Cape Town – Experience South Africa

Cape Town is one of those places that many people say they’d love to visit, and it’s no wonder why, with its history, good weather, natural beauty and other cultural attractions. South Africa came to the world’s attention in 2010 as a tourist destination as the host of the World Cup, and there’s plenty to see and do in the city of Cape Town itself and in the surrounding area. You can book flights to Cape Town at ebookers.com.

When in Cape Town you can experience for yourself the wine that South Africa is famous for; you can take a day tour from Cape Town to taste what’s on offer at the famous wine producing areas of Stellenbosch, Paarl Valley and Franschhoek.  Or if you don’t want to devote a whole day to wine tasting, and would like to see some of the natural beauty of the Cape area too, you can take a tour that combines a tour of Cape Point’s coastal landscape, including the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve,  followed by a visit to the wine producing region of Stellenbosch. And if beer is more your thing than wine, you can take a half-day beer tour of Cape Town,  where you’ll not just get to taste the beers but you’ll also  learn about the history of African brewing, visit the Banana Jam bar, and South Africa’s oldest brewery. 

One unique feature that Cape Town can offer is its opportunities to see whales in their natural habitat – if you visit Cape Town between July and November, you can avail of the opportunity to go whale watching from the shore in Hermanus, which has its own ‘whale crier’ who lets people know where the whales are by blowing a horn. And if you’d like to see more of the Cape Peninsula’s natural beauty and animals, you can explore the Peninsula on day tour of the coastal area, including Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, with the option of taking a boat ride to Duiker Island to see Cape fur seals, or a visit to a penguin colony.

Back in the city itself and away from the region’s natural beauty there’s still lots to do. The V&A Waterfront is full of shops, restaurants and art and cultural exhibitions, and sees about 22 million visitors a year. There are a number of 5 star accommodation options near the V&A Waterfront if you’d like to stay in this popular tourist area, such as the Waterfront Village Apartments, or the Cape Grace Hotel, with Table Mountain towering behind the hotel.

While in Cape Town you are also in a position to learn about the country’s history: you can pay a visit to the former maximum security prison where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated; Robben Island. The island prison is reachable by ferry and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where, remarkably, tours are conducted by former political prisoners.

If music is your thing then you’re sure to enjoy what’s on offer in Cape Town – you can experience the city’s jazz scene on an evening jazz safari, where you’ll meet local musicians and experience live performances, including dinner, drinks and a performance at the home of a of local musician. You can then choose to continue on to a live jazz nightspot, or on to another musician’s home to finish up the evening. Another style of music you can experience in Cape Town is Reggae, and you go on a Friday night Rootz Reggae tour, where you will meet a reggae storyteller and sample Rastafarian Ital snacks, and experience a Marcus Garvey Dancehall session, or visit a local reggae musician.