If you want to visit one of the most fascinating cities in the world, you do not need to look any further than Cape Town because this city has it all. It has a rich history and culture, friendly and warm inhabitants, fantastic weather with beautiful beaches which are excellent for surfing, and there is always something going on there. The city is a true melting pot of different cultures as it has been influenced by Dutch, British, Indonesian, French and German settlers in the early years, and still people from all over the world come to visit and life in this vibrant city. And even though the city suffered from a rough past not too long ago under the apartheid regime, the city and its inhabitants quickly recovered from that period, and now it is a truly modern metropolitan area worth a visit.
What to do in Cape Town
The city of Cape Town offers you with a lot of things to do, see and visit. It is impossible to list all the things that you could do in, or around Cape Town, so therefore we created this selection of absolute must do’s.
- Climb the Table Mountain. To get on top you can either go by cable car, or for the more adventurous types you could go hiking. The hike will definitely be worth it with all the amazing views you will get, and not to forget about the beautiful nature you will see.
- Visit Robben Island. Robben Island, only a few kilometres away from Cape Town, has been used for nearly 400 years as a prison not only for normal criminals, but also for political prisoners. Freedom fighters that fought against the Apartheid were kept here in isolation, had to endure violence and hard physical labour, and terrible living conditions were the standard for many years. The prison has been home to some well-known people like former and first black president of South Africa Nelson Mandela. Nowadays the island is a museum, a place to teach us about the victory over the Apartheid, and other human right abuses. When visiting the island you will be guided by one of the former prisoners to tell you about the life in prison.
- Wine tour in the Cape Winelands. Just outside Cape Town you will find the Cape Winelands, a region especially known for the world class wine produced there. You could go visit places like Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Constantia Valley and do a wine tour, visiting different vineyards and not only enjoy the wine but also the beautiful surroundings.
- Township Tour. When you first step foot in Cape Town you will notice all the beauty the city and all the beaches have to offer you. But unfortunately the life some people live in this town is not as beautiful because they live in one of the many townships Cape Town has. By going on a township tour you will see the other side of life in Cape Town in a completely safe way. Your guides will tell you about the culture, way of life, and the social projects going on in these areas. It is a real eye-opening experience to see how these people experience life.
- Garden Route
The Garden Route includes some of the beautiful stretches of coastline of the South Africa. It is a very popular route that will give you the most spectacular views and gorgeous nature. The road is stuck between the mountains and the nice warm Indian Ocean, and in the region you almost always have perfect weather. On the route you will find no less than 10 different nature reserves and marine reserves, which are home to soft coral reefs, dolphins, the endangered Southern Right Whale, and other sea animals. On the route are various excellent stops where you can just enjoy the surroundings, go for a hike or a bike ride, go stargazing at the beach at night, and visit the two towns on the list, Knysna and Oudtshoorn. On the route there is more than enough to do for everybody, and this absolute wonderful piece of nature should not be missed out on.