SOUTH AFRICA - Cape Town

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The feeling in the Cape is certainly not purely African, but rather cosmopolitan, with a unique African twist; the weather is quite unlike that on the rest of the country and the continent and the landscape differs dramatically as well.

For most of the year, the Cape experiences weather which changes from pleasant to sublime, but it has earned its nickname "Cape of Storms" with good reason. The Cape is the only part of Africa which falls within a temperate climate zone and it enjoys typical Mediterranean weather with long, hot summer days and cool, wet winters.

Cape Town offers incredible scenic pleasures, fascinating history, endless coastline with pristine beaches, hiking, sailing, cycling, boating, and loads of other outdoor activities, world-class winelands, superb nightlife and fine food and wine.

Explore Cape Town’s vibrant Victoria & Alfred Waterfront ...

• Two Oceans Aquarium – an Indian Ocean wonderland
• Craft Market & Wellness Center
• Iziko Maritime Museum
• Nelson Mandela Gateway to Robben Island
• Nobel Square – paying tribute to South Africa’s 4 Nobel Peace Prize Laureates
• Enjoy fresh Cape fish at one of the many informal restaurants and pubs overlooking the harbour
• Watch the buskers and entertainment in the Amphitheatre
• Meander through the shopping area - coffee shops, book shops, curio shops, boutiques, home stores and African art
• Scratch Patch – children’s delight!

CAPE PENINSULA (the “TIP OF AFRICA”):

Take a full day Cape Peninsula private or small non-exclusive tour with one of our excellent local guides. Drive down the Atlantic coastline with its stunning mountain and sea views and stop at Hout Bay Harbor where, as an optional extra, you may take a half-hour cruise to Seal Island. Leave Hout Bay and drive along the spectacular Chapmans Peak road - 600m above the ocean and considered to be one of the finest scenic coastal drives in the world. View Long Beach and Noordhoek and continue through the valley to Kommetjie and Scarborough. Enter the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve – you will probably encounter a family of chacma baboons. Walk up to the old lighthouse or take an optional funicular ride for spectacular views of False Bay at the “tip of Africa”. Then on up the Indian Ocean coastline to view an African Penguin colony and drive through Simon’s Town, headquarters of the South African Navy. The last stop of the day is at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens where a brief time is spent walking through the magnificent display of flora the Cape has to offer. You may also have time to stop at historic Groot Constantia on the Constantia Wine Route.

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE NATURE RESERVE

The Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve forms part of the Cape Peninsula Park and is managed by the South African National Parks. The Nature Reserve is recognized globally for its extraordinary land formation, rich and diverse fauna and unique flora. Nowhere else in the world does an area of such spectacular beauty and such rich biodiversity exist almost within a metropolitan area as it does in the thriving and cosmopolitan City of Cape Town.

The legendary Cape Point and Cape of Good Hope form part of the Nature Reserve. These promontories were key beacons for the early explorers. In 1488, Bartholomew Dias named the Peninsula Cabo Tormentoso, or the Cape of Storms. King John II of Portugal later gave it the name Cape of Good Hope. In 1580, Sir Frances Drake proclaimed it to be " … the most stately thing and the fairest Cape we saw in the whole circumference of the earth."

SEA KAYAKING – to Boulders to see the Penguins:

ROBBEN ISLAND:

Visible from Cape Town across Table Bay, Robben Island is a haven for sea birds. But for centuries, it was a harsh place of banishment and isolation. Surrounded by the rough Atlantic surf that made escape almost impossible, the island became a prison for anyone from lowly convicts and lepers, members of the Indonesian nobility and imams thought to be inciting mutiny in the East Indies, to regal Xhosa chieftains, and later scores of anti-apartheid activists and prominent black leaders such as Nelson Mandela and Robert Sobukwe. From the Nelson Mandela Gateway take a 30 minute ferry ride across Table Bay to infamous Robben Island, where Mandela was imprisoned for some 17 years. Pre-book to avoid disappointment, especially in high season (Southern Hemisphere summer)!

VISIT NELSON MANDELA’S FINAL PRISON HOME IN THE CAPE’S WINE REGION

As the 21st anniversary of Nelson Mandela's Long Walk to Freedom is commemorated we now have a very special experience to offer! It is now possible to visit the small house which he occupied after his lengthy incarceration on Robben Island. The small house was originally designed for use by a prison warden. The atmosphere in this intimate space is palpable- hear first-hand accounts of events that unfolded during his time spent there. This is, by far, the closest you can get to this great statesman without meeting him personally. No one will leave unmoved!

TABLE MOUNTAIN AERIAL CABLEWAY:

Take a ride to the top of Table Mountain on the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway in the early morning or at sunset – the views on all sides are spectacular!

HIKING ON TABLE MOUNTAIN can be very rewarding with spectacular scenery and flora and fauna! But we recommend that you always walk with a guide – weather can change dramatically in a short time and some paths can be challenging – your safety and security is our first concern!

KIRSTENBOSCH BOTANICAL GARDENS – on the slopes of Table Mountain - a celebration of indigenous South African flora - fynbos, proteas, cycads and rolling lawns. Kirstenbosch was established in 1913 to promote, conserve and display the extraordinarily rich and diverse flora of Southern Africa, and was the first botanic garden in the world to be devoted to a country's indigenous flora. There are over 7 000 species in cultivation at Kirstenbosch, including many rare and threatened species. The Garden covers 36 hectares in a 528 hectare estate that contains protected mountainside, supporting natural forest and fynbos along with a variety of small animals and birds. Kirstenbosch lies in the heart of the Cape Floristic Region, also known as the Cape Floral Kingdom.

In 2004 the Cape Floristic Region, including Kirstenbosch, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site – so Kirstenbosch is the first botanic garden in the world to be included within a natural World Heritage Site.

The sweeping views from the upper slopes are spectacular. Whether for a casual stroll, a more strenuous walk or a lazy picnic, the gardens are a must-see when visiting Cape Town.

 

GREAT WHITE SHARK SAFARI – in False Bay

Great White Sharks are vulnerable, yet highly evolved masters of the sea. Chris and Monique Fallows have been working with Great Whites since 1980 and were the first to film these amazing hunters breaching in pursuit of their favourite prey – Cape Fur Seals. This safari looks for the Great White Sharks that patrol Seal Island in False Bay – there are more than 60,000 seals as well as a host of bird species that make this a truly fascinating area to visit and a naturalist’s paradise. Observing the natural predatory behaviour of the sharks for as long as possible is the main focus. Cage diving is an option.

Depart your hotel before daybreak, and drive to Simonstown harbour to be on the water as the sun rises over the mountains. Light lunch, snacks and soft drinks are served on the boat. Afternoon excursions are also available. All shark safaris are weather dependent and the best time is May to September.

Shark Safaris can also be done from Gansbaai – 1.5 hours drive up the east coast north of Hermanus.

CAPE WINELANDS TOUR (Full Day Scheduled or Private Excursion or Half Day Private tour)

Cape Winelands: Few places in the world offer the magnificent scenic wineland areas that the Cape does – mountains rise above vineyard valleys and 200 year old Cape Dutch homesteads rest in the shade of giant oak trees. The winelands of the Cape are quite vast, but when your stay is short, the best can be found in historic Stellenbosch, Paarl and the beautiful valley of Franschhoek, home of the Cape’s French Huguenots. Your wine tour will include estates chosen for their great wine, their beauty or their historic significance. A Cape Winelands Cycling Excursion is also an option.

OTHER CAPE TOWN HIGHLIGHTS:

• Visit the Cape Quarter in the Bo-kaap area of the city (the old Cape Malay area) – trendy restaurants, galleries
• Visit the Castle of Good Hope – the oldest building in South Africa
• Walk through the Company Gardens in the city center, flanked by historic buildings and museums. Take high tea at the grand, historic Mount Nelson Hotel at the top of the Gardens
• Visit Cape Town's trendy and magnificent beaches – Clifton, Camps Bay

 

• Visit Greenmarket Square – a city center open market in a cobble stoned square which includes an eclectic range of African arts and crafts.
• The Cape Town weekend markets are great places to mix with the locals and to bargain for African curios
• Shop for unusual items to take home in Cape Town's eclectic Long Street
• Neighborhoods Market – Saturday market - Old Biscuit Mill, Woodstock.

Visit this thriving Saturday morning community market (9 am to 2 pm) in the district of Woodstock. Here, in an 8,600-square-foot, glass-covered warehouse, hipsters, foodies, and families gather to peruse the wares of some 120 vendors. There are gorgeous flowers and organic produce as well as pack-in-your-suitcase goodies of the dried or jarred variety—but some of the best eats here are meant to be enjoyed while strolling, or at central long trestle tables. Insider Tip: Unless you’re an intrepid driver, take a taxi to get here. The narrow streets around the market can be intimidating, and parking is difficult.

Additional tours and excursions:

Take Cape Town's new Hop-On, Hop-Off Bus for a great overview of the city.

• Cultural Tour – including the Bo-kaap (Cape Malay) area, the Cape Flats and a community development in a Cape Town township.
• Cooking tours – cook with the Cape’s best Cape Malay cooks – a fascinating blend of Malaysia, Indonesia and Africa!
• Cultural Township School & Craft Full Day Tour – visit Tsoga Environmental Centre in Langa with an African Guide. Visit a traditional healer and a unique development project at New Rest. After a typical African lunch, stop in at Khayelitsha and a local craft market.

• Full Day Hermanus Tour – one of the world’s greatest land-based whale watching destinations, especially between June and November.

• Boat trips – see whales, seals, and pelagic birds
• Adventure Sail – 4 hour Sports Sailing in Table Bay (weather & wind dependent)
• Jewish Cultural Tour & Table Mountain
• Private Half Day Constantia Wine Route
• Private Peninsula Art Experience – art & antique shops, galleries, private collection of Cape Art Dealer Rose Korber, Red Rock Tribal Art

See average temperatures and rainfall patterns for Cape Town below:

TEMPERATURE (ºF) - These are the average lows and highs

RAINFALL (inches) - This varies according to the year and where you are.