Things to do in Cape Town, South Africa
Cape Town, South Africa, is without a doubt one of the most stunning locations on the planet. It is aptly nicknamed the “Mother City” and is the seat of government for the country. The sight of the white sandy beaches under the everwatchful eye of the Table Mountain is indeed a captivating scene. Stalls selling all kinds of wares contract with the sprawling shopping malls. This is one city where you will hear a wide variety of languages spoken. If you visit in the summer, it won’t be hard to see an international film crew setting up for a movie. Who knows? You might even get a part.
The first time you visit Cape Town definitely won’t be your last because of the wealth of things to see and do. It will be hard to fit everything into just one visit. You will gaze in amazement at the wide variety of architectural styles, such as Dutch, Victorian and Edwardian, reflecting the various periods of colonialism in the city’s past.
Take a township tour of the outlying areas where you will visit the site of the struggle for democracy, take a drink in a local pub, visit a craft market and so much more. There are seaside suburbs with outstanding beaches and glorious views of the sunset and sunrise over the water. Visit the Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden to see the beautiful exotic and native plants and flowers and taste the fine wines from the Constantia and Tokai Winelands. False’s Bay is the site of cozy coastal towns where you can experience the true culture of the area in the sight of the people going about their daily lives. See how the early people lived with a visit to the Bo-Kapp Museum, which dates back to the 18th century. This is the oldest existing residence in the Muslim community of the city and is typical of a Muslim residence in the earlier years.
One of the key attractions of Cape Town is a cable car ride to the top of Table Mountain from which you have the most spectacular view. The car rotates 360 on its six minute journey to the top so that you can really get the full effect of the scenery. At the top, there are miles of walking trails and the bistro at the top is the perfect place to see the sun go down.
If you are really adventurous, take part in a climb down Platteklip Gorge. The paths are treacherous and visitors to the area should take extreme caution, not only in the trails but with the winds that can come up unexpectedly.
There is very little in the way of public transportation in Cape Town, which can make the city difficult to navigate. The center of the city is well laid out and is easy to navigate on foot. There are many metered taxis available at any time of the day or night and this is how most tourists in the city get around.
There is a wealth of accommodations for all budgets and tastes, but if you intend to visit here in the summer, you should make reservations. The shopping is divine, whether you choose to shop in the more than 100 stores of Victoria Wharf, one of the other shopping locations or the small stalls and boutiques.
There is no doubt that you will be entranced by everything that Cape Town has to offer and want to make plans to return.
