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CAPE TOWN co written by Alta van der Merwe & Maahir Dolley (Dubai Based)

 

This beautiful city with its stunning mountain has a rich and textured civilization. After South Africa's recent history of apartheid, it has emerged into a vibrant city - no wonder it is called a 'rainbow nation'. It is a mixture of interesting African mother tongues (Xhosa, Xulu), Afrikaans (Dutch origin), English and many other dialects.

 

Cape Town has many hotels, guesthouses and hostels. Stay central to get most out of the city - a recommendation would be Long Street Backpackers. Long Street is in the heart of the city and during the day it has a lively atmosphere inside coffee shops. It's only a stone throw away from the peaceful and stunning Company Gardens. Here you can take a stroll feeding squirrels, or walk around and find ancient labeled trees and shrubs dated back to the 1800s. Cape Town has very good weather in summer (Nov-March), wet and cold winters (Jun-Aug).  Hout Bay is infamous for its fish and chips. Chapmans Peak is for those romantics who would like to take a cruise and propose. White shark cage diving is a must for the adrenalin junky. Helicopter excursions on the old war veteran "Heuy" is absolutely awesome-option a 10 min or 30 min flight. There is a Mirage fighter jet plane used commercially as well speeds in excess of mach 1 pretty expensive though.

 

 

 

As you might know, that South Africa is very high in crime, but fear not. Walk in groups; hold on to your bag - Long Street is always buzzing. Be wise and alert; don't just trust anyone standing on a corner and that appears suspicious. Also, anywhere a guy trying to sell weed or pills to you might approach you. Places where you wont even expect, like the back of a supermarket, at the beach:) These guys are friendly most times, just be a little cautious, act like a local. Avoid giving beggars money. Big daily market - Green Market Square close by. Here you will find African art, drums, clothes and a whole mixture of creativity. If you are into more serious shopping, go to Canal Walk, or probably easier - the V&A Waterfront. If you do go there and you want to eat the most juiciest and flavorsome prawns and seafood, you can go to Balduccis or Baia and overlook the waterfront with a spectacular view of the mountain. Expect to pay more at these restaurants. Unless you just fancy a pint at the infamous Ferrymans/Mitchells where they brew their own beer and serve pub meals.

 

There is an Ethiopian restaurant called Addis in Cape. Wow. What an experience you'll have there. Also, make sure not to miss the Extreme Hotel. This is not in Long Street though, just a bit further up. It is just one of those places you have to experience. Please do so. Kirstenbosch Gardens is great for a picnic surrounded by Table Mountain. Restaurants are simply the best, prices are ridiculously cheap. One enter a resturant with your own bottle of wine, corkage charge will be inclusive in your bill.

 

 

 

There is plenty to do and see while in Cape Town on either vacation or on layovers. Here are some of the major attractions in and around Cape Town. Be sure to leave some time for a relaxed scenic drive around the peninsula too some nearby vineyards that offer beautiful scenery from oceans to mountains. The winelands are divided into various different regions, each offering their own 'wine route'. The most popular and well known are Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Wellington and Paarl. You will able to dine at one of its eight 'Top 100' restaurants, in Franschhoek alone drinking some of the best wines in South Africa.

You cannot visit Cape Town without going up Table Mountain. Take a quick tour up and down the mountain in a cable car when weather permitting, so be sure to pack some hiking shoes. On top of Table Mountain you will experience spectacular views in all directions. The upper cable car station is situated at 1067 meters and the revolving cable car makes sure that your trip up and down gives you good views in all directions. Once on top you can follow paths to various lookouts, make use of the telescopes and enjoy a light meal or simply a sundowner drink in the restaurant. In summer, early evening is a great time to plan your trip, as the sunsets are beautiful.

 

Robben Island

The tour is quite educational; inmates from the apartheid era are your tour guides around the island. It amazes how they could return there and work for the same place that once separated them from society. The Island, whose prison was once home to former South African president Nelson Mandela as well as many other black political freedom fighters, is now a World Heritage Site. A trip to the island is an unforgettable experience and offers a glimpse into the life and times of the apartheid era.

 

Cape Point & Table Mountain National Park

Cape Point, if you book a tour they usually stop at the beaches also on the way back, which are stunning. Cape Town has spectacular beaches and great waves for surfing. It’s a great places to sip away on cocktails eat sushi and watch the sunset. The expansive Table Mountain National Park stretches from Signal Hill and Table Mountain in the north to Cape Point in the south and encompasses the seas and coastline of the peninsula. Inside the reserve you will find a variety of animals including buck, baboons and Cape Mountain Zebra as well as over 250 species of birds and indigenous flora that is found nowhere else in the world.

 

Any activities can be organized by the backpackers. There are many tour buses Hylton Ross and Topless that will give you a tour of the city. You can do township tours and other tours showing you around the rich culture of the city - the Castle, District 6 etc. If/when you go to Cape Town for a longer period, and you love nature - the following are rarely mentioned in the traveling guides: Crystal Pools & Silver mine for hiking and swimming, Sandy Bay (it's a nude beach, but it is gorgeous), the Rock, and Hornbay (you will never read this anywhere) and perhaps experience an even more free lifestyle in Observatory (area) in Lower Main Road where there is the Armchair Theatre (live bands and shows), good vegetarian restaurants and old bookshops. Maybe you can squeeze this in after experiencing Long Street.

So many more... great wine tasting tours to the farms, Cape Malay quarters - very colorful arid with pebble stoned streets (up the road from Long Street), Baxter Theatre, etc...

 

 

 

Cape Town has many bars, clubs and restaurants to choose from creating a vibrant nightlife that caters for a variety of tastes. Bars stay open late and clubs get going from 11pm; many restaurants are open till midnight, some later. Nightlife in Long Street is fantastic. You can choose between places like the Dubliner and listen to some live jazz while you sip away on a Johnnie Walker Black Label, or next to it could be Cool Runnings, where you might find people smoking joints and listening to loud reggae, 70's nightclubs, 80's, 90's, hip hop, fancy, dodgy and the list goes on. Cape Town boasts all types of people from all walks of life, a mixture of fancy restaurants to a guy making hotdogs on the corner of the street. Clubs: Ranging from Jazz, Techno, R&B, Hip-hop and House. Camps Bay is more of an up market seen with a selection of places within close proximity. Long street in town has a range from reggae to house, jazz, hip hop ect these clubs are all basically next to each other. Durbanville is the hot spot at the moment. Clubs, coffee shops and lounges all place next to each other.

 

 

 

 

To experience the uniqueness of Cape Town, may I suggest Mr PickWicks, where your food and drinks are served in tins (tin cups, tinplates) and they make the nicest peanut butter milkshakes:)

Try out Cafe Royal where you will find the best, I mean the best burgers you have ever tasted, served with sweet potato chips or normal. The service is friendly, very vibey and laid-back.

There is the classier Sobeit with a cigar lounge, champagne and oyster room, etc. Long Street is so easy, just take a walk, you would be able to find so many different things to choose from. Not even to mention, that if you walk a little further, the road changes to Kloof Street, and there the buzz continues....

 

 

Living or been on layover in Cape Town? Please share information about what2do. You can recommend places of interest, restaurants, clubs and much more we will do the rest.