Kiribu

As the Southern most city of Africa, Cape Town has much to offer besides a view (if distant) of the Antarctic. While Cape Town itself is very nice, most of the major attractions, like Robben Island, Table Mountain and Cape Point, are just outside the city.

Clearly the most noticable sight in Cape Town is Table Mountain, a fantastic flat-topped mountain that serves as a dramatic backdrop to the city. There are a number of ways to appreciate this hill, and probably the best photo opportunity is to be had from the boat to Robben Island. However, you can easily reach the top for some spectacular views. The obvious way to the summit is by the rotating cable car, giving panoramic views all the way to the top. For the more energetic, the walk up the Platteklip Gorge is a rewarding hike. It may seem short, but is very intense, so only try it if you are fit and well. The plateau hosts a visitor centre, and a number of marked routes to gain views in any direction.

Nelson Mandela spent 18 years at Robben Island and was one of the many political prisoners there during the struggle against apartheid. The last prisoners left in 1996 and now it has become a living museum. You can only visit on an official tour, departing from the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town. All tours are hosted in part by an ex-political prisoner who can give real insight into what it was like there. This tour is very popular, so make sure you book in advance.

The V&A Waterfront (Which doesn’t stand for Victoria and Albert, but Victoria and Alfred, her son) is a renovated harbour area with many shops and restaurants, and so a great place to pick up gifts and to enjoy a meal.

Cape Point is a scenic headland at the southern-most tip of the Cape peninsula. A funicular takes you to the highest point, with views in all directions. There is a nice walk to the Cape of Good Hope, about 2km along the coast. Note that this isn’t the most southerly point of Africa, that is Cape Agulhas about 150km to the east.

A trip to Cape Point takes you past a number of places to visit. These include Boulders Beach near Simon’s Town, home to the African Penguin. You can wander freely between the Penguins, and if you’re lucky one may visit while you’re sunbathing on the beach!

Constantia Valley is home to a number of vineyards, including Groot Constantia and Buitenverwachting. Groot Constantia does a very good wine tour.

Kirstenbosch is a spectacular botanical garden just south of Cape Town and is notable for only cultivating indigenous plants. You can also take the trail up Skeleton Gorge to the top of Table Mountain from Kirstenbosch, which is actually a fairly easy route despite its name!

A little further afield to the east of Cape Town is Hermanus, a lovely town famous for its whale watching! You can relax in the sea-side cafes and wait for the Whale Crier to blow his horn to signal the arrival of a whale in the bay. The most common whales are the Southern Right Whales, though Humpbacks also make regular appearances. If you fancy seeing White Sharks up close, tours depart here to take you to Gansbaai to dive with them.

The Kleinplasie Living Open Air Museum, slightly inland near Worcester, is an interactive lifestyle museum showing how agricultural communities lived between 1690 and 1900.

The vineyards at Stellenbosch to the north of Cape Town form part of the Cape Winelands, the largest wine growing region in South Africa. A day tour here involves a visit to 4 or 5 farms, some cellar tours and plenty of drinking!

See more photos from around Cape Town here.