Cape Town

Cape Town is Africa’s most visited city and is truly one of the most iconic cities in the world; with its setting between Table Bay and Table Mountain the huge metropolis nestles beautifully into a natural basin and, along with its wonderful climate, it is not hard to imagine why travellers flock to this place.

It is very much a multicultural city though as with most places possessing a colourful lineage it has also had a tumultuous past; beginning with trade disputes between explorers and tribes people in the 15th century all the way up to apartheid and its aftermath. Today though Cape Town is a safe city in which to wander as long as simple common sense is followed. Upon arriving there any traveller will realise that the Cape Flats are areas to be avoided, though if curiosity gets the better of you there are organised tours to these townships.

The South Africans are not averse to their sports and they have a fine tradition of rugby and football; also the treacherous waters of the Cape of Good Hope that so rattled Vasco de Gama are now home to some of the biggest surfing and kitesurfing events in the world, there are of course some fairly hefty sharks in the area but attacks are a rarity.

Cape town also possesses a buzzing nightlife, and if anyone of any race or creed were to stroll down to Long Street on a given night they are sure to find a truly multicultural/multiracial scene – unfortunately this is a bit of a rarity in the rest of South Africa. Cape Town is a great place to explore the surrounding areas rich biodiversity, so there is no excuse not to get out to the national parks and game reserves and get amongst it. It really doesn’t matter if you’re a backpacker scraping the pennies or the proud owner of a luxury yacht, Cape Town will have a wealth of amenities and experiences to offer – so take the plunge and explore, dream, discover.

Township Tour

As mentioned in the description of the city - the Cape Flats and the townships can be dangerous, but at the same time it is an essential experience of Cape Town to see how the majority of the city’s residents live. Organised tours take you through the townships and on to a locally run B&B which is a genuinely mind blowing thing to do. Never fear the exploitation of the local residents as the tour is mutually beneficial to both parties… just don’t eat the ‘walkie-talkie’, that is unless chicken feet and beaks are your thing.

Cable Car to Table Mountain

This a great little number to tick off the to do list, that is rather than climbing to the top of the over 1,000 metre giant which is also a possibility. The cable car opens until ten pm daily so this is a great place to catch the sunset over the city, and from the top of the mountain it looks like the edge of the world. Be sure to bring a jacket if setting off to the top even if it’s 35 degrees at the bottom, and adopt a stiff upper lip for the high bit… as it is really very high indeed.

Learn to Surf or Kite Surf

This part of the world is blessed with some of the best conditions in the world for both these activities. The clashing of the oceans at the cape make for some strong, steady winds and the huge expanse of briny deep from the next land mass affords the space to conjure up some spectacular waves. Down the coast a bit you will find Muizenburg beach is great for both these activities, and even if you do spot a shark… it’ll be a hell of a story for back home.

Safari

What trip to Sub-Saharan Africa would be complete without a trip to a game reserve to see the famed ‘big five’. A mere two hours drive out of Cape Town offers such a place, so don the khakis and the panama hat and head for wild – you wont regret it.