Cape Town Tourist Attractions

Cape Town, with it's scenic beauty is the ideal place to start an African journey. Described by Francis Drake as "A most stately thing and the fairest cape we saw in the whole circumference of the globe". The Cape was also named "The Cape of Storms" by other voyagers, this difference in perception illustrates the huge variety of moods which influence this southern tip of Africa dominated by its famous flat topped mountain, which rises 1000m out of the ocean.

To experience the scenic splendour of the Cape Peninsula by road is a comfortable and rewarding day trip. We recommend heading south from the city along the M3 (Blue Route) highway through the beautiful Constantia valley and then continuing along the False Bay coastline.

False Bay

This scenic route meanders along the coast through the seaside villages of Kalk Bay, Fish Hoek and historic Simons Town. From Cape Point the road turns north and soon meets the Atlantic Coast ... Read More.

Travel through the villages of Scarborough and Kommetjie and stop off for lunch at one of the numerous restaurants in Noordhoek before heading off again along the breathtaking Chapman's Peak drive to Hout Bay. Crossing over a gap in the ever present mountains brings you to Llandudno, one of the most desirable (and expensive) residential areas in the city.

Atlantic Coast

The road continue northwards, hugging the sheer mountainside and passes through the exclusive Atlantic Coast suburbs of Camps Bay, Clifton and Bantry Bay before entering cosmopolitan Sea Point. This area is a 24 hour hive of activity with hundreds of shops, coffee shops and clubs. Next stop is the renowned V&A Waterfront and then back into the city ... Read More.

West Coast and Durbanville

There is much more to be seen though, to the north and west of the city is the rural beauty of the Durbanville winelands and the harsh but beautiful west coast. The west coast suburbs of Table View and Bloubergstrand are one of the fastest growing areas of the country, the coastal road leads through an area of modern, towering apartment blocks and wide beaches en-route to the distant towns of Langebaan and beyond ... Read More.

Source: Cape Town Attractions

V&A Waterfront

Cape Town used to be very much a port city but over the years highways, container terminals and oil storage tanks separated the city from the sea. The V&A Waterfront development has reunited the citizens of the city with their maritime heritage. It has been inspired by (but is not a copy of) the Sydney and San Francisco harbour projects. The waterfront development has been a huge success with restaurants, shopping centres, hotels, offices, an aquarium and residential developments having transformed the once bleak landscape into a popular tourist destination.

Entertainment

The Waterfront provides a variety of entertainment for the whole family from buskers, street entertainers and festivals or lively music at the open air Amphitheatre. There are also eleven cinemas including the Imax. Historic buildings, walks, tours, boat trips and harbour cruises, helicopter flips, seaplane rides, a working brewery and numerous restaurants.

Shopping

The Alfred Mall, with it's Victorian architecture, maritime tradition, and African culture ensures a shopping environment that is lively and cosmopolitan. Specialty shops and boutiques, numerous restaurants and coffee shops provides all the shopping that you can handle. The Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre has over 40 restaurants, coffee shops and fast foods outlets, more than 190 other specialty shops, retail outlets, food merchants and barrows.

When to Visit

Trading hours are from 09h00 to 21h00 during weekdays, and from 10h00 to 21h00 on Sundays and Public Holidays. A regular bus service connects the Waterfront and the railway station in Adderley Street. A canal has recently be inaugurated which will link up the International Convention Centre on the foreshore with water taxis.

Source: DiscoverTheCape

How to Get the Best Cape Town Accommodation

Located in the South Western side of the Africa Cape town is considered an incredibly beautiful natural expanse that many travelers are beginning to explore with much excitement. It is an exotic haven for vacationers and has numerous tourist attractions and enjoyment for all kinds of holiday explorers. Depending on your budget there are all kinds of Cape Town accommodation available and you can choose from various back packer hostels to luxury villas and hotels. Most of these accommodations offer great views and good customer service and can provide guidance for your trip as well.

It is better to look for a good Cape Town accommodation that comes with a picturesque setting and you have the ocean view of the magical crystal waters. There are many families who leave their condos, flats and homes for vacation rentals and you can easily get one that suits your taste. If you decide to visit Cape Town in the festive season you will be even more amused with all the colorful celebrations and exciting carousing. You can get a taste of the liveliness of the people and get a great view of their amazing culture during that time.

You can take a guided tour and watch the remarkable scenery of Cape Town which is representative of the entire South Africa. There are many tourist attractions and sight seeing options including Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Cape Town V&A Waterfront, Robben Island, Table Mountain, Cape Point along with Cape Peninsula Nature Reserve, Cape Town's Townships and many more enthralling places of interest. You can also enjoy the lively night life and watch the sudden change of the Cape Town atmosphere. It is a good idea to choose a Cape Town accommodation so you can be around a place close to these attractions.

You can find astounding clubs and Up-market wine bars and a multitude of pubs, cabaret and jazz clubs for music enthusiasts. The night life of Cape Town is full of music and fine dining and you can get a reflection of the South African culture of entertainment and even find great theater venues for the lovers of art and drama. These various forms of exciting fun make Cape Town a tourist paradise and you can easily find yourself being attached to the beauty of this multi cultural tradition. And most of these attractions can be found close to your Cape Town accommodation.

If you need some peace and tranquility you can even choose a Cape Town accommodation in one of the finest suburbs. This will ensure that you get a good rest along with an exciting trip and some wonderful sight seeing options. Cape Town also holds the Argus Cycle Tour which is famous throughout the world and is held on a March weekend. It is an international attraction and many people time their trips in order to be able to view this spectacular event. This and many other sight seeing options make Cape Town a cherished location to visit alone or with families.

Source: http://www.articlesbase.com
Cape Town Accommodation

Cape Town Special Interest Travel

The Western Cape offers a wide variety of adventure activities, just a few of these are listed below. We include information on a variety of special interest tours and activities, follow the links below for information on the most popular ones:

	Boat Cruises		Golfing
	Whale Viewing		White Shark Diving
	Hunting Safari

Abseiling

Widely available throughout South Africa with Cape Town offering a 100m abseil on Table Mountain and an awesome hang from Chapman's Peak, South Africa's most famous and dramatic coastal drive.

Bungee Jumping

The Western Cape offers a 65m high jump and bridge swings at the Gouritz River bridge, the original African bungee site. The Eastern Cape offers the world's highest jump off the 216m high Bloukrans bridge - a must for all thrill seekers!

Climbing

There is a huge range of climbing opportunities in South Africa from scenic sport climbing to training and guided climbs. The Western Cape offers outstanding views, fantastic rock and routes to suit every standard. Table Mountain itself offers endless possibilities. There is also wonderful ancient rock art to be seen.

Scuba Diving

Coloured reefs and a coastline littered with shipwrecks make South Africa an interesting place to dive. The Western Cape offers some of the most accessible and varied diving in the country and diving with sharks is offered at the aquarium and at Gansbaai.

Fishing

Fly-fishing ( freshwater and seawater ) ..... rock and surf angling ..... spear fishing ..... bottom fishing and deep-sea fishing - South Africa offers it all from rainbow trout to big game fish! The Cape of Storms is notorious for yielding quality big game fish such as Marlin and Tuna, and the Cape also offers excellent trout and bass fishing around inland rivers and dams.

Hiking

A common pastime throughout South Africa and trails can be found almost everywhere you go including the Game Parks! There are unlimited possibilities ranging from gentle strolls alone to guided week-long hikes. The country's most famous route .... the Otter Trial is located in the Eastern Cape.

Mountain Biking

There are a variety of trails in South Africa with the Western Cape boasting leisurely trails through forests and winelands, as well as many popular mountainous climbs and descents.

Paragliding / Sky Diving

The Western Cape has an abundance of sites to suit both experience and weather conditions and the Garden Route offers one of the countries safest and most popular sites. Whether this is a first time alone, a tandem jump or an accelerated freefall, there are various schools throughout South Africa offering a full range of skydiving opportunities.

Surfing

South Africa is undoubtedly one of the major surfing countries in the world, with South Africans figuring prominently on the professional circuit and the country itself hosting a series of international competitions each year. There are many memorable surf spots throughout the country with the Eastern Cape being home to Jeffrey's Bay, one of the worlds' top spots. The Western Cape offers an abundance of varying waves suitable for those with experience and those without, with Cape Town and its surrounding area offering at least 50 spots. Surf safaris, board hire and tuition are all available.

Source: Cape Town Holiday Accommodation

Cape Town for Kids

Discover The Cape | Cape Town Holiday Accommodation

Cape Town offers plenty to keep kids entertained. While the selection of ideas here is by no means exhaustive, there is sure to be something that will appeal to the young ones. NB! - links to external websites will open in a new window.

Two Oceans Aquarium

The Two Oceans Aquarium opened in 1995. Although the sharks are always a hit, there is a huge variety of marine life on display including seals, a colourful display of tropical fish, a touch pool and the kelp forest. Educational, overnight stays are held regularly where the kids can sleep over at the aquarium.

Phone: 021 418 3823
Website: www.aquarium.co.za

Tygerberg Zoo

Tygerberg Zoo is located in a rural area, 39 km from the city alongside the N1 highway near Paarl. The zoo is on 24 hectares and a large variety of wildlife, some of it rare and seldom seen can be viewed. The zoo is more of a wildlife park than a traditional zoo with the animals being free to roam about spacious enclosures rather than being confined to cages. On view are a large variety of animals including the big cats (lion, leopard and cheetah), numerous antelope, crocodiles, birds, monkeys, baboons and chimpanzees among others.

Phone: 021 884 4494
Website: www.tygerbergzoo.co.za

Butterfly World

Located at Klapmuts, a few kilometres further along the N1 highway from the zoo is the butterfly park at Butterfly World. The park is located on over 1000 m2 of covered garden and boasts one of the largest live butterfly displays in the world with specimens from over 3 continents.

Phone: 021 875 5628

Ratanga Junction

A full scale theme park, located next to the Canal Walk shopping mall at Century City, Ratanga Junction offers hours of fun for the whole family. Of the over 30 rides, perhaps the most challenging is the Cobra, a suspended lopping roller coaster that hurls riders along the 910 metre track at speeds of up to 100 km an hour. The park is well served with restaurants and live entertainment. There are also rides for younger children.

Phone: 0861 200 300
Website: www.ratanga.co.za

World of Birds

The World of Birds, in Hout Bay, was founded over 25 years ago, initially as a commercial breeding venture but it soon became a haven for for sick and injured birds. Over 3000 bird species can be viewed in landscaped, walk through aviaries. A gift shop and restaurant are available.

Phone: 021 790 2730
Website: www.worldofbirds.org.za

Scratch Patch

Children of all ages will have hours of fun searching for their favourite gemstones at the Scratch Patch in Simon's Town or the V&A Waterfront. South Africa is one of the leading producers of gemstones in the world and apart from being able to scratch through the thousands of polished stones that cover the floor, visitors can also take a guided tour through one of the largest gemstone factories in the world.

Phone: 021 786 2020 [Simon's Town]
Phone: 021 419 9429 [V&A Waterfront]

Planetarium

Sound and light are combined to reproduce the southern heavens on the domed ceiling of the Planetarium, alongside the SA Museum in the Gardens, Cape Town. The instruments used can reproduce the night sky at any point 13 000 years before modern times or the same period in the future. A state of the art audio system ensures a never to be forgotten educational experience.

Phone: 021 424 3330
Website: www.museums.org.za/planetarium/