For many who go on holidays in South Africa it is all about safari with spotting one of the country's resident wild animals top on the list of priorities. But for those who want to spend less time in the bush and more in the city, then Cape Town is the place to head. With the spectacular Table Mountain providing a stunning backdrop, the city is one of the most exciting and yet relaxing in South Africa. Affectionately dubbed 'Mother City' for being the oldest in the country, Cape Town is also home to some of South Africa's most popular attractions. As well as Table Mountain and its surrounding national park, the urban hub is also where Nelson Mandela formerly resided – namely on Robben Island - and Cape Town also hosts the beautiful Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. For those that are impartial to the odd tipple at the end of a long day, there is also the option to explore the famous Cape Town Wine Routes, where some of the best wines in the world are produced. It is also the perfect holiday destination for those who want to get active on their break. Its location - jutting southwards into the Atlantic Ocean - means that fans of surfing have plenty of big waves to entertain them, while divers can also take advantage of the unpolluted coastline. Sport is a popular pastime in the city and locals and holidaymakers are regularly seen cycling around town or heading off on a hiking trip on Table Mountain.
Cape Town's clean streets and abundant green spaces make it an ideal spot for families or honeymooners to relax in, with ample coffee bars and cafes where travellers can enjoy the sunshine and watch the world go by. Tourists are also provided with a huge variety of museums and galleries where then can learn more about the fascinating history of the city itself and South Africa as a whole. The South Africa Cultural History Museum, set in a former slave lodge of the Dutch East India Company, holds a number of interesting collections. Also recommended is Bertram House, a red-brick Georgian Townhouse which explores the English way of life enjoyed by many living in mid-19th century Cape Town. The South African Museum on Queen Victoria Street is also popular with tourists and is the only one in the country with an adjoining planetarium.
For wildlife enthusiasts there is also plenty to amuse in the city's surrounding countryside. Just a few miles outside Cape Town are huge expanses of stunning wilderness which visitors can explore and, with the help of a guide, spot some of South Africa's wild inhabitants. The most common are buffalo, rhino and giraffes as well as predators such as leopards and lynx. A two-hour drive from Cape Town will take travellers to the Aquila game reserve where zebra, black wildebeest, klipspringer, ostrich and troops of baboon make their home. Also a relatively short drive from the city is the Inverdoorn Game Reserve where again, animal-life is in abundance.

Back to News