Cape Town is South Africa’s oldest city and is an interesting place to visit. The Mother City has a lot to offer its visitors. Starting with the V&A Waterfront, a hub for visitors with some of the best hotels and restaurants in the city. Table Mountain and Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden are two must-see attractions in Cape Town and are easy to get to.
The surrounding areas also offer an array of activities. A drive to the Cape Peninsula will reward you with spectacular vistas. Animal lovers will appreciate a visit to Boulders Beach to see its resident colony of African penguins. Hout Bay and Seal Island also top the list of places to see in and around Cape Town.
Visiting Cape Town and the Cape Point Peninsula is something we had dreamt of doing for a long time and Cape Town was our first stop on our South African adventure. Also, spending a few days in the Mother City before our South African safari gave us time to acclimate. It’s a long way from Miami (about 30 hours)!
We opted to visit in June as a special birthday trip. The weather can be brisk, and you need to pack a few layers. We had sweaters, coats and a thin raincoat which served well as a windbreaker. June is also a time of rain and fog, and the weather can change quickly. From our room we had a great view of Table Mountain and then we didn’t, and then we did… lol!
V&A Waterfront
This area is safe and a good place to stay, albeit very touristy, with lots of shops and restaurants (but do watch for pick-pockets!). The ideal way to explore the V&A Waterfront attractions is simply to walk around. From our hotel it was a short walk to the waterfront and there was a Hop on Hop off stop nearby. By the way, Cape Town’s tourist bus is a great and inexpensive way to get around and a fun way to get a city tour.
In fact, the tourist bus stops right next to the Two Ocean Aquarium where you can get a closer look at the aquatic life found in the waters around South Africa. The exhibits display the incredible diversity found in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Qualified scuba divers can dive into some exhibits including cage-free diving with sharks. There are also interactive activities available including a close encounter with adorable penguins.
Nearby, there is the Watershed market where you can buy locally-made goods and artwork.
On the other side of the market you’ll find Noble Square which is an important landmark on the V&A Waterfront. This is where you’ll see the four bronze statues of South Africa’s Nobel Peace Prize laureates: Albert Luthuli, Desmond Tutu, FW de Klerk and Nelson Mandela.
Adjacent to Noble Square there is the V&A Food Market where we enjoyed fresh oysters at the Knysna Oyster Company. Inside the market there is a counter where you can try some biltong, a South African delicacy, which consist of strips of spiced and dried meats, including some local exotic varieties.
Other recognizable landmarks around the waterfront include the Cape Wheel and the Clock Tower located next to the Nelson Mandala Gateway to Robben Island. Also, this is where you’ll find the Chavonnes Battery Museum where you can learn about Cape Town’s history and see the vestiges of a fortification used for protecting the city.
Other museums in the area include the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (which we didn’t have time to visit) and the Diamond Museum. Be aware that this museum is located inside a jewelry store and that the visit ends in the showroom. At least we were able to visit for free; and I would not pay to see it. We could have spent that hour more wisely!
Table Mountain
The iconic flat-top mountain is by far one of Cape Town’s top attractions. It’s a must-see for sure and getting to the top of Table Mountain will reward you with picturesque vistas all around. You can opt to hike up the mountain but be advised that it’s a strenuous and risky climb. A safer and faster way to get on top is to take the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway (that’s what we did!). Save your energy for walking around the pathways atop the mountain instead. The fauna is diverse, and the park is really beautiful.
To save time waiting for the cable car, you can purchase your timeslot ticket online, but we recommend that you check the weather before you do. If you can’t see the mountain, wait and go later, because you will not see much. Although, seeing a blanket of clouds is also quite spectacular!
If you go and the weather changes be prepared to hike down, as the cableway will not run if there is a lot of wind. Also, if you missed out on getting a bird’s eye view of the city because the weather changed, you can make up for it by driving to the top of Signal Hill instead which is right next door.
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
Kirstenbosch was established in 1913 to safeguard the indigenous flora of South Africa. The botanical garden is stunning and easy to navigate. There are numerous trails throughout the park, canopies, ponds, and even a sculpture garden. It’s also a haven for bird watching. To get an overview of the garden, follow the Heritage Trail.
At the entrance there is a bonsai exhibit as well as a conservatory with succulents found in southern Africa. There is also a restaurant, café and gift shop.
We went on a Sunday and saw many local families picnicking and enjoying the grounds.
Hout Bay and Seal Island
Hout Bay is a suburb of Cape Town and the Hout Bay Harbour is the departure point for tours to Duiker Island Seal Colony. Boats cruise by seal island so you can get a closer look at these playful aquatic mammals. Tours depart daily. For those without transportation the tourist bus stops here.
There is a market where you can shop for souvenirs, as well as restaurants. We opted for fish chips at Mariner’s Wharf. Quite tasty except for the bones! We were surprised to get fish and chips in most places with bones, I guess were just spoiled with fish fillets!
The bay itself is picturesque which makes for a lovely boat ride. A scenic drive along Chapman’s Peak Drive will reward you with breathtaking views of Hout Bay and of the dramatic coastline.
Cape Peninsula
If you only have time to take one day trip, this is the one you should do! The drive to the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point is nothing short of spectacular!
We started our daylong road trip around the Cape Peninsula by taking the Chapman’s Peak Drive just outside of Hout Bay. It’s a cliffside winding road with breathtaking vistas around every bend and well worth the toll (about $3.50 for a car).
Along the way keep an eye out for wildlife: Herds of zebras, elands and other antelopes as well as troops of baboons inhabit the park. We didn’t see any, but we did spot ostriches along the coast. Look out to the sea and you might spot a whale (Jun-Nov). Look up and see majestic birds soaring high up in the sky.
The area has a diverse fauna and flora and highlights include the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point. Also, throughout the park there are numerous hiking trails. Stop by the visitor center and get information about the plants and the animals found in the nature reserve.
Of course, we had to get the obligatory photo at the most southwestern point of the African continent!
Then at Cape Point we took the Flying Dutchman Funicular up to the Old Lighthouse which was built 760 ft (238m) above sea level. From up there we got stunning views of the Cape Peninsula’s rugged and striking coastline. If you prefer, there’s also a trail to the lighthouse.
The Cape Point’s first lighthouse was lit for the first time on May 1st, 1860.However, a lighthouse built on Cape Point’s highest point was not the best because the area experiences low-hanging clouds about 900 hours a year. So, in 1913 the construction of a second lighthouse started. The lower lighthouse sits 285 ft (87m) above sea level. Furthermore, it was electrified in 1936 and is to this day the most powerful lighthouse of the South African coast with a beam visible from as much as 34 nautical miles.
It was raining and very windy, so we decided to skip the hike to the new lighthouse. Instead we enjoyed a lavish lunch at the Two Oceans Restaurant before driving back to Cape Town.
On the way we stopped at Boulders Beach to see the African penguins but since it was raining heavily, they were hiding in their burrows or under trees. Did you know that penguins don’t like the rain? We didn’t!
Boulders Beach Penguin Colony
Fortunately, we had our rental car for another day, so we went back to Boulders Beach near Simon’s Town to see the colony of African penguins. In fact, Boulders Beach viewing platform is ideal to observe at close range these interesting flightless birds.
Boulders Penguin Colony has about 2200 individuals. Not bad, considering the colony started with only two breeding pairs in 1982. The African penguin is an endangered species and it was great to see them wander freely in a protected area. We saw penguins in various stages of development including down-covered chicks and juveniles covered with a blue-gray plumage.
Boulders Beach itself is spectacular to see with huge granite boulders creating little inlets with calm water.
We visited during South Africa’s winter and there was lots of parking but perhaps this isn’t the case during the peak season.
Robben Island
The main attraction on the island is the prison where Nelson Mandela spent most of his 27-year sentence. Many other political prisoners were also incarcerated in this prison with inhumane conditions. Prisoners were condemned to hard labor. Racial discrimination was flagrant and easy to see in the displayed photographs. Black prisoners had no shoes and were wearing shorts year-round! Walking tours are led by former inmates.
Since Robben Island was on all the lists of top places to see in Cape Town, we took the ferry over to check it out. But we didn’t enjoy our visit as much as we thought we would. Once you get off the ferry you are ushered onto a bus for a quick island tour. Taking photos through a bus window isn’t that enjoyable for us. At least, we did have a brief photo stop along the way. But let me tell you that the pesky little bugs that were swarming all around us made this stop very unpleasant. Some even hid in my hair and got back on the bus with us!
Downtown Cape Town
In the downtown area don’t miss the District Six Museum. It’s about the destruction of District Six during the apartheid, a tragic but very important part of South Africa’s history. The museum has poignant exhibits. Do take the guided tour led by a survivor of the apartheid.
Then visit the Castle of Good Hope which is only a few blocks away. The fort was built in the 1600s and served as a maritime replenishment station. Inside there are military artifacts.
Also, from the top of the castle’s ramparts there are nice views of Table Mountain, the city and Signal Hill.
Other places of interest in the downtown area include Cape Town’s oldest park, the Company Garden. Nearby there’s the Green Market Square (the city’s oldest market) as well as shops, bars or cafes bordering Long Street.
However, some areas looked rundown and unsafe and it’s probably a good idea to avoid them after dark.
Cape Town’s Beaches
Cape town’s beaches are popular for surfers and beachgoers. The water temperature is cold year-round and since we visited during South Africa’s winter, we didn’t spend a lot of time there. The waves were huge, and It was also foggy most of the time.
Conclusion
Overall, we enjoyed our visit to Cape Town and environs. There is a lot to do and see in and around the city. Even with 5 days to explore we didn’t have time to go to the winelands or to see more of the dramatic coastline.
Perhaps one day we will have the chance to explore more of it: Go on a whale-watching tour in Gansbaai or see the Marine Big 5 (dolphins, whales, sharks, seals and penguins). Maybe even go to Cape Agulhas which is Africa’s most southern point and where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet.
Meanwhile we are grateful that we got to see this vibrant beautiful city before heading out on a magical South African Safari in the Kruger area where we did see the Big 5.