From Table Mountain to baboon road trips and bargain dinners, here’s seven reasons to visit Cape Town
BEAUTIFUL South African city of Cape Town offers a break that has everything, plus it's still amazing value.
Our writer Jill Starley-Grainger shares her favourite things to do and see in Cape Town, from bargain dinners to markets and trips down to the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront.
1 — Table Manners
Rising to 1,085m above sea level, get to the top of Table Mountain without breaking a sweat by taking a cable car, £15 return (Tablemountain.net).
While there, keep your eyes peeled for dassies (AKA rock hyrax) waddling over rocks. These furballs look a bit like giant hamsters and love sunbathing on the mountain’s slopes.
Feeling adventurous? Strap yourself in and abseil 112m down the south face, £56 (Abseilafrica.co.za).
One hiking route takes you to the 36-hectare Unesco-listed Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, bursting with fragrant and flamboyant tropical flowers, from dainty Cape snowdrops to huge bowl-shaped king protea, entry £3.60 (Sanbi.org).
2 — Warehouse Art
Pop down to the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront and visit the Watershed, where 150 traders sell local crafts (Waterfront.co.za).
Then hit the new Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa, a cluster of 100 galleries set up in old grain warehouses, entry £10 (Zeitzmocaa.museum).
Later, hop on the half-hour ferry from the harbour to Robben Island to see the prison where Nelson Mandela was held for 18 years from 1964.
Former inmates show visitors around. Ferry and entry costs £19 (Robben-island.org.za).
3 — Market Matters
For a sensational sunset snack, grab a picnic from the stalls at Noordhoek Community Market, open Thursdays 4.30pm-8.30pm, and spread out a blanket right on the Cape Point wine estate (Cpv.co.za).
On Fridays, hang with surfers and hipsters at Blue Bird Garage Market.
Open 4-10pm, it’s housed in an old aircraft hangar in Muizenberg and the dozens of stalls sell craft beers and regional wines, spicy tacos and falafel, plus vintage T-shirts and records (Bluebirdgarage.co.za).
And Saturday brunch hot spot The Neighbourgoods Market is set in the grounds of The Old Biscuit Mill in trendy Woodstock.
Scoff pulled-pork sandwiches or ostrich-egg omelettes from the food stalls, then pick up detoxifying skincare made with local plant fynbos, and crafts by local artists, open 9am-3pm (Neighbourgoodsmarket.co.za).
4 — A Vine Life
It’s a wine lover’s paradise here. Sample the goods at Groot Constantia, a 25-minute drive from the Waterfront.
Established in 1685, it’s South Africa’s oldest winery and sits right on the slopes of Table Mountain.
Enjoy five tastings for £4.50 (Grootconstantia.co.za). Or drive an hour out to Tokara, one of 200-plus wineries in the town of Stellenbosch, and check out its art collection while sampling the award-winning vintages, £5.50 for eight tastings (Tokara.co.za).
Finally, nip to Franschhoek Valley for a picnic in a rose garden, £27 for two, with views of the Boschendal vines, £8.50 for four tastings (Boschendal.com).
Facts and figures
- Average temperature: 23C
- Flight time: 11hrs 30mins
- Time difference: +2hrs
- Currency: South African Rand
- Return flights from the UK to Cape Town start at £564 (Thomascookairlines.com)
- Plan your trip at Capetown travel.
5 — Baboon Road Trips
The 50-mile route from the city down through the Cape Peninsula takes you on one of the world’s most beautiful journeys to reach the nature reserve of Cape Point, entry £8 (Capepoint.co.za).
Sitting 200m above the Atlantic, this feels like the end of the world, but isn’t even the end of the continent (that’s Agulhas, about 150km east).
Keep an eye out for chacma baboons, but don’t get too close!
On the way, spot wild African penguins at Boulders Beach, £4 entry (Sanparks.org).
Pad over boardwalks and take a dip within arm’s reach of them. Drive back up the coast on the western side, past wide, sandy beaches, and tackle Chapman’s Peak Drive, a hairpin road carved into cliffs, £2.50 toll (Chapmanspeakdrive.co.za).
6 — Bargain Eats
Hit Pot Luck Club and share plates of springbok and calamari, £6 each (Thepotluckclub.co.za).
In the elegant Cape Grace Hotel, you’ll find Bascule Bar.
Look out at super-yachts while munching on fish and chips, £4 (Capegrace.com).
Or drive for half an hour to The Brass Bell, an eatery overlooking False Bay.
Scoff their generous Fisherman’s Platter, £10, while you dip your toes in the sea (Brassbell.co.za).
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7 — Culture Crushes
Wander around the city’s oldest and most photogenic neighbourhood Bo-Kaap, with its brightly coloured houses, then join a local cooking tour to prepare Cape Malay curry, £42 (Bokaapcookingtour.co.za).
Later, check in at four-star De Waterkant Cottages, £62 a night (Dewaterkantcottages.com).
Or sleep over at Welgelegen, a boutique hotel with 13 charming rooms, from £88 for a double (Welgelegen.co.za).