There are many things to do and see in Cape Town whether you enjoy clubbing and nightlife or calm mountain hikes. This piece recommends just a few of the best places to go to on your South African holidays.
If you like hiking and bird watching you can head off for the Tygerberg Nature Reserve, nestled in the Tygerberg Hills. It's the only place in South Africa where you will be able to see the Swartland Shale Renostervel, which is a species under threat. There's also an Environmental Education Centre that has got a lovely herbarium and library to help you find out about biodiversity, ecology and geography.
The Cape of Good Hope was named this way by John II of Portugal as it was a good omen that India may be reached by sea from Europe. Formerly Bartholomew Diaz had named it Cape of Storms because of it's stormy and dangerous waters. It's currently a nature reserve with over a hundred bird species and wonderful Fynbos plants. Not very far from the nature reserve is an ostrich farm where you can see the ostriches in their natural setting.
If you don't like to drive, you can enjoy a great train ride from Muizenberg to Simonstown, with stops in a lot of touristy areas. The Muizenberg station is a lovely and characteristic red brick colonial building built around 1913. Muizenberg itself is commonly known as a surfers spot. You may stop in Fake Bay, an old fashioned fishing town, then you can see St James with it's decorative changing boxes on the beach which are typically seen on postcards, Kalk Bay, Fish Hoek and Simonstown. While in Simonstown, be very sure to take a walk through the historical mile to take in the old architecture.
You must go for a walk in Camps Bay which is probably one of the most exclusive sea-side areas near town. With its exclusive accommodation and posh houses, it's sandy coast and Palms, it is a small Miami, only better! It is a Cape Town usage to go for "sundowners" on the beach. This means either informally opening a bottle of wine while sitting on the sand or sitting in a luxury seashore cafe`. Either way Camps Bay is a good spot for sundowners!
Kirstenbosch, the flower gardens in the Cape, is a site you cannot miss. They represent a greatly pleasing walk and pic-nic area with marvellously kept rolling green gardens, set against the background of craggy bluish mountains, and surrounded by all types of rare native and exotic plants. In summer they frequently have music concerts which are really the cherry on top.
When planning your Cape Town tours you need to remember the weather is the exact opposite of what you would find in Europe and North America. In December it will be summer with a median temperature of 16-26 degrees Celsius and in July it will be winter with 8-18 degrees Celsius. The weather is generally a little gusty and variable and so it's good to always keep a raincoat / windbreaker with you.
You will enjoy the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront with its many curios shops and cafeterias. There's the 2 Seas Aquarium which is particularly fun for youngsters and an amazing craft market where you can get original souvenirs. Make certain to pop into the Scratch Patch where you can sit in a room full of semi-precious stones and handpick the ones you wish to take with you. This is a convenient way of picking up little presents for your buddies as you get a packet full at a time.
If you like hiking and bird watching you can head off for the Tygerberg Nature Reserve, nestled in the Tygerberg Hills. It's the only place in South Africa where you will be able to see the Swartland Shale Renostervel, which is a species under threat. There's also an Environmental Education Centre that has got a lovely herbarium and library to help you find out about biodiversity, ecology and geography.
The Cape of Good Hope was named this way by John II of Portugal as it was a good omen that India may be reached by sea from Europe. Formerly Bartholomew Diaz had named it Cape of Storms because of it's stormy and dangerous waters. It's currently a nature reserve with over a hundred bird species and wonderful Fynbos plants. Not very far from the nature reserve is an ostrich farm where you can see the ostriches in their natural setting.
If you don't like to drive, you can enjoy a great train ride from Muizenberg to Simonstown, with stops in a lot of touristy areas. The Muizenberg station is a lovely and characteristic red brick colonial building built around 1913. Muizenberg itself is commonly known as a surfers spot. You may stop in Fake Bay, an old fashioned fishing town, then you can see St James with it's decorative changing boxes on the beach which are typically seen on postcards, Kalk Bay, Fish Hoek and Simonstown. While in Simonstown, be very sure to take a walk through the historical mile to take in the old architecture.
You must go for a walk in Camps Bay which is probably one of the most exclusive sea-side areas near town. With its exclusive accommodation and posh houses, it's sandy coast and Palms, it is a small Miami, only better! It is a Cape Town usage to go for "sundowners" on the beach. This means either informally opening a bottle of wine while sitting on the sand or sitting in a luxury seashore cafe`. Either way Camps Bay is a good spot for sundowners!
Kirstenbosch, the flower gardens in the Cape, is a site you cannot miss. They represent a greatly pleasing walk and pic-nic area with marvellously kept rolling green gardens, set against the background of craggy bluish mountains, and surrounded by all types of rare native and exotic plants. In summer they frequently have music concerts which are really the cherry on top.
When planning your Cape Town tours you need to remember the weather is the exact opposite of what you would find in Europe and North America. In December it will be summer with a median temperature of 16-26 degrees Celsius and in July it will be winter with 8-18 degrees Celsius. The weather is generally a little gusty and variable and so it's good to always keep a raincoat / windbreaker with you.
You will enjoy the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront with its many curios shops and cafeterias. There's the 2 Seas Aquarium which is particularly fun for youngsters and an amazing craft market where you can get original souvenirs. Make certain to pop into the Scratch Patch where you can sit in a room full of semi-precious stones and handpick the ones you wish to take with you. This is a convenient way of picking up little presents for your buddies as you get a packet full at a time.
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