Cape Town is one of the greatest cities in the African continent and it has a varied selection of attractions that should be added to your itinerary.
10. The Springbok Experience Rugby Museum. This may not be for everybody, but when you’re in South Africa you realise the importance of rugby – it’s like the national sport! The Springboks are the National Team and they are very successful. This wonderful museum is a walk-through experience of their successes and failures – and even non-fans of the sport will enjoy themselves as they immerse in South African sporting culture!
9. Langa Township. No visit to a South African city would be complete without taking a tour to a township, which have historically been used to confine “non-whites” to their own area and away from the rest of society. In Cape Town, Langa Township is the usual place to visit and it’s a great way to check out parts of Cape Town that you may not read about in the guide books.
8. Long Street. This is a traditional shopping and entertainment thoroughfare in the centre of Cape Town, and is a place many tourists go to find a local souvenir and some good food. It’s like the cultural heart of Cape Town.
7. Two Oceans Aquarium. This gigantic aquarium is one of the best aquariums in the world and its exhibits range from not only oceans but also freshwater fish species.
6. Robben Island. Ever wondered what life was like for Nelson Mandela when he was held as a political prisoner? Well, when you hop aboard the boat to Robben Island, you can see for yourself. Nowadays, the prison here is not in use, but it has a long history.
5. Boulders Beach. You wouldn’t usually associate penguins with Africa, but right here at the foot of Cape Town (not too far from Antarctica) there is a colony of resident penguins, who attract tourists from all over the city. Penguins frolicking on the sand? You have to see it to believe it!
4. District Six Museum. This sombre museum depicts the horrors of the Apartheid in a series of exhibits and collections.
3. Table Mountain Cable Car. You can have a grand day out at Table Mountain National Park, with many hiking trails to walk and much wildlife to be spotted. However, the crème de la crème must be to take the vertigo-inspiring cable car from the top back down to the bottom! The bets views of Cape Town can be seen from up here!
2. Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. This tourist-favourite location is a quaint old-style harbour sitting on the water’s edge, with many boutique retail outlets, artisan coffee shops, and even the odd hotel or two. There is something to do here for everyone in terms of live entertainment, with fairground rides and a lot of choices for street food! And all this in the stunning backdrop of the cloud-shrouded Table Mountain itself!
1. Kirstenbosch. At the eastern foot of Table Mountain lies this wondrous national park and botanical garden. You can be guaranteed a great time hiking through the forests, either on the ground-level pathways, or via the elevated walkways that snake through this mystic national park. Kirstenbosch is Truly a MUST-VISIT for any traveller in Cape Town.
Have you been to Cape Town? What was your favourite attraction in the city and the surrounding areas?
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