape Towns markets is a great way to pick-up gifts and souveniers from a wide variety of local designers, artists and entrepreneurs. Interesting markets are Green Market Square, The Red Shed Craft Workshop, Waterfront Craft Market. Only on Sundays visit The Greenpoint Market . There are also Open-air craft markets that are held on most weekends in various areas including Hout Bay, Constantia, Kirstenbosch and Rondebosch. The quaint main street in Kalk Bay is great for antiques, memorabilia and bargains. Hout Bay also offers an array of craft shops and galleries - all set in beautiful surroundings. Set in the heart of trendy Green Point, the Cape Quarter offers home décor, art and artefacts, fashion, beauty, health and lifestyle related stores all housed in a unique Cape Malay architecture. Shops, boutiques and cafes are abuzz by day.

Eating and Drinking

Cape Town is home to a wide variety of excellent restaurants presenting a range of cuisine from fresh Mediterranean flavours to exotic Asian spices, local Cape Malay dishes and traditional African meals. Restaurants in Cape Town are generally well-priced and are often run by top internationally trained chefs. In addition you'll generally find excellent wine lists offering a wide selection of top local wines and, more often than not the location itself will offer superb views and a memorable ambience.

Seafood is also popular in the Cape with fresh linefish as well as oysters appearing on many menus. Ostrich is also popular and for the more adventurous various other game such as springbok and kudu can be tried.

Nightlife

Cape Town has many bars, clubs and restaurants to choose from creating a vibrant nightlife. Bars stay open late and clubs get going from 11pm; many restaurants are open till midnight, some later. The V&A Waterfront offers a variety of nightlife and entertainment from pubs and restaurants to jazz and live music in the outdoor amphitheatre; as well as in the city centre which is the main hub and offers a range of venues from ultra-trendy to ultra-laid back . Also along the Atlantic Seaboard areas of Clifton and Camps Bay. Alternatively, head to Grand West Casino for a glitzy night of gambling, wining and dining. The casino offers a host of restaurants and bars as well as cinemas and other entertainment. Do not forget that Greenpoint is a vibrant area.

Hotels in Cape Town

The Best Boutique and Design hotels in Cape Town : Le Vendome Hotel,