DIVING:
Cape town is located near two oceans, the Atlantic and the Indian Ocean. Because of the Benguela Current the Atlantic Ocean is very cold (about 10°C), you can see cold water corals and kelp, occupied by seals. The Indian Ocean is warmer, here you can see the more colorful fish.
SUNSET CRUISES:
Waterfront Boat Company, Quay 4, V&A Waterfront, ☎ +27 (0)21 418-5806 (glynis@waterfrontboats.co.za). Take a relaxing sunset cruise on the Condor to Greenpoint and back or do the champagne cruise. One to one and a half hours. R90 to R190.
Tigger 2 Charters, ☎ +27 (0)21 790-5256 (tigger@netactive.co.za). From R180 to R720 per person depending on cruise.
TOWNSHIP TOURS:
The townships are the places where people were forced to live (based on race) under the apartheid regime. To some extent townships continue to retain their apartheid-era racial makeup, for a variety of reasons. Townships have also grown to cover far larger areas of land than in the apartheid days. This is a result of urbanization, especially over the past 10-15 years. Touring a township may seem strange, even inappropriate, but it is a good way to learn about South Africa's history, and the poverty that many people continue to live in. People in the townships are friendly and the children love visitors. Some townships however can be dangerous (see the warning on the South Africa page) so don't go alone unless you know what you're doing. The townships tours are safe. If you want to bring sweets or gifts for the children, it is best not to give it directly to them, but to give it to the tour guide who will distribute them later.
Tours can be booked directly or through one of Cape Town's many booking agencies. Tours run once or twice per day. Be aware that if you're given the chance to try some township food, that a walkie-talkie is often made from the feet and beaks of poultry. The very best way to see a township is by foot and to stay overnight at one of the many township B&Bs.
WHALE WATCHING:
Mostly you will see Southern right whales, but on occasion you might also spot humpback and killer whales. Bottlenose and dusky dolphins also frequent False Bay. From viewpoints next to the coastal road between Simon's Town and Cape Point one can often spot whales less than 100m from shore.
IN THE AIR:
See the cape from above with a scenic helicopter flight, East Pier Road, V&A Waterfront, ☎ + 27 (0)21 425-3868 (info@nacmakana.com). From R400 per person per 15 minutes.
Sport Helicopters, ☎ +27 (0)21 434-4444 (info@sport-helicopters.co.za). For scenic flights or the quick way to get to Robben Island.
ThunderCity, Cape Town international Airport, ☎ +27 (0)21 934-8007 (info@thundercity.com). Go supersonic in a fighter jet. You need very deep pockets.
Skydive Cape Town, Cape Town, ☎ +27 (0)82 800-6290 (bookings@skydivecapetown.za.net).
Tandem Paraglide with Para Taxi, 16 Pebbles Crescent, Coral Grove, Royal Ascott, Milnerton, ☎ +27 (0)82 966-2047 (info@para-taxi.com). R850 for a tandem flight.
HIKING:
There are many hiking trails in and around the city, from short walks to multi day hikes.
The Cape of Good Hope Trail, Cape Town, ☎ +27 (0)21 780-9204 (reservations@sanparks.org) Cape of Good Hope in the Table Mountain National Park, 34km, 2 Days. R88.
Hoerikwaggo Table Mountain Trail, Cape Town, ☎ +27 (0)21 465-8515 (reservations@sanparks.org). 3 Day, non-strenuous, luxury trail through the city, botanical gardens and Table Mountain National Park R635 per day.
The Orangekloof Hiking Trail, Cape Town, ☎ +27 (0)21 465-8515 (reservations@sanparks.org). 6 Days, Cape Point to Table Mountain. R420.
Table Mountain (Starting point is 1.5km past the Lower Cable Station on Tafelberg Road). Always open, but you might want to start early enough to catch the last cable car down. 3km (all uphill), 1 to 3 hours, Platteklip Gorge to the Upper Cable Station. No fees are charged.
Chapman's Peak. 2-3 hours, non-strenuous with breathtaking views of Hout Bay and Noordhoek and rich flora, especially proteas. The trail begins on the Hout Bay side of the peak about 750m from the main view-point on scenic Chapman's Peak Drive. Park by the trail head and follow the path out of the picnic area. It soon forks but both routes take you to the same place. Turn right at the next junction, from where the path is clear. Return same route. No permit required.
The Amphitheatre in the Kalk Bay mountains. 3 hours. Start at the sign on scenic Boyes Drive and climb up towards the rocks above which are peppered with scores of caves, many of which are not recommended for novice cavers so be careful. Take a torch. Follow the right forks in the trail and you'll be rewarded with increasingly spectacular views of False Bay. Head straight up through Echo Valley and through an ancient milkwood grove. Come back the same way if you don't have detailed directions. No permit required.
Cape Town has a very good network of trails to suit every level of fitness. Many of these trace the contours of the mountain and wander through the protea bushes and fynbos, often with breathtaking views. Many require no permit, although most of Cape Town's reserves have entrance fees. Hiking in a group is strongly recommended. The outdoor store Cape Union Mart has a hiking club with organised group hikes most weekends. Pick up a programme at one of their stores. You must phone the hike-leader first and pay R10.
For guided walks up the mountain with a botanical guide, contact Paradise Touring on 021-7131020 or e-mail info@paratour.co.za. Cape Eco-Tours is a good one for twitchers to use and is a member of Bird Life South Africa 082-4604847 or email info@cape-ecotours.co.za.
CAPE POINT:
Cape Peninsula. Go to the Cape of Good Hope via Simon's Town and the african penguin colony at Boulders. Visit Cape Point in the Table Mountain National Park, maybe have lunch there before taking a hike in a quieter part of the reserve to immerse yourself in the essence of the landscape. Then take Chapman's Peak Drive through Hout Bay and along the trendy atlantic seaboard via Llandudno and Camp's Bay, stopping off at one of Clifton's famous four beaches.
BEACHES AND SWIMMING:
Beaches on the warmer False Bay side of the peninsula are the most popular with swimmers for obvious reasons. St James has the most picturesque tidal pool on the stretch between Muizenberg and Kalk Bay, while Clovelly and Fish Hoek beaches wrap around a sheltered bay with soft, white sands. Fishing boats, hobie cats and kayaks launch from here too. Bravehearts can sun-worship and swim naked in the freezing water of this isolated and breathtaking nudist beach Sandy Bay near Llandudno. Major spot for gay tourists as well. There's a 1.5km walk down from the parking lot.
BUY:
The V&A Waterfront is the prime tourist destination for souvenirs, though these tend to be typically touristy (i.e. expensive and not necessarily authentic). More authentic curios for better prices can be found every Sunday at the Green Point market outside the Green Point Stadium on Sundays, in walking distance from the V & A Waterfront. Many of these same curios can be purchased during the week in the several multi-story shops at the lower end of Long Street. For the real deal with authentic artifacts complete with provenance and ethnographic background, go to Church Street where there are a couple of shops but be prepared for sticker shock. When buying African Curio, the price at open markets are almost always very negotiable and seldom does the item have a price sticker attached. People with foreign accents are often quoted twice to three times the price they sell to locals, so do negotiate.
WINE:
If you like South African wine, buy it here (or anywhere in South Africa) before you leave, because it is much cheaper and there is more availability than overseas. Top guide to wines is the John Platter's Guide, with a few others around too, and with thousands of wines available from the region, you will need a guide (see below for shops that have knowledgeable staff). Read Wine magazine (or the iconoclastic Grape) for the latest information.
Vaughan Johnson's Wine Shop, Dock Road, V&A Waterfront, ☎ +27 (0)21 419-2121 (vjohnson@mweb.co.za). Quality selection but not exhaustive. Knowledgeable staff. Generally substantial (10-20%) markup over winery prices but of course more convenient.
Caroline's Fine Wines, V&A Waterfront and 15 Long Street in the City Centre, ☎ +27 (0)21 419-8984. Better selection and more knowledgeable staff. City Centre location recommended, but both are excellent. Foam inserts and boxes for international shipping or for checking with your luggage (safe!). Not cheap either, compared to supermarkets and wineries.
Wine Concepts, Cardiff Castle Building, cnr Main Street & Kildare Road, Newlands (Southern Suburbs), ☎ +27 (0)21 671-9030 (sales@wineconcepts.co.za), [85]. Another great wine shop, certainly the best outside the City Bowl. A franchised location is on Kloof Street in the Lifestyle Centre.
Ultra. A large South African liquor chain. Several locations around the city, the one in Green Point is the most accessible to tourists. A warehouse bottle store but with a remarkable wine selection across all price ranges. Case discount (even on mixed cases). Good if you want to stock up for a road trip. Stash a bottle of Amarula Cream in your backpack while you're at it. Great prices -- in fact, often cheaper than at the wine farms themselves.
ARTS AND CRAFTS:
Distinctively Capetonian in character -- are everywhere, from chickens made of plastic bags to bead and wire work to pottery, glass and embroidery. If you don't buy a chicken from a Rastafarian at a street corner (the authentic experience -- about 30 rand depending on the size), then try Heartworks (Kloof Street or in Gardens Centre mall) or the Red Shed at the V & A Waterfront. There is also a high-end craft boutique in the Cape Quarter in De Waterkant.
Contemporary South African art has been riding a big wave in the international art world. It is on par with the best in the world and undervalued (unless you buy a William Kentridge). If you like real art as opposed to curios, crafts or posters, and you have the budget for it, there are several serious galleries in town. Try Michael Stevenson Gallery first, then Joao Ferreira Gallery, AVA Gallery or Bell-Roberts Gallery, and there are several others worth seeing. Art South Africa is the art magazine to read if you want to know about the artists, and the adverts list the shows and the galleries.
EAT:
Food in Cape Town is generally of high quality. The wines are much celebrated, but the surrounding region is also a major fruit producer, and the Karoo lamb is widely regarded. Seafood caught locally is superlative, but ironically much of it goes internationally (e.g., tuna for sushi) because of the prices that can be gotten. Ask about the local linefish -- yellowtail, cape salmon, kingklip, kabeljou and others are great eating. Oysters in season are also exceptional, farmed and wild from Knysna or wild flown in from Namibia.
As one of the main tourist spots is the V&A waterfront, you will find a broad range of restaurants, but they are often crowded and expensive. Another highlight is the area around Long Street with its many cafés and restaurants (frequented by a multi-ethnic clientele), while the trendy area of De Waterkant between Bo Kaap and Green Point above Somerset Road also boasts good food and a great vibe. Dine with supermodels and other beautiful people in Camps Bay, which has many hip eateries and nightspots overlooking the beach along Victoria Road.
Do not neglect the Cape Winelands for food if you have a car. In Stellenbosch, Spier has several restaurants, including the fun, afro-chic Moyo, and many wine estates offer food of different types and quality. The village of Franschhoek is the culinary navel of the wine region, with Le Quartier Francais a perennial five-star winner, but only one of many excellent restaurants. In the Constantia Valley, Constantia Uitsig has three great restaurants, The River Cafe, La Colombe and the Constantia Uitsig Restaurant, upmarket, but worth it.
DRINK:
Long Street, which can be easily reached from St. George's Cathedral and the Greenmarket Square, is famous for its bars, restaurants and clubs. This is the ideal place if you want to end the day with a drink. It is also one of the few truly multi-ethnic, multi-racial nightspots in the city. See the new South Africa, not just other tourists.
Blushlounge, 43 Somerset Road, Greenpoint. Blush Lounge is a bar lounge and nightclub that caters for the young professional woman and man who have a need for consistency when wanting to relieve the tensions of everyday life. Knowing what to expect in the line of quality service by well trained bar staff and efficient and stylish door and security staff, patrons can relax into an evening of wellness brought on by a socially accessible environment.
Caveau Wine Bar & Deli, 92 Bree Street, Heritage Square, ☎ +27 (0)21 422-1367 (info@caveau.co.za). Has over 300 wines by the glass and an award-winning wine list at that. In Heritage Square, city centre.
The Nose Wine Bar, Cape Quarter, 72 Waterkant Street, Green Point, ☎ +27 (0)21 425-2200 (info@thenose.co.za). Has many wines by the glass, but pricey.
The Leopard Room Bar & Lounge @ The Twelve Apostles Hotel, Camps Bay, ☎ +27 (0)21 437-9000]. A high-end hotel, but you can go to their bar for a drink overlooking the sea for a stunning sunset and a glimpse of whales if you are lucky.
You will have live entertainment (normally something like jazz or kwaito music) in many bars and sometimes you will have to pay to get in.
Mannenbergs Jazz Café, Shop 102, Clock Tower Centre, Clock Tower Precinct, V&A Waterfront, ☎ +27 (0)21 421-5639 (manenberg@mynet.co.za). Popular jazz café specializing in distinctive Cape Jazz. Snacks and coffee during the day and live jazz every evening. Bookings/reservations essential. Many famous jazz musicians have already played here.
Club Georgia, 30 Georgia Street (offside the Buitensingel), ☎ +27 (0)21 422-0261. Popular with over 25-year olds. Music from all over Africa is played, especially Kwassa-kwassa, Kwaito, Ndombolo and Rai.
The Fez, 38 Hout Street, Greenmarket Square. Open till late. Popular, stylish night club popular with the under-30 crowd. Defined by lively, varied house music and a North African decor that manages to avoid kitsch, but the line for admission can be long if you arrive after 11pm (and the bouncers are straight out of a bad movie). Still, it's worth it.
Kennedy's, 251 Longstreet, ☎ +27 (0)21 424-1212.
The Green Dolphin, Shop 2A, Alfred Mall, Pierhead, V&A Waterfront, ☎ +27 (0)21 421-7471 (green-dolphin@mweb.co.za).
Marco's African Café, 15 Rose Street, Bo Kaap, ☎ +27 (0)21 423-5412. Popular Gay Bar.
Observatory or better known as Obz is just north of Rondebosch (Southern Suburbs). There are several student residences of the UCT and Obz main street (Lower Main Road) has a vibrant nightlife with restaurants, bar, pool halls and pubs. Almost daily there is something going on. Famous is the bar Cool Runnings which pretends to be a cheap beach bar. Check out Archmchair Theatre for electronic venues and Stones to play pool...
A popular destination with locals is Camps Bay, which offers a vibrant nightlife and many bars, restaurants and clubs.
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