Cape Town is a year round destination and is perfect for couples, honeymooners and families alike. And it’s buzzing. Cosmopolitan, fun, urban cool-en-sea.
The bottom line is that Cape Town has it all. Fantastic weather from September to April and then during the cooler and wetter months of June – August, nothing beats some wine tasting by a roaring fire followed by a fabulous meal. You can see why the Cape was originally called ‘ The Cape of Storms’, seeing mother nature at her impressive best is as rewarding in the summer as it is in winter. The people in the Cape are friendly and desperate to show you a fantastic time.
Cape Town is the gateway to the Western Cape which offers a mix of first world destinations with local and cultural heritage. The Western Cape is home to six of South Africa’s top tourist attractions and can also be the start or end of one of the famous and spectacular self-drive or chauffeur-driven Garden Route, the fabulous Panoramic ‘Route 62’, the Winelands and the Whale Coast as well as the Western Coast and Cape Karoo Routes.
Cape Town is served by most major world airlines directly from Europe and also has international connections with the Middle East which can link you to the rest of the world as well as the rest of Africa, making it strategically easy to get. Being only 1 hour ahead of GMT, jet lag is minimal which helps make it a fantastic destination, either for an extended weekend break or for longer. There is certainly not enough time in 5 days to see and do everything on offer, whether it be seeing the Penguins at Boulders Beach or the gemstone “scratch patch” in the family friendly V&A Waterfront with the children or for the couples seeking some romantic solitude with a stay at Long Beach or some fine dining at one of many exceptional restaurants in the historic Winelands. For those seeking adventure, there are some breathtaking walks and mountain bike trails in the surrounding Cape Mountains. For the keen surfing and kite surfing fraternity, there is always a wave to be found somewhere around the Cape coastline. For the adrenalin junkies, there is plenty to keep you busy from diving with Great White Sharks to abseiling down Table Mountain.
Those looking for serenity and calm havens, peace and tranquility can be sought in the Cape Gardens, the National Art Gallery as well as Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.
The list of things to see and do is endless, however here is a list that we consider to be the best experiences :
1. Table Mountain – either walk up along designated paths or take the scenic revolving cable car and enjoy the most spectacular views across the Cape Peninsular.
2. Robben Island – tours by boat head out to the island in the middle of Table Bay where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned during the apartheid years. The views of Table Mountain from the ocean are Incredible.
3. Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens – world renowned gardens showcasing the beautiful Cape Floral Kingdom along some beautiful walks, perfectly combined with a visit to the Cecil John Rhodes Memorial which offers fabulous views across the Cape Flats.
4. Green Market Square – this is a cobblestone square surrounded by hotels and café’s bustling with merchants selling local crafts, clothing, antiques and junk.
5. Victoria & Alfred Waterfront – which is the premier tourist attraction and home to shopping malls offering international brands, local produce, wine, over 100 restaurants, cinema, Imax, the spectacular Two Ocean Aquarium, harbour boat trips, amphitheatre and more.
6. Cape Point Nature Reserve – a 2,5 hour scenic drive along one coastline, via the historical naval town of Simons Town, past Boulders Beach (synonymous for the Jackass Penguins) and then back via the scenic and dramatic Atlantic coastlines of Scarborough, Kommetjie, Chapmans Peak, Hout Bay, Llandudno and ending with mini Monte Calo feel of Bantry Bay.
7. Winelands – The nearest winelands are 20 mins drive from Cape Town in the historic vineyards of Groot and Klein Constantia or 40 mins drive away you have the renown wine growing regions of Paarl, Franschoek, Stellenbosch and Somerset West.
8. Marine Life like no other – Whale watching is superb with one of the greatest places in the world to view whales from the land, Hermanus and Walker Bay offer a fantastic opportunity to view the Southern Wright Whales and at the opposite end of the bay is the world famous Gansbaai, famous because this is the embarkation point by boat to go and see one of the largest breeding grounds in the world of the endangered Great White Shark.
9. Beaches – after all this touring and travelling, you have some world-class beaches on your doorstep where you can relax. Our top beaches are Camps Bay Beach, Clifton’s Beaches, Llandudno, Noordhoek, Long Beach at Kommetjie, Muizenberg and the beaches along by Blouberg Strand. For families with children, St James Beach between Muizenberg and Khalk Bay is safe and fabulous with a naturally protected tidal pool.
10. Cultural tours out to the townships where you can visit a local ‘shabeens’ and drink home made brew and try your hand at local Cape fare. Overnight stays for those looking for a deeper experience are possible.
Safari & Beach does “exactly what it says on the tin”. We organise safari and beach holidays to Africa. We believe our expertise, knowledge and enthusiasm for organising travel to Africa is unrivalled. We are no frills so you get what you pay for. No fancy marketing gimmicks just our pure honesty. We are so confident in our prices, we have a price guarantee.
We want you to find planning your holiday an enjoyable experience and leave you excited about your forthcoming trip. Give us a ring. 01548 854125. Let’s start planning.
